New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-14
Runaway Slaves.


that the South would dissolve the Union If
fugitive slaves were not sent back when
| called for. On the other hand we have
heard, rather indirectly than directly, indeed,
a great deal of a large party at the North
which would dissolve the Union, or at least,
do everything possible toward it if they
were sent back Neither of these assertions
or implications is true. Let us look at the
facts.
We presume there are great many hon.
est-hearted and weak-headed gentlemen in
the Slave States who are in condition of
intense nervous excitement about Slavery,
who, in fact, are ready to faint when the
word is pronounced with the accent of free
born lips. These gentlemen regard the end
of the world as close at hand, and no doubt
hurry on their ascension robes at the sound
Of ish-horn with all the dispatch of prac-
tised disciple Of Father Miller. To hint
in their hearing that Slavery is not a divine
Institution and under tn" special patronage of
Heaven, is to deserve tar and feathers and
a promenade upon rail For them our
political system IS already doleful ruin,
and the most glorious form of government
man ever devised the object of tears and
lamentations, like friend lying dead in the
house Disunion they have grown familiar
with by often threatening to perpetrate it,
and hearing others threaten, till at last they
only wait an occasion for it to come Of it.
self. That occasion they assure us will be
the modification Of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Whoever dares these boots dsplace
1t is true that they have announced the
same catastrophe as sure to arrive on other
occasions,-on the admission of California,
the separation Of New Mexico from Texas,
OF the exclusion of Slavery from the terri
tories. And yet California was admitted.
New-MeXico was organized as an independ-
ent territory, and we have yet to hear of the
transportation of any considerable number
of slaves to New-Mexico or Utah. But
the great climax of disuniOn has not been
performed. And now, having been driven
from these positions, the same oraces of
despair and destruction proclaim either in
tones of menace or of fearful exhortatlon,
that what they have not done when there
was something real at issue, they will now
do when the point is to them not worth
farthing. If the Fugitive Slave Law is
modified they will dissolve the Union,
Ard like an insutsan,al pageant faded.
Leave Lot rack behind
What degree ct respect is to be paid to
so scnseless a warning how far we ought
to regard this awful threat, we have endeav-
ored 10 show on former occasions. But
when we hear the menace repeated, We
cannot suppress the wish that these silly
boys might be gratifed for while, and al
lowed to quit the Union and left to take care
Of themselves alone. Not long would they
crave such independence. Soon, like weary
truants. they would return to the genial
shade and security of the rooftree and the
fresidc they had abandoned, and, grown
wise by sad experience, would never more
desire TO wander But this is out of the
question. They cannot be allowed to cut
up such capers, nor in truth Is anything fur
ther from their Intention. They would feel
badly if the chance were open to them.
They love buster, but hate action.
Nor shall We bestow any pleasure on these
.ha. thott 81.
contingency on which they have based the
execution of their grand scheme of pyrotech-
MICS is not likely TO occur. We look in vain
for the probability of repeal or mOdifca-
ton Of the Fugitive Slave Law. That law
We suppose is destined to remain on the
Statute book. We could wish it were 9TH
erwise. We could wish TO have il modified
in many particulars, especially by the intro
duction Of q jury tIial among its provisions.
But there IS not the least indication that
such change viii DC made. The next Con-
gress will not make il. There is no where
great party demanding it. Public senti-
ment regards it with comparative indiffer-
ence There is no such overwhelming popu-
lar movement in favor # repeating or chang
ING this law rs there was at the north in
1913 and 40 against the extension of Sla-
very. How then can the law be touched
Nor in truth is the matter of So great
practical consequence as has been supposed.
To the South the law is of no real advantage,
because the expense Of getting slave un-
der i, is after all more than he is worth.
What is the market value Of all the slaves