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

cepl 50 lar as IL may o"'iSi} "i0 -
bilities and appease the wounded dignity OF
slave owners.
At the North the feeling against the law
is rather one Of abstract principle than Of
universal, ever-ready interest. 1t Is seen
that the law is an improper one, fayo7ins
Slavery aud trampling on the time-honored
guarantees of American freedom, but st.ll
this fact does not rouse the people to action.
Were slaves recaptured every day it would
be otherwise, but so rare are such captures,
and 50 various and easy the means of con-
veying fugitives into safety under the Brit
ish fsg, that there is no general excitement
on the subject 1t is seen that the main
point at issue in the struggle of iS-i0 was
won by freedom, and though an occasional
outrage on humanity may be committed un-
der the law, still in the reaction which ne
cessarily succeeds warm popular move
ment there is disposition to let the law It.
self remain untouched and subside into its
natural place as dead letter. Sometimes
indeed. when in some rare case it is brought
forth and applied, as sometimes happened
with the law which preceded it, there will
be local excitement, but warm general
feeling is not to be expected As We said,
we could for some reasons wish this were
otherwise. But these are the facts the
people will not act, and in such 4 case we
must acknowledge their decision even
while duty may require us sometimes to OPP
pose it.
The truth is that the business of slave
catching would never have assumed such
magnitude in the public view, but for the
great controversy on the more important
question of Slavery Extension. The South
would never have thought much about it
had not defeat on the main issues of that
controversy made her strenuous about lesser
things. The South annexed Texas to ex-
tend the power of Slavery, and by the help
Of Northern Democrats I'VE will not now
mention names,) carried the day in that
struggle But that was not enough. The
Mexican war was made and the Territories
acquired, all with view to the same end of
extending the Southern institution and per-
petuating its power. But here the North,
which had meekly acquiesced in the Texas
operation, kicked out of the traces, and the
Free Soil agitation begun. In the contest
then set on foot, each party, Of course,
raked up every ground for complaint against
the other, and the South made a great ado
about the escape Of slaves. And while
beaten on the main uestion,-thanks to
Wing administration and the frmness of
some gallant spirits among the Northern
members of Congress,-the Slavery party
GOT the present Fugitive Law enacted,
and--much good may it do them.
For the whole agitation the South is re-
sronsible. Had it obeyed the dictates Of
practical wisdom. staid at home and minded
It's own business-had it concentrated its
population instead OF dispensing, and had
il let Texas and Mexico alone, the Free
Soil Party would not have been called into
existence, nor would there have been any ne
cessity for saving the Union. Nor yet
would new fugitive law have been enact
ed, but on that head things would have gone
as quietly as before. Slaves would now
and then have escaped from the border
States, and one out Of fifty or so would have
been recaptured. But the grabbing or
losing of them would not have been ques-
ton of national importance as they have
how sought TO make it appear, nor would
the South have endured any humiliation.
The lesson is good one let US hope it
may be improved, and that the South may
at last profit by experience and in future
avoid all unwise attempts to enlarge the
area Of It's institutions.
And now that this agitation is substanti-
ally over for the present at least, We may
express our conviction that it has been a
most useful thing. 1t has virtually put a
check on future schemes Of annexing Slave
States, it has strengthened the Union as
storm puri6es the atmosphere, and shown
the full absurdity Of South Carolina separa-
tism. Ii has rooted deeper the natural dis
like of ireemen TO slavery, and when that in
stitution shall at last cease to exist on this
continent, we doubt not that those who Wit
ness its extinction will look back with CRATE
ful remembrance TO The crisis We have Just
gone through.
Such is the prospect as regards this law.
There is To chance for its immediate repeal