The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-23
Examples move vheti i'resspts fa,i.

The N. .. Picsyune, print very moderate
it's tone, and much given to compromising maj
ters speaking of the recent sale of Massachr
sets free negroes in Texas, says:
The GALVESTON NEGRO CAsE.-There will
we doubt not, be u long and loud howl fror
New England abolitionism, when it hears
the strict and sharp way with which the law
Texas has dealt with the Massachusetts free ne
groes, who were caught at Galveston enticih!
away slaves. Yet Texas dealt with them mercl
fully, considering the nature OF the crlme' IN IL
consequences upon the security OF properly AM
the domestic quiet of her people. one hrst I'm
posed only fine, and when that was not PAID
condemned the criminals to explate tue onenc'
by personal servitude, and to form an example
to deter Others from offending in the same way
The code Of many OF the Southern States
would have justified even more summary action
White men have been hanged with little com
junction for the same offence, without exciting
any very great clamOr elsewhere, yet We expec
to hear fierce outcry againt the condemnation
to slavery of these "colored BRETHREN" whose
lives might have been taken without departure
from prevailing opinions of right, and cogen
reasons of policy. Philosophers have traced
the origin of domestic slavery to The natura
in battle became the absolute property of the
conqueror, and might be taken at will at once
To spare it on condition of personal service was
an act of mercy The notifications OF this
barbarous law in more civilized times, proceed
upon the principle, that as the original right
was an arbitrary law of necessity for self-pro-
lection against the repetition Of hostile attacks
from the same quarter, or of the same kind, the
measure of melioration is in the degree of the
proved absence of such duty of self preserva-
ton.
In combat for life, all treatment of the assall-
ants il justified to the extent which will secure
safety to the assaed. AS regards the malignant
warfare against the vitals of the South, waged
by the incendiares, Of which these criminals
were agents or tools, the Southern States have
generally believed that the lives of those caught
and convicted are Justly forfeited, and that they
ought not to be spared. Texas, more merciful,
fines only and, in the last resort, condemns
them to servtude, az unfit for the duties OF free
men, and unsafe to be left at large to plot mis-
chief She has exercised her rights; and, We
believed, too, performed an act Of duty to her
self and her sister States of the South, tor
which she is entitled to thanks This growing
and more perilous plague of free negro associa-
ton with the slave population, which is peril
naciously thrust upon US from the North in de-
fance of all our attempts at exclusion by police
laws, must be sternly met, and driven back
whenever and wherever it approaches our Dor.
ders. The sentimental advocates for negro
equality will, no doubt, rise grand clamor at
this act of stern Justice But it will justify it.
self in all rejecting minds on the grounds OF So
cal and political duty. And fthere be to some
the appearance of harsh pressure upon guilty
individuals, disproportoned to their intrinsic
responsibility for the particular act, because
they may have been deluded by others into
position, where indulgence can scarcely reach
them, the fault and the consequences are justly
to be imputed to the discreeter Williams who
the deed, kept themselves in personal
safety at distance. The EXAMPLE will, we
hope, have beneficial effect in warning some
of these poor tools from listening to such advi
sers, that they avoid the same unrelenting fate,
if detected in their crimes.