The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-10

h II has ever been the fiat Of an vii wise Proyi
deuce, that evil Vaccinations return TO plague
the invcntors--aud that those Who violate the
plain dictates of universal Justice. suffer mos,
sorely in the end the fruits Of their own follies
and sins. Already IL the national North" be-
ginning to tSste the first fruits OF the bitter
harvest of future shame and SIM sown by the
hands OF the recresnt renegadss and deluded
fanatics IN her borders, who have trampled under
foot the precepts OF all laws, human and divine
and sanctifed theft, by ovations to the detectea
thieves who need only the nerve to be assas-
sins also. Stepping beyond even the lax NOR
atty of the Spartsns, who regarded theft only
as shameful when discovered, these modern
Spartsns elevate il into the one great duty OF
life, and with impious hands seek To erase the
prohibition in the sixth commandment
But these disciples of the higher law are be-
ginning to verify the truth Of the Arabian adage
that curses, like chickens, come home TO roost. "
Throu ghout that only " national" section OF this
Confederacy, now rises the clamorous cry about
tho evils Of free negro population--and the
humane system of colonization on tho coast OF
Africa that Eden of philanthropists, who want
to get rid of their black friends--cannot drain
off these obstinate "fugitives," who, foolish
fellows prefer America to Africa.
The following article from the New York
Comm<rcial puts the points Of the case very
strongly We commend it to the attention OF
our readers.
.FsEE NecRoEs IN CAnApA.-Every reader
knows that the operation Of our Fugitive slave
law has caused hundreds Of those unhappy men
who have escaped from slavery, during the past
few wears, to Ace to Canada as their only chance
Of evnding the application u them Of the new
enactment This was to be expected nor will
it excite much surprise here that the Canadian
people are, at least a portion OF them, express
sing serious uneasines about the effect Of sud-
den and large an immigration Of such class Of
persons, and are endeavorng to create popular
feeling against the reception ofthese fugitives with
out some restrictions. In this we do not see that
there is necessarily any Inconsistency between
practice and profession, or any reputation OF the
ant-slavery sentirent SO repeatedly ayowed by
Great Britain and her dependencies on this CONT
nent. II may be, and we have no doubt that il
is, another exhibition Of that great practical TRUTH
taught by an inspired Christian author, but too
pudiated by men who have become the slaves Of
one idea, that many things which are lawful and
right-true in principle theory-are not therefore
ex pedient in practice. The Canadians, we CON
ceive, may be quite sincere in their belief that hui
man freedom is divine law, and yet may feel
keenly and lament openly that within the limits
of about three months some hundreds of fugitive
slaves from foreign country have sought shell
ter in portion Of their territory.
II would not be prudent, without more recent
intercourse with Canadians generally than we
have had, to attempt to decide how widely this
opposition to having Canada made the home Of
fugitive negroes has spread is likely to spread
among the people of those colonies. Documents
are before us which show it to be earnest, almost
violent, on the part of some. Still it may be local
and interested rather than general and patriotic.
The opposition il specially directed against the
este blshmen: of settlements of colored people in
the provinces as contemplated by the +" Elgin As
sociaaion," incorporated byathe late Canadian
Parliament. Against this measure it 10 argued
that il is at variance with that wise policy which
would seek to people the provinces with the most
intelligent, Industrious, and moral class of immi
grants; that by forming rendezvous for fugitives
from the United States, it will promote jeaousies
and dscord between neighboring countries; that
X is impructcable in Canada to give negroes that
equality with the white race which the Theory Of
the British constitution promises them; that to
give them any superior privileges over Europeans,
az such settlement would, is unjust TO the latter
that if the coIored people are moral and indus
trious, they can take care Of themselves, and
should be taught SO TO do; that such settlements
will prove very injurious to the holders of pro-
perty in such neighborhoods; that such encourage
ments giving to negroes will lead to general
mixture Of races, and other breaches Of the law
of nature and Providence; and, finally, that the
climate of Canada is so unfavorable to the Afri-
can, that il can never become the home Of his
- 4 4 HI 4
in the United States, thither would the negro re-
turn.
The intelligent, reader will not fail to perceive
that the last reason clashes, to some extent, with
one previously advanced. But let that pass We
propose to speak only Of the fact that such senti
ments actually prevail, and find utterance among a
people who, at no insignificant coat, have carried
the anti-slaverY principle into practice, and who
would probably pay another twenty millions OF
pounds sterling rather than their present policy
respecting African slavery should be abandoned.
Can our enthusiasts learn lesson from this
We suppose it will be admitted that the anti-saye-
ry sentiment is quite AZ strong in Canadn as in
the Northern States Of this Union. Yet when
all the consequences Of adhering to their princi-
pie follow, they vince under the infection, and
loudly lament them as an evil. Then suppose that
Northern Abotionists--we speak now Of those
ultrasts who sneer ut compromise and forbear-
ance, and without considering whether, what in
principle they believe to he right lie in point Of
time expedient, press their views with a selfish
disregard Of consequences to others-suppose that
this class Of disunionists, for such they are in
spirit, consummate their purpose, who does not
see that the free States tcotid become second Cana
da, having for the negro race stronger temptations
than the British provinces, aad that we should
soon be, the Canadians now are, perplexed
and irrtsted by an inudation Of race practically,
at least, inferior, by their peculiar circumstances
unified, in the main and for long time, to add to
the industrial resources Of the country. The SUBJ
iect is deserving ofgrave and timely considera-
ton.
Ctloroform.
We see it stated, 1--WE know not on what au-
thority,) tina discovery Of another property of
chloroform hns just been announced by two
French gentlemen, who simultaneously, and with
out any consultation with each other, found that
chloroform is an antiseptic of marvellous virtue,
preventing animal decomposition after death, or