The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06
THE REAL DIFFICULTY.

During the debate on the reference of the Pres
ident's message concerning the Boston rescue
Mr.. Mason Of Virginia insisted that the Fugi-
tive law, to prove efficient, must be carried out
by the People of the free States with alacrity,
diligence, and zeal. Mr.. Cass wished to know
whether he would have the People turn out, with
hue and cry after runaway, leaving their ooou-
pations for the purpose of arresting him. Would
Mr. Mason he asked, and his neghbors leave
their homes and business to seize fugitive from
justice from Northern State The reply was,
Certainly, if necessary.
Both gentlemen entirely overlooked the radical
difference between the two cases. robber or
murderer isan offender against human and divine
law. lie is an enemy to mankind and no matter
where the act may have been committed, every per-
son has deep interest in his seizure and punish
ment The law Of justice and the instinct of self.
preservation cry out against his escape, and de-
msnd retribution A slave is not a criminal, but
innocent Of offence, he is deprived of his freedom
and degraded to the condition of property So
ciety has suffered 40 wrong at his hands, has no
punishment to lnfict upon him, cherishes no re-
Shareholders, is regarded as a misfortune, by
others, as a grievous wrong That he should
seek to escape from it, excites no surprise offends
against no right, no instinct Of Humanity The
attempt vindcates his manhood, and, If successful
must demonstrate, even to his owner his fitness
for freedom.
The citizens of a SLAVE State do not regard
the escape of a slave as they do that of crimi-
nal and how can il be expected that free State
community can feel indignation or concern at
such an eventl If there he any feeling at all, 1t
is one Of sympathy for the fugitive. He has
done no wrong, no harm to anybOdy-his flight
is no offence against the laws of nature or Of ma
tious-he is doing what every one knows he has
perfect right to do, seeking to escape from
degradation forced upon him in violation Of the
rights Of man, and to secure that freedom which
is the birthright of every human being. The
stakeholder does not regard him as criminal, for
doing what be himself would do, in similar cir
cumstanoes: can he blame the citizens OF free
State for concurring with him in opinion
Here lies the real difficulty in attempting to
enforce any law for the rendition Of fugitive
slaves Forget the Declaration Of Independence,
blot out the lights Of Christianity, annihiate the
instincts of Humanity, convert Man into Devil,
and God into Tyrsn,-then, and not till then,
shall your Fugitive laws be executed with alac-
rity, diligence, and zeal then, and not till then
will it be as easy to catch and punish fugitive
slave, as fugitive felon.
Violent resistance is not necessary to nullify a
law. We deprecste such resistance, as wrong in
principle and injurious in consequences, unless in
deed the evil to be remedied has reached such
height as to justify its opponents in resorting to
revolution and putting at hazard all the greet in
terests already secured by the existing order OF
things TO render q law inefficient or inopera-
tive 10 our country, 1t is only necessary to with
draw from II the breath Of Public Sentiment. A
slave from Virginia passes through New York
on his way to Canada People give him food,
money, lodging, ordinary charities tell him the
road to the next town-withhold information to
his pursuers concerning him. In all this they
commit no illegal act, do not even violate the
spirit of any law. But il this exercise Of ordinary
hospitality, which no law can forbid or prevent,
renders the Fugitive act iu most cases ineficient'
how can it be helped The evil, II IL be one, is
beyond the reach Of legislation, denunciation, or
argument and Il 10 ~ childish to complain Of IL,