Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-07-31
The Claim Allowed.

Ii viii be remembered by our readers that We re-
ferred, few DAYS ago, to the acknowledgment, by
the House Of Representatives, of the justice of a
claim Of one Watson, a Shareholder His claim
was for compensation Cor the loss ofSeminoe slaves,
which he alleges he purchased from the Greek In-
dians, who wese engaged in the Seminole war
This claim, so palpabIy unjust and unenahie, has
been, for twelve years pending in way anoth
er the Legislature, until Monday, 18th July when
it finally passed the Senate, and will now be settled,
doubtless, IN accordance with the unconstitutional
demands Of the slaveocracy.
When this question first cime up in the Senate,
Hon. S. P. Chase requested, as it involved an inn
portant principle that it might be laid over until
Friday. 22d july when he would be able TO discuss
it. This was agreed to, and Mr.. Chase was pre-
W6 Ibis disRSslsIsa 9 q The
was passed over. On Monday, Mr.. Chase was ab
sent, during part Of the session. when the friends Of
shs measure took The opportunity rush it through
all the forms necessary 10 make il legal.
1t is commended BY presses that courtesy for
bade the Senate from pursuing this course towards
Mr. Chase, as well as its other similar course to-
wards Senator Sumner. We really wonder If any
gentleman in this country supposes that the laws OF
honor courtesy win ever be observed, where the
laws Of justice and common honesty have become
by-,sord and mockery2 We do not think so.-
How should any lover of liberty, about to advance
sustain his principles in the Senate. expect to be
treated with urI,anity, by men who have pledged
themselves TO prevent whisper Of prayer
from being heard on the gu siion Of slavery and its
correative,question Of reedom2 The majority Of
the Senate, ike the majority of the House, is com.
posed Of men without true personality. They are
units, Of parties, which completely absorb them
and deny to them either the privilege Of exercising
their courtesy or having any independent control
themselves whatever They are emphaticaIy
the serfs and minons Of the saveoeracy; and are
ready sacrifice all the majesty and dignity Of man.
hood. or all the conventional couriesies Of life, at
the bidding Of their masters.
We hope that Mr.. Chase aud MIR. Sumner have
realized this. and will henceforth expect to
war with gsnfIemen, but with the upholders Of
blind, relentless, soulless, hearess, system Of cruel
~ and wrong, which Is at war, not only with the
courlesiea Of lie, but with the decences and vitali-
ties Of society and freedom.
The vote 90 the Watson claim establishes the
rule that any soxiherner who chooses to say thar he
has lost slaves, has only to make charge upon the
general government for compensation for the same,
and be will have il.
We ought rather TO sag that this case confirms the
rule, Cor it was already established ia the fugitive
slave Law. which provides, that whenever any south
ern slave runs away from ais master, he shall be ar
rested and returned at the expense of the National
Government, however great that expense MAJ be-
II the funds Of the people may be taken to pay the
expense Of returning fugtives their masters, by
the same rule they may be applied to the payment
Cor them. when they cannot be recovered; and 80
our government have now determined, By their Eoie
for Watson's claim.
We used to be instructed in the faith, that slavery
was an Institution appertaining exclusively to the
6,ais.n whch it exists but is is now fit ever
was Slavery votes lberiy be an institution that
permits agitation, and is therefore incompatible with
the principles which govern this republic. Slavery
shseaens TO 6ne, and otherwise punish any one, in
the Norshsrn States. who does not consent to Be
bloodhonad aad pursne southern fugnives.. And
now at last. f takes the public money and pays for
Slaves shaa seem 10 have never existed except in the
imagination Of The person pretending TO have lost
hem. We are certainly coming 70 a very low con-
litiOn. We uoader il the peop's will long submit
o ii. There once was tina when Americans wera
os 20 graves spirited. and 30 mean; and We bsisve
DO spiris Of shs olden times il not YET extinct.
- visw 81 the insolence Of the slave power. and