Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-07-19
Anti-SlaVery Convention in Illinois.

This Convention, relying upon the God of the
whole earth, and especially the God of the op-
pressed, for his appreciation of their cause and its
ultimate triumph
L. ReSOkUed, That no man or combination oI
men has any more RIG ght to enslave a man than he
has to claim exclusive possession of the light OF
the sun, the air of our atmosphere, or the waters
of the earth.
g. ResoIyed, That the STAKEHOLDER has no more
right to compel to participate in his sin than he
has to ensave ourselves.
g. ResoLUed, That In our belief, the Judgment
Day will prove that it is bad enough for any man
to be damned for has sin, without his volun-
tary assumption of the guilt Of the STAKEHOLDER by
sustaining him in his iniguity. 1t must be sheer
love of sin that induces man to sustain another
in crime, for which he receives earthly compen-
sation, and can expect nothing but the frown of
God and the contempt of all enlightened good
men.
A. Resozged, That the Fugitive Slave Law pass
ed by Congress in 1850 involves as in the slave
holders guilt, if obeyed.
5. ReSotued, That this law outrages humanity,
Christianity, the citizens of the free States and
the sense of Justice common to all mankind 1t
appoints court of Judge, whose decision is
final; it commands him to hear testimony only
against the accused, it offers the Judge brbe to
decide against the unfortunate wretch who loved
and sought liberty it suspends the trial by Jury;
it denies the prisoner the privilege of the writ OF
ha5eas corpus, which Englishmen wrested with
such difficulty from the dastardly tyrant john and
which free Americans were wont to esteem and
love. In short, if the system of American slavery
is as Wesley SAYS, ''the sum of all villanes'' the
Fugitive Slave Law is the sum Of all outrages
against decency, justice, and the rights of the free
States.
g. ResoIped, That the Fugitive Slave Law is
unconstitutional. 1t has been defended by pro-
slavery men by this argument, viz: that the law
of $50 is but little more stringent than the law
of 1893 upon the subject of absconding slaves
But the Supreme Court of the United States pro-
nounced the law of 1898 unconstitutional, namely
that section which enjoins upon State officers to
execute law of Congress. In other respects, the
abest iurists and lawyers have denied the consti-
tutionality of the law of 1898. Among THEN
names is to be found that of Daniel Webster The
ablest lawyers have pronounced the Fugitive Slave
Law of 1850 unconstitutional.
7. ResoiDed, That it is right to refuse obedience
to an unconstitutional law. Violent, forcible re-
sstance we do not recommend. More evil thar
1 good would be the result of forcible resistance
But, Christians, we ought to disobey, and haz
/ ard the penalty.
8. Resolved, That while we ask of Congress nc
act transcendng their constitutional authority fol
the abolition of slavery in the several States We
do demand that they go to the very verge of theil
legitimate power to remove this foul blot from oul
national escutcheon.
8. ResOiued, That will resolutely and firmly
resist every effort of the slave power to extend
over its tyrant sway, by making our territory
a hunting ground for any fleeing from oppres
sion, and ourselves participants in the cowardly
chase.
10. Resolued, We do not believe that the Unio1
| of these States is in the slightest manner endan
gered by this agitation of this question respecting
the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, or by its amend
ment, or by its repeal The planets of the sola
system are in about as great danger of dissolvinl
their union with the central luminary The saga
cious statesmen of the slave States know that
majority of their citizens are in favor of the Union
that withoutthe Union, slavery would be abolished
that war between the free and slave States must
almost Immediately, result for the mouth of tht
Mississippi, and that war must be exterminatins
or abolish slavery. They know that England can
not be permitted to aid and colonize the seeding
States, because it is the fixed policy of the nation
that no more foreign colonies shall be planted upol
the soil of North America. A war, destructive O
slavery, perhaps of the stakeholder, must be tn
result of secession from the Union.
IL. RESOLVED. That our duty as men, as citi
zens, patriots, and as Christians, is to Obtain