New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-06
THE NORTHERN SLAVETRADE.

The Mobile IT16une-Ihe South caro-
lima oracle in Alabama-thus raps the noses
of some of our stanchest mercantile cham
pions of the Fugitive Slave Law:
Whenever fugitive slave is caught in New York and
restored TO his master, some OF the merchants and
others of that city make great STIR and by the most
peous appeals, mansgd to raise money enough to pur.
chase the negro and set him at liberty. Sometimes
they do not succeed but they generally make the at
tempt
Now strikes us that the moral effect of this sort of
business is decidedly bad and certain that 1t
springs from motive which, down here Is not consd-
cred sound or estimabe In the first place, Induces
unobserying believe that there is great friend
ship for Southern institutions In NewYork; and thus
they fall asleep in the notion that we have only got to
let Northern brethren manage this affair and all
will be well.
Secondly: The custom prevails nowhere else In the
Free States and 1t is suspected that it obtains in New
York sin ply for mercantile purpose II trade can be
kept in old channels by few meH occasionally geung
together and contributing each ten dollars or So why
is an investment which 10 decidedly profitable.
But we con nd that it is calculated to increase in the
North the odiousness of the Fugitive Slave Law, and
thus Their purchasing of tugves some three or tour
per annum) proceeds the presumption that both Sa'
very and the law evis-but the latter being law,
may not be evaded except indirectly e., by paying to
the master of the fugitive the price OF its evasion and
notification. II the property of poor man be seized
in NewYork for debt no subscriptions OF this sort are
set foot and because around him every one recog-
misses the justice Of the law by which he subjected to
the penalty. If the popular opinion in New York were
in condition to do in this what is done in the case
of fugitive slaves that opinion would soon be sufficient
ly strong to work change in the laws, and the poor
mans property would then be exempted from attach.
ments The precise effect will in the other case
These moned nterferences of the aw indicate that
lie unpopular and only waits convenient time to be set
aside The whole business proceeds on deepseated OBJ
jectiops TO Slavery and the Law which in the
the latter made subservient TO policy law whose
stability rests this slender foundation have du
rabilty.
If Slavery cannot be defended on the grounds of its
abstr stice it can have defence at all worthy of
note and no good man can give 1t defence. We.
therefore, detest these expedients which can only last
until power enough shall have heen acquired to get
along without them.
1t really seems to US that there is much
force and pertinence in the above sug-
gestions. Much of the money given by
our merchants to redeem fugltives surren-
dered into Slavery, is contributed by way
of salvo to their own consciences, which
tell them that Slavery is most unjust and
wicked Institution, and though their pc
cuniary interests constrain them to lend it
a certain sanction or countenance, yet
their convictions impel them to make some
sou VI SlH-OuCtiHS ioi thooC WHoh thCJ
help consign to perpetual bondage. So they
whip the old fellow around the stump, and
enjoy large share of the profits of Slave
Labor, without (as they think) duplicating
themselves in its guilt. They escape this
implication by payment of forty or fifty
dollars per annum toward the redemption
of reclaimed fugitives-not heavy outlay,
considering the importance of the object.
1t is driving rather a sharp bargain with
the adversary, but he don't seem to COM
plain-so let it go.
- But will our frank Mobile namesake
favor US with its opinion on a kindred oper-
alton of sundry of its Southern brethren
slave holders-who are accustomed to sell
contingently one or more of their slaves to
some relative, and provide that relative
with certified papers whereon to beg from
Northern sympathy the money thus called
for to redeem their loved ones from Slave
ry! What does The Mobile Tribune
think of the character and probable influ-
ences of this sort of agitation