Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-11-13
INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER IS, 1851.
The Fugitive Slave Law Again.

The Freesoi organs and their defenders and hangers
on, have abused without stunt mercy for our de-
fence Of this law. Twelve months ago. the Wing press
Of the North either neutral took open ground
in opposition to it. The law was demanded by the
whole South, to their rights under the Consttu-
tion. The Ohio State Journal, Wing paper Of char
aeter and influence, Published Columbus, Ohio, con-
tains the proceedings of Convention of Coored per-
sons held that city, in which the Fugitive Slave Law
is denounced and the conduct of the rioters at Christi
ana and Syracuse justified and applauded. The Jour-
mall in publishing these proceedings makes the following
Just and appropriate remarks, which we commend to
the careful attention Of such Of our readers as may
have had any doubts this subject:
Whatever abstract reasoning may adopt, the
whole matter comes back TO this point: Will we,
will not, sustain and carry the plain provisions
OF the Constitution OF the United Statesl Disguise this
as we may this opposition t. the reeapture OF fugitive
slaves IS nothing less than opposition to the Constitution
of the United States The persons who evnce much
leelng and desperation tins subject, will be satisfied
with nothing short of repeal Of that provision OF the
Constitution which provides that fugitive slaves shall be
given up lt comes TO this, aud 10 this only. Our
COlored friends do rot the proceedings Published be-
low, complain Of any provision OF the Fugitive Law. IL
Is not pretended that the persons about whom the Chris
tana riot occurred were not fugitive slaves. 1t IS not
claimed that they were reemen. under the Constitution
and laws II tue United States. But the whole CON-
plant is that the master permitted to pursue the iu
gtve at ai and these say That they do not recog
ze this right that they will resist it, rciby, and that
they admire and applaud the conduct of their Coored
brethren in Pennsylvania in the resistance they made
whereby the OF the ugIIivcs shot dead and
others seriously injured.
We thus see that we must either abandon the Con-
sttuton refuse to comply with the agreement made by
our oreiathers and be willing to disunon, with all
Its dire consequences, come upon US; must recog
nze the right of the master t. retake his runaway slave
and do tha without modest alton AND the question
or ~ ONE mn ID m a
rIcan citizen. il better TO refuse to give mp fugitive
slaves, and thus rese recognize the rights secured
To the people Of the South by the Constitution o the
United States than will be To adhere TO and obey that
Constitution and thus preserve the union of these States
and the poweFand unity Of this great American Repub
lief VIII we sub more evils by DisunOn than we now
suffer by Unionl Will the interests OF Humanity
aud the cause of Civil Liberty throughout the world
he advanced now by the failure Of Repubic-the d
vision OF the strength and energy OF this people, and the
quarres and chickering's and ultimate bloody euds and
Iorays that will inevitably come if the dissolution OF the
Union takes placel In every point Of view which
can take OF IL, good-but evil, and evil
cOntInually-tO result from disunon.
" Let hatter himself that the Union would
stand hour if the people Of the North universally sub
scribej TO the doctrines and sentiments Of these resolu
tOns We should by this very act virtually dissolve the
Union We say lo.the South, we will use so much of
this compact suits and benefits US, but will not
obey and respect that portion which does not suit
Who hopes that Government or Union can be sustain
ed under such circumstances! To our mind it is per-
,ecty eN'ue"I ihtt we couu not Iemah uhiteu peoe
II we assume this ground. And the question returns,
would the people OF the Union suffer evils by dsu
Mon than they suffer by permitting the master
retake his runaway save2 Upon this prepared
with prompt answer. We vastly prefer the Union.
We prefer the happiness and prosperity OF the white
population of the Free States; and when the alternative
is presented whether will peril all these, with al
most the certainty Of their being wrecked whether
will continue to permit the master to take back his
slave, say once and speak the sentiments of
ninety hundredths of the American people, when
say prefer and shall stand fast by the Union and
the best interests of the whites"