The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-25
from ibe PennsyIvanihf
The Obstrut ton Inv Of 1871.

An attempt is making BY the organs OF Governor John
slon to Justify his conduct IN refusing TO sign the b re-
use OF las for the confinement OF fugitive slaves
and the in which the attempt is made is highly
characteristic The Harrisburg American, Tor instance,
states that Governor Skunk, democrat signed the bill
that Speakers Cooper and Gibbons signed Tor the house
and the senate; and that Col William Bgle the present
democratic candidate for governor, voted for il in his
place State senator. Now If this all true just
as stated, IL would furnish justification for the msera-
BILE demagogusm OF Governor Johnston, who has evl.
IDENTIFY made cool calculation OF the votes to be gained
or los, by signing this bill without the least regard for the
oblg OF the national constitution the interests OF
the State and the nation
At the time Of the passage Of the bill OF lsi7 there was
no mode-cerainy efficient modeo carrying ont the
constitutional provisions FOR the delivery OF fugitive
slaves The Supreme Court, the OF Prgg agains,
the Commonwealth OF Pennsylvania bad decided that the
State authorities had nothing TO do with the execution OF
the law OF 1898, and there were, therefore, officers
execute the law except the United States ashals Pitts
burg and Philadelphia Ia consequence OF this great in
attending the OF legal process, growing
OF this extraordinary decision there OF violent
arrest and summary conviction Of alleged fugitves from
labor who were convey ed back 10 servude without the
agency OF correct legal process, and IN some instances
Stale officers and State prisons made the of
eiiecng these unjust measures. These Circumstances
furnished preiexl for the law OF lst7. II may also be
remembered that the subject attracted but little attention
at the time, and its future bearing noticed by
single member OF the legislature, duly considered by
the governor
But there is no authority for saying that Col Bgler
vote taken its passage al ALL which fact
in itself furnishes the best evidence that il attracted no
attention, and not examined carefully by any bit its
wing authors The bill came from the Judiciary Com.
mltiee, and explained being than the car
ng out the tt cson of the Supreme Court alluded to-
Except at Philadep hia and Ptisbug there were no Of
hcers TO execute the law of 1893, and really no legal
mode of OBTAINING iugves, and hence the detentlons
that were made al places remote from those points were
nearly all illegal There then no efficient law for
the return Of tug,ves But how changed the present
state OF affairs The conflict on the subject of slavery
has been kept up by Johnston and his party on the abo
ion side until the existence OF the Union is bazarded
The patriotic OF all parties feeling this, unite in trying to
bring about hna adjustment OF the conflict by the adop-
ton OF sundry measures OF compromise, the faithful
observance OF which Is indispensable to the continuance
OF our national existence and THIS ,annof be f6fssnRy
and conveniently carred out, the part Of thus State
unless Gouernor johnston Signs The oil ms
hands II is these mighty considerations which give
importance to his action this bill II is utterly vain
TO talk about what Governor Skunk Colonel Bgier
may have done under other cite smslances Ii the
present wnh mirch ne haze 10 deal We might well
usy an opposition 10 the law OF 1877, by saying thai
be wings were In the ascendency in both branches OF
the legislature when II passed as Governor Johnston 10
attempt TO justify his conduct by saving that Governor
Skunk bad signed the bill Suffice 1t 10 say, that il Bgler
now governor, he would not outrage the public
feeling by refusing 10 sign bill repeating law which
all now understand al the present moment TO be an in
fraction OF the constitution Of the United States