The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-01-02
WASHINGTON CORRESPOND.
ENCE OF THE ATLAS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 70. 1850

WASHINGTON, Dec. %. 1850.
The Adam Gibson " case in Phil
adclphia, has created quite n sensation
here. as probably the circumstances did
in that city. The promoters and advo.
Gates Of the fugitive act. and especially
those who sustained its passage, are
ovcrwhclme! with the mistake" Of
the Commissioner, and know not how to
satisfy the stinss and arrows of the con-
science, except by declaring that the
Commissioner is incompetent for his
post. On the contrary, if the said Ad.
am had really proved to be the slave of
MIR. knight, the conduct of that official
would have been all right" In this
manner. and by these cxpedicnts OF
sophisiry, the country is allowed to di-
vide its opinion in the matter /; but We
are TO admit, at the same time, that the
man may DC wrong. bu: the Mw is fault
less. However, the consequence. re-.
sulting from this rcclamaiion-thc i'm
prisonment and abduction of n free.
man, upon the sole plea of rcscm.
blancc to anothcr--has produced here
more profound feeling than may pos.
sibly manifest itself in words. In
conversing with a Senator this morn.
ing-one who took an active part in
urging the act through Congress he
admitted freely, that one OF two moro
such blundcrs would induce him to
remain neutral in any attempt to re.
peal the law. lie acknowledged the
error to be objectionable, but still
family adhered to the cavcat. that it
was the fault of the man. Ofcourse:
but, as | have already remarked. had
Adam really proved to be the slave of
MIR. Knight. the proceedings would
have been all just and proper.
But the North is disinclincd to
touch the law, Notwithstanding these
gross outragcs. They who waccd
an honest hostility to the measure.
foresaw what would be its operations.
and warned their sectional brethren
to beware of the step. Now, parti-
ally, these predictions have been ycri.
fed. OPinionum commeuta delet
dies, ratio j'udici;n confrmat--Rca.
son never crrs. The effect of these
blunders upon the northern mind,
even among the class disposed to ia,
vor the enactment, will be to cause
the law to fall into disusc. 1t will
become obsolete. Just as the constitu-
ton Of Cvutn Carolina has become
obsolete. 1t contains a clause, that
no minister Of the gospel shall be
eligible to a municipal or other Office,
under State sanction and yet, Mr..
Barnwell, a professor of theology,
was sent to the United States Senate,
to preach disunion, and has since been
elected as a delegate to the prospcc.
tive Southern Congress. In my last,
/ explained some Of the reasons why
the Northern representation in either
would refuse to lend them.
to the question of repeal
They forcsee that the law will accom-
plish nothing, as being in this respect
like all other abortions whereas, If
they urge its CELEBRATION, by legisla-
ton. from the statue books, they en-
courage, or rather aid South Carolina
IN her movements of treason, that
must otherwise rccoil upon and over,
whelm her with disappointment and
disgrace. These arc the views en-.
tcrtained here by the friends CT hu-
manity, and I %apprehcnd there will
be concurrent sentiment among their
constituency at homo.