The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-24

The N. o. Picayune, print very moderate IN
its tone, and much given to compromising mat
ters, speaking of the recent sale of Massachu
sets free negroes in Texas, says;
The GALVESTON NEGRo CAsE.--There will
we doubt not, be long and loud howl from
New England aboliiionism, when It hears o.
the strict aud sharp way with which the law o.
Texas has dealt with the Massachusetts, free ne
groes, who were caught at Galveston enticna
away slaves Yet Texas dealt with them merci'
fully, considering the nature OF the crime, In It's
consequences upon the security OF property and
the domestic quiet of her people. She hrst i'm
posed only fine, and when that was not paid,
condemned the criminals to expiate the offence
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 expect
to hear fierce cutlery agant lhe condemnation
to slavery of these "colored brethren" whose
lives might have been taken without departure
from prevailing opinions of right, and cogent
reasons of policy. Philosophers have traced
the origin of domestic slavery TO The natural
rights Of war, by which the life Of the captive
in battle became the absolute property OF the
coBqueror, 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 principles 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 Moderation is in the degree OF the
proved absence Of such duty of self preserya
ton.
In combat for life, all treatment OF the assail-
ants II justifitd to the extent which will secure
safety to the assailed. AS regards the malignant
warfare against the yitals of the South, waged
by the incendiarcs, of which these criminals
were agents or tools, the Southern States have
believed that the lives Of those caught
and convicted are Justly forfeited, and that they
ought not to be spared. Texas, more merclfui,
fines only; aKO in the last resort, condemns
them to seryitude, as 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, for
which she is entitled to thanks. This growing
and more perilous plague of free negro associa
ton with the slave population, which is pert.
nacionsly thrust upon US from the North III de-
fiance 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 al
this act of stern justice. But it will justify it.
self in all rejecting minds on the grounds of So
cial and political duty. And if there be to some
the appearance of harsh pressure upon guilty
disproportioned 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 i'm their crimes.