The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-21

Sooot0AQ49 WHO tuo TGcoto UQpo1uou a V(3k ~
markable body. been psrssvere4 IN by The anti-
slavery power until they have been Gro wnsd with
eminent success. Their effect has been, tsrri-
torially. to surround you with -soil-to ex-
clude you from all share in the settlement Of
one million eight hundred thousand sections Of
and--from all share in the government Of the
public domain--t0 have not an acre OF public
lands in the territories to which your citizens
can emigrate in search Of fortune. Politically,
they brand you rs interiors in the Union--as de-
graded by your contact with slaves, and as un-
worthy OF an association with the Northern man
in the great work of extending the institutions
OF liberty over the vast plains Of the West
They constitute the complete triumph Of anti
slavery, against the institution OF African slavery
outside Of the States. They erect barriers
against its spread and diffusion beyond the lin
its where it now exsts--they have torn from
slavery even part Of lis recognized domain,
and have obtained foothoId from which to as
sail it within the States--in the recognition of
the right Of Congress to prescribe the circum-
stances under which the slave may be freed
The sanity or honesty Of that man may we'll be
doubted by you, who shall say that in this sys-
tenn of measures the South has not lost every
practical point for which it contended.
On the floor Of the Senate, the great author
and advocate of that system, MIR. Clay, declared
that the South got nothing by the measure but
her honor"
The beaten soldier declares all to have been
lost but his honor" and the world judges Of
the truth of the bulletin by his attempts to re.
treve the fortunes of the day. Whether indeed
the South has saved its honor" will depend
more upon the manner in which it shall treat the
aggressions upon her rights than upon the word
Of one who has even concealed the asp in the
olive branch which he has rendered to her, and
whose pledges have been readily made but to be
violated at convenience.
1t has been enormously asserted, that the Flu
tive slave law was a part of the system of the
Compromise That measure was brought for
ward and urged in the Senate, by Mr. Mason Of
Virginia, who opposed the compromise meas
ures in all their stages, and was passed through
Congress mainly by Southern votes-but three
out Of The thirty-one Northern senators voting
for it. The phalanx that pushed through the
measures hostile to the South, broke upon the
vote on that bill But we had clear and indis-
putabe right to the passage OF the bill. The
clause in the Constitution already quoted, makes
it the duty Of Congress and of the States to en-
force our rights in that particular That clause
expressly says, such fugitive " shall be delivered
up
The nero performance Of so plain duty
can never be urged as n concession, unless indeed
the North deems compliance with that Consti-
tuition in any particular not to be duty, but
matter of discretionS-All that can be said as
to that law is, that in this one particular Con-
gress has done its duty. But how miserable an
apology does that law afford for the repeated
violations of our rights in particulars Of vastly
more Importance. A history of the operation of
this very law will prove the strength of that
faction which has controlled the government, and
which acts upon a law higher than the Constitu-
ton. 1t is est mated that sixty-one thousand
six hundred and twenty four slaves have escaped
to the non-sayeholding States since 1910, and
that an average of fifteen hundred and forty es-
cape annually. And yet, since the passage of
that law, the unusual influences have been
broughtto bear, in order to produce political eff
feet not half-dozen fugitive slaves have been
re-captured In the most noted instance of re-
capture-that of Long-in city where it is
supposed more favorable influence exist in favor
Of the enforcement Of the law than elsewhere
in which eminent counsel volunteered their ser.
vices to the claimant--though the slave declared
his willingness to 90 back to the claimant, the
cost of the recovery was the full value Of the
slave, about eight hundred dollars In a city
Boosting more OF refinement and morality, and
of a aw-abiding spirit than any IN the Union
in the attempt, even the warrant could not be
served Clergymen, merchants and lawyers
| formed themselves into II committee of vigilance
to protect the slave--the claimant was advised
to leave the city, and refusing was prosecuted
by vexatious suits and forced to give bonds in
heavy penalties, for bis appearance before the
Courts Of Boston, to answer TO an action OF
SANDER in having declared the slaves to be fug-
tive slaves! And but Yesterday after an arrest
of fugitive slave, he is rescued from the Uni
ted States officers in the court room, in law
abiding Boston.
All attempts TO execute this law has showed
that the entire Northern community is stirred to
its very depths upon this question Not only
political conventions Of all parties, but several
ecclesiastical bodies, have each and all resolved
that the law is nquitous and should be re-
pealed. Grave and reverend senators, when the
| bill was upon its passage, informed the Senate
that it would never be executed, but would be-
come n dead letter npon the statute-book. Their
| predictions are fulfilled rs to its inefficacy, but
the act will not, in our opinion, be allowed to re-
| main even as ga dead letter" upon the statute
| book. Even now one of the sovereign States,
Vermont, has enacted a law nullifying its provi-
sions within her limits. Mr.. Dickinson, of New
York, and Mr.. Phelps, of Vermont, who voted
for, it have each been defeated by the frce-soil
influence. Mr.. Webster has been obliged to
succumb in Massachusetts, Free-soier was
appointed TO his vacancy, and Mr.. Horace Mann,
who fearlessly took issue with Mr.. Webster
upon some sentiments tending to ameliorate the
blow given to the South, has been returned to
Congress. Mr.. Seward and his higher law
doctrines" are in the ascendant
Iowa LEGISLATIVE JoKE.--An incorrigible
wag has admirably succeeded in perpetrating a
capital joke upon the Iowa legislature In pas.
sing upon the bill prohibiting negroes from en-
tering that State and aflixing heavy penalties
upon them whca they do enter it, j. T. Morton,
Of Henry, who is both Wing and wag, moved
an additional section, that the bill should be
in force from and after its publication in the Inca
Free Democrat" the abolition paper at Mount
Pheasant Tho bill went back to the House SO
amended. The amendment was accepted by the
House, and the bill passed. After a while the
idea began TO exc through the hair of member
that the abolition organ might decline publishing
the law, and thereby Kill it stone dead and he
| Il a. a