The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-27

e&DsOu " sevssVuy ACTS o. Icgib'deioh " ps"u
} pei people who are opposed to the ConAitu-
} ton to observe ito resort to the army and
} navy, to military force 70 compel citizens "a
!, do the duty which honor, honesty, justice,
, and good faith had previously imposed upon
, them. 1t is perfectly in vain, as has been
. said, in consequence OF the sentiment which
obtains in some Of the Northern States, and
especially in Massachusetts, with the limited
number Of officers and the limited power
which they exert over the community, to en-
force this article Of the Constitution. Sir,
they are reconciled by mere casustry to
see it violated; they are reconced to it by
the pulpit; they are reconciled to it by de-
signing politicians; and SO long as the ques-
ton Of slavery forms an element Of political
agitation, you might as well attempt to hush
the winds by saying to them "cease." AS
| said the other day, you might as well ex-
pect to keep a maniac quiet by singing lula
bies as to Undertake in this way to compel a
reluctant people to do their duty.
1t has been said that this law has been
executed in good faith. Allow me to make
one remark in this connection, and repeat it
from what was said by member Of the
other House. Fifteen thousand slaves have
escaped and are in the free States. How
many Of them are reclaimed under this or
any other law' ] would just as soon have
the law Of 1898 as the present law, for any
purpose, so far as regards the reclamation OF
fugitive slaves. said so when this law was
under discussion. The senator from Ken
lucky has alluded to Indiana and some other
States. What is the fact ia relation to In
diana and some other States. What is the
fact in relation to Indiana? Why, Indiana,
Illinois, and Iowa, and some o! the other
States, have come to the conclusion, while
protesting philanthropy at one breath, to ex-
clude these people from their borders |
cast no censure on their policy. Their pol
icy is to keep out all colored people bond or
free. It's a matter Of policy that they have
consulted more than anything else. They
have aSowsd it to be their policy that they
will allow no black man to enter their bord-
ers hereafter; and the time will come when
every black man who has escaped from his
master into the State Of Ohio will be expelled
not for anything like regard for the black
man, but from policy, and policy which
| see is likely to be introduced into Califor-
mia. These persons would have been far
better to have been left as slaves than to
have been seduced under this philanthropic
advertisement thatahey will be free. They
have been in the dominal position Of free
men only to be crushed, degraded, and ex-
cluded from employment.
Gentlemen speak OF the case in Boston as
a mob Of negroes. Gentlemen may speak
of it as they please but it is symptom
thus far that they will take the part of the
fugitive slaves as long as they can, not with
a view to protect them ultimately when they
are free, but to exclude them from employ
ment. This very act in Boston will have
been communicated Through speeches de-
livered here, through speeches such as have
been delivered by the honorable senator from
i New Hampshire, which have excused the
act, to every Southern State in this Union
Why, gentlemen are absolutely holding a
spark over powder magazine | do no,
know that they can succeed in exciting the
slaves Of the South TO instruction; but il
will dissatsfy taem, and the creatures are be-
coming every day more dissatisfied with their
condition; although it is absolutely certain
that their condition will be worse under the
system Of policy and miserable philanthropy
which has been preached and pract sed in
some Of the free States-in6nitely worse
| am the friend OF the black man compared
with them and he is hypocrite who UNDER
takes to preach in favor Of degraded race,
when in fact he takes less care of them than
l would. do not know how far this law is
to operate; but will say, that if slave Of
mine escaped, ! would not 60 through any
course of litigation to reclaim him. And il
| he had escaped at a former time, and acquired
a status, would let him stay sooner than
disturb him. So far as regards the free peo-
pie Of color who have gone to the North,
the most of them would be glad to come
back know it, because have had some
experience on the subject. ! was the means
myself Of sending some fifteen to Ohio, and
| think they would be glad to come back
The consequences of such an act as this
in Boston are not limited to the particular act
itself, but its consequences are now pervad-
ing this community, and creating disturb
ance and dissatisfa :tion among these poor de-
graded creatures which gentlemen cannot
measure. My friend from Virginia has very
properly said that when the States will not
execute this law, that when the people OF the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, are averse
to it, it is perfectly vain to rely upon federal
legislation to supply what the Constitution
imposed upon them as duty. will never
give up that it was duty imposed on the
people Of the States themselves to surrender
fugitives from labor. Never was it expected
that we should have to resort to the army,
to the navy, or to the militia, and to procla-
nations, to supply this piece of legislation
and that piece Of legislation, and preach to
the country that the law will be executed.
I.say it is but preaching say there will
be but very few cases in which you can re-
claim slave, for the reason that you cannot
detect where he is, because persons in the
free States will conceal him, will throw all
impediments in the way Of his apprehension;
and after his apprehension you have to 60