The southern press., 1852-01-15

brought within the law Of treason. ANY one
must see, at single glance, that If this decision
stands, the fugitive slave act is mockery and a
deluson If this be the law, then why were
those trials undertaken! Cui bono Was it
to smooth over an unprecedented outrage with
soft phraseologies and the formalities OF legal
routine This cannot be supposed. 1t is pro-
per here to remark that the jurors stand blame
less, because the charge of the court prohibited
a conviction. Neither will question the integ-
rity of the judges, by assembling to them any but
the most correct motives, however fallacious
their decision may be, through which the blood
OF Gorsuch has gone unrecognized, and the
Constitution of the country unvindicated
That decision has closed the doors Of the Uni
ted States courts, and the yioiators of the law
have gone back to Lancaster county, to answer
the charge of murder, before juries Of their own
neighborhood, and the judges of their own local
tribunals. How far Pennsylvania may yet sue.
coed in wiping from her ancient 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 constituents shall not be
shed by mobs, in the face of the sun, and the
Constitution OF your fathers, without justifca.
ton or remedy. You should leave no lawful
and constitutional power unused to ing home
to recreant States the force of your displeasure.
Although decided majority of the people of
Pennsylvania may be, and doubtlessly are, in IA
vor of the right, yet they will be held accounta-
be for the treason and murders perpetrated by
their fanatics, whose lawess violence they fail to
suppress or punish. No people can plead inno-
cence who stand by as passive spectators OF
crimes committed within their jurisdiction
They are bound to enforce the right, else we
hold them guilty of the wrong Let that CON-
monwealth be distinctly given to understand
that, henceforth, words will gave place'to acts.
You owe it to your honor; it is necessary to
Your peace; 1t IS essential to your domestic Sc
curity. Heretofore the cry of "peace, peace,
ohen there as no peace" has had the effect to
embolden your assailants who have learned TO
believe that your indignant denunciations are
mere occasional explosions of light wrath--mere
elevations of the !" Southern safety. palpe," as
they have insultingly termed it. Beware that
your State does not become mockery! Re-
member that Of all the bitter curses which can
,affiict nations, border welfare is the most dire
full. Consider the likelihood of that result,
springng from the exasperated feelings OF
friends, relatives and neighbors, when they gaze
upon the mangled remains of such men as.
Edward Gorsuch, who may hereafter be butch
ered,.a ne was, in the exercise of constitu-
rional right. Donot shut your eyes to the preg-
nant truth that human reason will master hu.
man passions only so long as hope points to
relief by lawful means. Frmness now is pat
riotism. Candor now is wisdom 1t may be
too late hereafter
With an abiding confidence in the mercy OF
Providence, whose fathery eye hath watched
over the infancy of this republic, commit to
your prudent counsels this momentous subject