Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-01-29
The Chrfstfana Murder.

to the South.
The CTlrfstfana Murder.
Gov. Lowe, of Maryland, has sent his
message to the Legislature. He COM
ments in an indignant strain on the
Chnstiana affair. From this portion Of
his message we make the following ex-
tracts:
The peace.loving, the Unfon-roving,
the law.abiding State of Maryland has
failed to secure justice. Although she is
a border State, and is, practically, more
interested in this fugitive slave law than
all other States beside, nevertheless has
she admonishcd South Carolina against
secession, and cheercd on Virginia iii the
ways of loyalty. Although she would
never have entered this conlederacy (as
every instructed man we'll knows) without
the insertion in the Federal Constitution
of the very clause for the enforcement Of
which the fugitive slave law was passed,
nevertheless has she patiently, and almost
uncomplainingly, stood by and witnessed
the reasonable assaults upon the censti.
tuition, made by abolitionists, in and out
of Congress. When Kennedy was mur.
dered she was passive. When Gorsuch
was murdered, she spoke through her
Executive only. She has been mild as
the dove and gentle as the lamb. How
far she is to become the derision of her
sister States, it will he for you, gentle
men, to determine. | do not hesitate,
nay, it is my sworn duty to speak the truth
to you, and to say that the trial of Cast.
ner Hanaway was farce, which only
added new insult to old injury. The Of
iensve manner in which that trial was
conducted by subalten officers; tho
manifestations of the rebel synpathisers,
and the extraordinary decision Of the
court, will more fully appear to you by
reference to the lucid and powerful report
of the Attorney General, herewith trans
mitted.
"That decision has closed the doors
of the United States Courts; aud the
violators Of the law have gotie back to
Lancaster county, to answer the charge
ofmurdcr before jurics ofther own neigh
borhood, and the Judges Of their own
local tribunals. How far PcnnsyEvina
may yet succeed in wiping from her an.
cient escutcheon the foul dishonor, |
shall not venture to predict. But it is
time, representatives of Maryland, that
you should make it known by positive
measures, that the blood Of your con.
stituents shall not be shed by mobs, in
the face of the sun, and the Constitution
of your fathers, without a justification or
a remedy. You should leave no lawful
and constitutional power unused to bring
home to rccrcant States the force of your
displeasurc. Although decided MAORI
ty of the people of Pennsylvania may be,
and doubtless are, in favor of the right,
yet they will be held accountable fer the
treason and murders perpetrated by their
fanatics, whose lawless violence they fail
to suppress or punish. No people can
plead ignorance who stand by as passive
spectators Of crime committed within
their jurisdiction. They are bound to en-
force the right; else we hold them guilty
of the wrong. Let that Commonwealth
be distinctly given to understand that
hcnceforth words will give place to acts.
You owe it to your honor; it is neeessa.
ry to your peace; it is essential 10 your
domestic security"