The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-04
Earops.n ln,srm.ad llns with slavery Laws.

H
Il seems that jealousy of power aud aggression on
the rights Of the southern States of this Union are not
confined to British abolonisis and fanatics 10 the
French National Assembly the subject OF the police laws
Of Of southern States has been specially ami
madveed upon and loud complaints and furious threats
uttered by certain loving member who will bear
away the palm from Messrs Giddings and Seward The
ssoranoe the impertinence d this foreign legislator
passes all bounds The Solons and Lycuguses of Congo
Dahomey could display hardly less knowledge OF the
principles and organisation of government than their
friends and rivals in the National Assembly of France
and those who attached to the press of Great Britain
The following elaborate article, from The London Gazette
OF the 9Th of December last, will corrotorae this state
ment We will take this occasion offer few remarks
on this subject, which has thus engrossed the attention Of
Legislators and journalists in the two most potent and
enlightened nations Of Europe We owe this to our own
sense Of self respect nation, since aragned
before the world for violating the laws OF nations and of
civilization by these condemned enaclmens.
is needless to anayze the respective powers OF the
S,sls and federal governments, they bear upon this
question 1t is enough to remark tha, BY the terms Of
the national constitution the regulation of police matters
and especially those tina, relate the security and rights
OF slavery, are exclusively vested in the several States
themselves The federal constitution recognises this
power, and Of whatever the States do in pur
suancs OF II is binding the general government and all
the nations Of the globe The federal government is
compelled TO respect these regulations and has no oons
,uonal authority cater into treaties or compacts which
eonavene them. THIS great constitutional principle the
nations Of the world ought to understand and if they dis
like our Laws government, know of one mode
only Of getting redress-and that to refuse to make ea
ties OF engage in intercourse with at all
They must take us and government as they hnd
US and not with the hope the power of moulding either
70 suit their own interests and opinions The laws com
planned OF were passed under the conviction that they
had become indispensable for the safety Of hoss States
wherein they exist Recent abolition entertainments
rendered them necessary OF all the mschievous agents
OF the aboltonis,s, the black sailors were The most
Troublesome and dangerous Generally restless, mutt
NOUS cunning. and daring, they scattered the 6rebands
Of dsconen and instruction among all the slaves with
whom they came in contact Besides, their color and
appearance facilitated the escape OF slaves and the evils
that resulted from their free and unchecked association
with them were daily becoming more formidable and
alarming South Carolina compelled in self-de.
fence, ~ she supposed and by virtue of her own
police powers, 10 these laws to which our own
people are required to submit and against which these
European fanatics now declaim so Justify In like man.
States pass quarantine laws protect the health
OF their citizens The French ministers throw out III.
suggestion that coored officers in their navy nigh, come
under The ban Of these restrictions We magin. that
negro admiral and negro cook their vessels would
fare very much alike We know Of no distinctions in
negro ranks. They are all regarded by government
and laws inferior to the whites. They did no, create
the xovernmen-they form no part Of il and although
they possess certain rights under il, they have not the
fundamental rights OF constituents OF it, but of subjects
10 It The difference between the two classes is clear
and obvious as the sua at MONDAY In our national
intercourse with foreign ovemmens-France or Great
Britain. for instancs-we deal with them as nations Of
white men, II they have declared negroes to be subjects
or citizens with equal privileges and rights a. Them
ves that cannot give their negroes the same rights or
Privileges, under treaty with US. in all the State. Of this
moni for as we have remarked. The federal govern.
cot cannot confer such benefits in opposition 10 the
'ss laws We presume the treaties under which this