The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-26
From Harrisburg Democrat Union, Sept ~
Johnston and the pbstp uotion Law OF lsi5-Hhs
pohcy-V hat II leads 40

The deplorabe tragedy Gap Hill is OF the results
OF Gov. Johnson's wicked policy IN Iega I'd 70 the OBJ
strucon law OF lS47. Had he signed the s, repeating
the clause which prohibits TIE opening OF our als 70 te
federal government, would not now Ne caVed upon 10
the murder Of Mr.. Gorsuch, and the .'oody desc
Grafton OF the law ,
true condition of affairs, and the danger that still
threatens the Union if Gov. Johnston and hi abolition
allies still allowed 70 keep up the slavery asuauon IN
our midst
Considerations of finances well emo, Ugh; bu,
be not blinded by them 10 the true issue in The contest
A question of higher moment. involving so cis apd
political safety, is before This question Gov. John
slon would geep in The back ground; and 10 some eK
tent he was succeeding, when. provideniay inns hor
rbe affair al Gap HUI broke upon apathy, and star
tied Us with The cry Of murder and treason.
Let il be SAID that in charging these terrible tccur
FENCES upon Governor Johnston we are making pol ncs
capital tor ourselves The matter is too serious Tor such
purpose. Murder and treason are no Jokes. We say
calmly and sincerely, that had there been place pf oV
ded Tor the saekeeplng OF insives IRON labor, MS
brutal outrage upon lite and law would not have tai zen
place.
Slavery is recognised by the constitution. The pow er
TO reclaim slave property secreed IN iree States IS part
The constitutional compact The master has right .
take his slave without process; but our State law say
tla, this mus, be done without violence anu breach
the peace otherwise The master in the pursuit Of legal
and constitutional right, becomes amenabe TO the law OF
the Slate, and his slave and The masters cam i
defeated To avoid these difficulties and satisfy confc
ing Jurisdictions the iugilise-slave law OF 1850 Was
passed, providing a Uniform remedy IN all cases.
One OF the objections made by Johnston 10 this law u.s.
that the proceeding too sumnarythat Inc fugitive IL
his with heard and decided and sufficient
time not ALLOW ed HIM 10 prepare and make defence
TO obvate this objection, was proposed 10 repeal The
section OF the Stale OF lS47 which denies the use oil
la,ls the general government, so that fngnve
might be lodged in place OF safety aud have all The rea
sonab. delay he required Our jas open TO the gen
eral and foreign powers all other
they closed in that only where, by specui eons
fuonai compact OF Pennsy lyan,a with the South, they
should be open. The obs racton has been removed BY
the legislature and yet Gov Johnston defeats the will OF
the peoples representatives by silent VETO. What
wicked obstinacy What hypocrical baseness! little
while ago. and this denounced the veto as an
arbitrary remnant of tyranny, and pledged himself never
10 It, except on a most pressing emergency
Had the jas OF the Commonwealth been open to the
officers of the federal government this horrible affair
would not have happened Pennsy vana-loyal Penn.
sylvania--would no, have been thus dsgraced There
would have been no necessity take armed party and
90 IN search OF fugitives Nor would the negroes them
selves have made bloody resistance The MAJESTY THE
LAW would have overawed them, and they would have
submitted. The prisoners would have been lodged IN
place security, where they could have been consulted
by their friends, and made preparations TO resist the
claim OF the master, and successfully If 1T was IN.
founded
The election OF Gov. Johnston would be a great ma.
tiona evil All eyes now turned upon Pennsylvania
She has been claimed State devoted 10 the Union.
aud determined to the laws Of the Union Let
see whether her voice is for Bger and the Union,
Johnston and secession.