New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-12

are subiected. When toe rIsoiessed MINISTERS o. 7,
Thirst refuse TO sit 10 inc councils oil "a. en"Ich
,;.h thsr reverend b. sthrenp not csored like them
Vim "a wbcn coIored candidates for the minis
g. arc excluded from theological semnares Sole
M Of the tincture OF their skin, 1t ~ not
s,,rnrs:nt that others should be regardless OF the
Semporai. as certain ofthe clergy are OF the sPTit
.,.i welfare of men 10 whom God as been pleased
-. g;vs n dark complexion When the piOus coli
ored outh is denied the usual facilities for quail
S;n, him TO minister TO the diseases OF the souls
Of his people, who shalt rigidly condemn the pro-
6ssors of the healing art for denying similar tacl-
ties for minlsterngto the diseases OF the body, by
excluding coored students from their lecture
roomsf Surely the ruffians who insult and abuse
the colored man, and the demagogues who, avail
ing themselves of popular prejudice, deny MN
equality before the law, have high examples toex-
tenua' e, if not to justify their pride and cruelty
In striving to secure 20 our colored people the
rights freely accorded to all Others and thus CIV
~ them the means of maintaining themselves by
hone At industry, Of developing and improving their
talents and of studying the things which belong to
their peace, the Society is pursuing an object in
perfect accordance with Christian bcneyoence,
and one that must commend itself TO every unpre-
JUDGED mind.
ATRocITY OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT
In our opposition to Slavery and Caste, we de-
sire TO use no instruments Of unsanctifed temper;
nor have we any wish to conceal those we do use.
Believing it sinful to compel an innocent man to
serve as slave, we must refuse to be partakers Of
other mems sins; and hence, under no circumstan-
ces can we aid in catching securing fugitive
slaves. whatever may be the penalties OF our dso-
becience to sinful act OF Congress. Ii Will be
the endesyOr ofthe A. and i. A. >. Society to dis
suade all from looming IN slave-hunts, a palpa-
bic violation Of Christian duty. Settil aside the
NOR al turpitude Of Slavery, the Fugitive Slave Act
comprises mass of iniViity in no degree required
by the provisions of the Constitution. The Act
poipts out the mode of seizing end snrrendering,
not slaves but persons OD5ng serotce or id00T,
and IS the efore applicable to white apprentices,
and TO persons under contract to labor for limited
time. Apprentices have already been surrendered
underi H. and there IS no reason why others, VINO
are alleged to have hired them selves out Tor a
month or o year may not be. TO illustrate the m
tense Injustice of this Act. let suppose Young
man 10 leave his fathers home, in Boston or New
Vork for California. After the lapse of year or
two he returns. While pursuing an honest call
inc he is arrested in the street, on the charge OF
stealing--the stereotype charge IN such cases, to
preyent resistance-and hurried before Commis-
sioner An affidavit made in California, and there
certified by iudge is read, setting forth that the
prisoper il the apprentice of the deponent. lmme-
diately, without being permitted TO produce any
Testimony to rebut a document which the law de-
clares SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE, ne IS put III irons,
and sent on board vessel departing for the Pa
cifc. without being permitted TO take leave OF his
parepts wife or children. Do we revolt at the
mere supposition of such barbarityl But does
the barbarty and injustice depend on the COM
nIexion of the victim That the Constitution
quires the preparation OF such horrible outrages
ON Justice and humanity, is denied even by Daniel
Webster, the great champion OF the law, since he
propesed giving the accused the benefit of trial
by Jury. We should be faithless to the cause not
ONLY of Christianity, but of civil liberty, did we
not oppose an enactment so detestably atrOcOus
one which establishes title TO property IN an ln~
teigeDt, accounta ole, immortal being, on testimo-
nv v hich in no civilized country would support
the claim to dog.
The cruelty and heartessness attending the ex-
ecution of this law, the extraordinary zeal which
our rich men and politicians manfs st in its behalf
the sanction given to it by popular dvines, and
the infidcl which many OF our party presses
have deemed it expedlent to cast on the adyo-
Gates of ~ higher law" than an act OF Congress,
have unitedly exerted NEST disastrous influence
on the tone Of public morals. One of the most
striking instances of this influence is the vile at
tempt made in Pennsyly ania under the special
countenance of the Federal Administration, to
convert resistance to the execution of the Fugl-
tive Act into the capital crime of high treason.
A fugitive, who had been arrested at Boston, was
liberated by some Of his cOlored friends, who, nd
ing the door of his room in the court house open,
hustled the officer and secured the escape of the
intended victim. Not weapon had been pr0vi
ded, net wound was gwen; yet the rescue was
boldly proclaimed by Mr. Webster, Secretary of
State, to be an act OF treason, leyyIng OF war
against the United States!
THE cHRIsTIANA AFFAIR.
On the llth September, 1851, more serious af-
fair occurred. An armed party, headed by dep
uty marshal, attempted to arrest some fugitive
slaves in Pennsylvania. The fugitives, aided by
some Others stood on their defense. The claim
ant, Maryland stakeholder was shot in the afray,
aud the fngitves escaped. Five days after the
Governor of Maryland was officially informed, from
the department of State" that the District
Attorney was specially instructed to ascertain
whether the facts would make out the crime of
TREASON against the United States, and if SO, to
take prompt measures to secure all concerned, for
trial Tor that orFESsE." Faithfully and zealously
were the orders from Washington obeyed. Incred-
lille as it may seem, Grand jury was found with
consciences sufficiently plant to present no less
than seventy eight indictments against thrty-nine
persons, alleged to have been concerned in the
riot. All were indicted for TREASON, as well as
for various crimes OF inferior grade.
Let il be recollected that the Constitution TO
prevent tyrannieai prosecutions for constructive
treason, declares: Treason against the United
States shall consist ONLY in levying war against
them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them 4
aid and comfort" IL may well be supposed thai
the Government selected for the commencement
Of the prosecutions the strongest case Of tho
thirty mine. On the 25th November, Cashier Han
way, white man of irreproachabe charact was
placed at the bar charged, on the oaths of the
Grand Jury, that on the lith September, 1851
'piE DID wIcKEDIy AND TRAIToRoUsLY LEVY
WAR AGAINST rHE UNITED STATES" The only
efense proved against him was that he was near
the scene Of action, unanned, and on horseback
and that when ordered by the deputy-marshal 10
aid him in capturing the fugtiyes, like an honest
man, he declined rendering the required assist
ance. The presiding Judge charged the Jury that
"The Court feel bound 10 say, that thew do not
think the transaction with which the prisoner is
charged with being connected. rises 10 the dignity
OF treason or OF levyng war; " and a verdict of
not guilty was retained without hesitation. This
verdict led the Government TO abandon an tbe In.