North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-07-09
SOUND VIEWS

Justice.
SOUND VIEWS.
We copy from the last Pennsylvania, the f,Io.
ing remarks delivered by the Hon. James BDob,s'
at Democratic Meeting in Lancaster on tho aoa
of last month
p" Mr.. Buchanan said this was the nost ;un.-.
State ELECTION, considering the principles jnvoIraI
which had ever been held in Pennsy lvania SbouT
Pennsy lvania become an Abolition or Free Soil S,
then farewell to the Un1n and here he prononno
an eloquent eulogy upon the Union. But itwass.H
the Union was in no danger; and men cried peaes
peace, as did the ancient false prophets when ,Ss,
was no peace. Look at South Carolina, which %aS
already, in February last, elected delegates to Sa
Convention, with an express view TO separate spce,
sion. In case she should carry her purpose into Of
feet, which he trusted in Heaven she would moi M
man could predict the consequences. Throuabon'
the other saveholding States, he believed IarGe ma'
jorty would finally acquiesce in the compromise but
upon one express condition. That condition was ina,
the Fugitive Slave Law should be faithfully execnrsJ
In all the Union meetings, without exceptioathrouub
out the slaveholding States, this condition had bssn
solemnly announced. He would cite the proceeding,
Of the State Convention held in Georgia in Noye6.
Der last, example of what had been done al all
the other Union meetings. He read from two Of
these resolutions That the State of Georgia. Dt,
judgment of this Convention, will and ought 10 r.
sist. last resort, TO disruption of every lie
which binds her to the Union, &C.. &c., any act II.
peaiing materially modifying the laws now in force
for the recovery of fugitive slaves - and that it
the deliberate opinion of the Convention, that upon
the faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave Bill BY
the proper authorities, depends the preservation our
much loved Union" To say then that the Unions
in no danger, in this law should be repealed or
materially modified, is to pronounce Ifaa the South.
ern States, without exception, have proclaimed
falsehood to the world. And yet to have
continued agitation in Pennsylvania tor the repeal OF
material modification of the Fugitive Slave Bill and
this tTanscendently nportant question Of union U
disunion, is directly involved in our approaching
Gubernatorial election. The late respectable WHY
Convention which assembled al this place, had by an
overwhelming majority, voted down proposition
which looked 10 the faithful execution of the Fugitive
Slave Law. So bitter had been the hostility Of Gov.
Johnston TO this law, that he had refused 10 approve
Bill repeating section in our act Of 1884,, denying
to the Go7ernmant Of the United States, that rghtd
courtesy which belonged even to foreign nations,
have fugitives, who had violated their laws, cOnfne
for safe keeping in our jails.
Mr.. Buchanan then expatiated at length upon The
constutionality, justice and necessity of the Fugitive
Slave law. He said that the Constitution of the Uni
ted States was solemn league and covenant between
independent State sovereigmties. and that it neTd
would have existed without a solemn pledge ihaIl'
gitve slaves should be restored to their masters, aud
that if this pledge were violated by of The Paflp
the other would feel themselves TO be released Iron
its obligations.
Mr.. Buchanan said that the Southern States bad
acquiesced in the Compromise, expecting that II
would produce peace. and yet il Now appeared thai
the agitation to continue for the repeal or modIh
cation of the Fugitive Slave law. Every thing On
earth that Southern man held most valuable, the
lives of those most dear to him, well as his prop
eIty, were to be endangered by this agitation In The
North when all he desired was, TO be let alone and
permitted to live in peace.
Pennsylvania could finally decide this question
She is empbatically the keystone of the Union. Let
a majority Of her citizens sternly decide that Tie
Constitution and the Laws should be faithfully eSe
cuted-ihat the Fugitive Slave Bill shall neither be
repealed nor essentially modifed-tbat the use OF oh
jails shall be afforded to the citizens Of sisl
States for the safe keeping of their fUgitives from
Dor whilst awaiting their lria and the danger VII
then have passed away. Let her citizens decide di
ferently, at the approaching election, and the cOnse
quence may be disastrous"
These are sound and patriotic views. Mr. Buch'
anan seems 10 be duly impressed with sense Oflb'
dangers which threaten the Union, and he knows the
source whence these dangers proceed. He does n'I
underrate or understate the strength of the AbolO
lists, as many of the Southern Wing leaders d. but
points 10 the contest in his State contest be-
tween Aboltionsm and the Constitution; and he say
truly that the consequences may be disastrous the
former should succeed. Neither does he denouncS
South Carolina, or any Of the Southern States; Ou'
he speaks of them all with respect, and pleads WIN
his people to do them justice and thus saUe The tn"
How does this language of his-the language oil
oTthern man-contrast 18th that habiually used Oh
the same subject by such Southern men as Edward
Stanly and Alfred Dockery! We invjte particular
attention to the paragraph Immediately preceding n'
last one in the above extract. That paragraph eVnc
spirit of liberality and justice on the part Of ms
llustrious man which does him great credit. bU'
Justice and liberality to the South is no new thing
with James Buchanan. He is still where he always
was, on the side of State Rights friend to inc
Union according to the Constitution, and opPoSe0
TO Freesoilism in every shape.