The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-04
"A SPECk OF WAR.

towns Of Santa Rosa, Morelos, and the Preside,
for the purpose Of recapturing runaway slaves,
have returned and report that the fugitive slaves
are harbored By the Mexicans, and in some in
stances force has been used to prevent our cti-
zens from recapturing these slaves This has so
exasperated many OF the settlers at the West that
they are determined to raise a force sufficient tO
overpower all opposition, and recapture their
slaves at all hazards. At the last accounts, a
large party Of armed Texans had assembled near
Preside, and Threatened 20 attack the town if the
fugitive slaves were not given up. tits intimated
that there are not less than two thousand fugitive
slaves in the Mexican towns between the mouth
of the Rio Grande and Presidio In Santa Rosa,
there are forty fusitives who escaped from one
plantation in Arkansas. The owner of them has
made many efforts to induce them to return to
Arkansas, but in vain. They boast that they are
in free country, and permitted to enjoy equal
privileges with the Mexicans. We have been
informed that about two hundred fugitives from
Texas crossed at one of the principal ferries on
the Rio Grande during the last two years. Ii is
evident that these things will not long be tole-
rated by our citizens, and unless some measures
are adopted by the Government to prevent the
mischief the citizens will arm themselves and
make a foray upon the Mexican towns to recover
their property. We have much reason to fear
that difficulties of very serious character are
springing up on that frontier, and unless ft4f
tive slave treaty be concluded with Mexico an
other war may ere long be inevitable. We are
informed that company Of ninety men, we'll
armed and equipped, will soon be march led into
Santa Rosa if certain slaves are not given up;
and we should not be surprised if FIVE hundred
or thousand men should follow them, should
they meet with opposition from the Mexican
thorties Our information is derived from such
respectable sources that we think there can be
little doubt that difficulties are brewing on our
western frontier that may prove far more serious
than those relating to the Cuban invasion. 1t
may be well for the Government to look well to
this subject, and take timely precautions to pre-
vent another rupture with Mexico"
Houston Telegraph of July Is.
Shareholders cannot expect to stretch their fu-
gitive laws over foreign territory. The laws of
nations do not authorize the recapture of persons
who have escaped from bondage in one nation to
freedom in another. The Eruption of armed
Texans into the territory Of Mexico, for the pur-
pose of such recapture, will be an act which,
unless atoned for promptly and amply, will con.
stitute just cause Of war. Even fugitive criminals
from nation cannot be seized within the
bounds Of another, unless there be a treaty Of
extradition, and then the mode of seizure, exami-
nation and surrender, prescribed by the treaty,
must be scrupulousy complied with
IfTexas should attempt to send armed sxpedi-
tions into Mexico to seize fugitive slaves it would
become the duty of our Government to interpose
at once for their punishment and for the protec-
ton of the rights of friendly Power.
We have no doubt that Texas will push this
matter till it compel the Federal Government to
attempt the negotiation with Mexico of a treaty
for the extradition of slaves; but Mexico will
never consent. The thing was once tried with
England, and she rejected the proposition in such
q way that 1t has never been renewed There is
no ground for supposing that the Mexican Gov
eminent will listen to the proposition with any
more favor.
Meantime, it would be we'll to watch these
movements in Texas lest they embroil us in anoth-
er war with Mexico, before the wounds of the
first war are healed over. That, we fear, is their
object. The border Texans desire protect for
assailing the Mexicans, and our Government has
become so timid and yielding, that they expect
to pursue their plans with impunity. 1t has SUBJ
mitted once to Texan brsvado what right has
any one to suppose that it will be more steadfast
hereafter
These difficulties about fugitive slaves are the
offspring Of the Compromise measures Of Con-
gress Seventy thousand square miles of terri.
tory were taken from New Mexico and given to
Texas, so that the border settlements Of both are
now spproximated and the slaves of one country
naturally seek freedom in the other. The propo-
airy to Texas that would have precluded the &C.
currence Of such difficulties and embroilments.
Again, we say, We have not yet reaped all the
bitter fruits of the Compromise Of the late Con-
gress