New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-12
AN AODRES 8
THE ANTI-SLAVERY CHRISTIANS
OF THE UNITED STATES.


avowed and the measures pursued by that asso-
citation, we beg leave to submit to you the consid-
erations which peculiarly entite it at the present
junctuTe to the active sympathy and eifectua aid
Of the friends Of the AntiSlavery cause.
While the advocates Of Constitutional Gov
eminent in Europe are lamenting a widespread
reaction in behalf Of despotic authority, the
friends of the inalenabs rights Of man behold with
grief and modification similar reaction in our
own Republic, in behalf Of despotlsm more mex
orable, and more hostile to HUMAN progress and
happiness, than any which afflicts the Eastern
Continent. In both instances, the reaction is
more apparent than real. Opinions in favor Of
human liberty remain the same, but the express
sion of them has to greater or less degree been
stifed by a sudden, mighty, and combined effort of
capitalists and politicians, aided to great extent
by ecclesiastical influence, and in each case ac-
companied with violated pledges and revolving
perfdy.
In our own community, the cause Of Christian
morals has been deeply wounded, and new inn
pulse gwen to in6dslity, by the various modes
adopted by merchants, politicians and divines to
conciIiute the saveholding interest. Doctrines
the supremacy of human laws, which, if true,
convict the mobile army of martyrs" including
tho blessed apostles themselves, of being but fell
ons and traitors. Public men, and even public
meetings. have proiessed in unqualified terms their
ignorance of higher law than the Federal Con-
stiution. Rich men among us have gwen of their
abundance to reduce 70 slavery the fugitive from
bondage and lawyers, heretofore regarded as re-
putable, have not shunk from taking reward
against the innocent, and prostitutng noble pro-
fession to the service of the slaye-catcher. The
sympathy heretofore felt for the victim of oppres-
sion who had escaped from his prson-house, and
the repugnance manifested to aid in his arrest,
have been denounced as "prejudlces to be con-
Quered;" and lips which once uttered noble words
in behalf of human rights, have been busily EN-
ploved in proclaimng to republicans the duty of
PATCHING slaves. Nav, some proiessed ambassa.
doris of the mercitul Jesus have announced from
their putts that liz has sanctioned the CONVEX
sion into articles of merchandise of beings charged
with no crime, made little lower than the angels,
and redeemed by his own blood A law has been
passed for the recovery of fugitive slaves, which,
ior its cool violation of all the received and ac-
knowledged principles of judicial justice for it, out
RACES on humanity, and for its arbitrary require
ment of every citizen to assist IN slaye-hunt
when commanded by an official menia Is uneXam-
pled in the legislation of any Christian country.
Yet an active agency in the execution of this most
detestable law has been made, even by protested
ministers of the gospel, test OF Christian obedi-
ence.
The success which has thus far attended the
combined effort to which we have referred, has
been in a great measure owing to the fancied Sc
curity of the North and the stimulated violence
OF the South.
EXTENSION OF SLAVERY AND PANIC ABOUT TIKI UNION.
The war against Mexico was waged for the ac-
auision of slave territory and great was the fear
felt by the North that human bondage would be
extended to the shores Of the Pacific. No less
than fourteen States protested, through their Leg
islatures, against any enlargement of the area Of
Slavery. The voice of Daniel Webster was raised
TO warn his countrymen of the impending calamity
and TO approye and enforce the great principles
announced by the Free Soil Convention at Buffalo.
The Innate love of liberty was awakened through
out the North, and its Representatives in Con-
gress bowed 10 the will Of their constituents and
all the devices of the shareholders to procure FER
ritolial Governments for the conquered Terrific
ries. allow ing the slavery of portion Of the in
hsbltaats. were defeated. Soon, the WIlmot pro-
yiso applied, with the assistance OF Daniel Web
ster TO Oregon, secured that important Territory
10 freedom. This was followed by the joyful ia
telgence that New-Mexico and California had
hotb adopted State Constitutions prohibiting
slavery. A shout Of victory assembled from the
North, and the greatness of the triumph was sup
| posed to b. attc5ted by the wailngs OF despera-
tion uttered by the shareholders. Ii was at ths
moment of fanced security that the capitalists
and politicians contryed panic about the Union,
and traders in Southern votes and merchandise de-
yised the patriotic work Oi saving the Union, by
surrendering the Territories Of New-MexIcO and
Utah to the shareholders, and making slaye-hunt-
ing Il national duty, under regulations Of extraOr-
binary cruelty. The work was hastened on by the
most astounding treachery, supported by the au
dacious assumption that the law OF physical
geography and Asiatlc scenery rendered II physi-
cslly impossible that any portion Of the vast re-
zion conquered from Mexico could ever be trOdden
~ slaves.
A dissolution Of the Union could have no other
effect on the slayeholdng interest than to break
down those bulwarks which the Federal Govern
ment from its beginning, has been busy in raising
around IT, and to rouse ali beyond the slave terri
tory into active hostility. But although the Union
was in little danger, the work OF saving il was no
less profitable than patriotic as It tended 10 pre-
vent the political and commercial nOnntercourse
threatened by the South; and the proceedings Of
Unlon-sayiDg committees were found cOnJenent
mode of advertising for the trade and votes OF the
Shareholders. In this manner an influence was
exeTted, which aided by the supposed security Of
the North, led to the so-caled Compromise, in
which the fruits Of the recent victory were all
thrown away, with the single exception OF the
anti slavery Constitution Of California. Some
tbiog was indeed, e med to the character Of the
national capital, by prohibiting the importation OF
slaves for sale, but nothing TO the cause Of hu-
manity, since the traffic only transferred from
Washington TO Alexandra. In return for the Cal
ifonian Constitution, which Congress could not
have prevented and did not dare to annul, We
have had the prodigious enlargement Of the Slave
State of Texas, the abandonment Of New Mex
leo and Utah to slavery, and the enactment OF the
Fugitive Bill as drafted by the shareholders them
selves, forced through the House Of Representa-
tiyes without discussion and 20 intensely odious
| and wicked that not even personal interest nor
marty diseiDl.ne could induce OEe-Lof Of the mem
| bers OF the Lower House to incur the iniany OF
giving it their votes.
The political parties, having thus concillated the
| Shareholders entered upon new race set"een