The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-09-30

SeISeu Win winch hrnLlllS Daron was peneaued,
who, in violation of the municipal rights OF this
place, sized fugitive slave. Hostile to this Act
as our public sentiment may be, it exhibits no tro
ply like this. The State laws of Massachusetts,
have been violated in the seizure of fugitive save
/ but no sword, like that of Reve, now hangs at
Boston
have said sir, that this sentiment is just. And
Is 1t not Every escape from Slavery necessarily
and lnstinctiveiy awakens the regard OF all who
! love Freedom. The endeavor, though unsuccess-
tul, reveals courage manhood. character. No story
is read with more interest than that of our own La
tayette, when, aided by gallant South Carolinian,
IN defiance of the despotic ordinances of Austria
Kindred to Slave Act, he strove to escape
from the bandage of Olmutz. Literature pauses
with exultation over the struggles Of Cervantes,
the great Spaniard, while slave in Algiers to re-
gain the liberty for which he says, in his immortal
work, "we ought to risk life itself. Slavery being
the greatest evil that fall to tie lot of mai" "
Science in all her manifold trir;nphs, throbs with
pride and delight, that Arago, the astronomer and
phliosopher-devotedr republican also-was redeem
ed from barbarous Slavery to become one OF her
| greatest sons. Religion rejoces serencly, with
Joy unspeakable, in the final escape of Vincent de
Paul. Exposed in the public square of Tunis to
the inspection of the trafickers in human fesh this
1llnstrlous Frenchmen subjected to every VILE
ness of treatment, like a horse compelled to open
his mouth to show his tech to trot, to run, to
hibit his strength in lifting burthens, and then,
| like horse, legally sold in market overt Passing
from master to master after protraced servitude,
he achieved his freedom, and regaining France,
commenced that respondent career of charity by
which he is placed among the great names OF
| Christendom. Princes and orators have lavished
panegyrcs upcn this fugitive slave and the Catho-
lie Church, in homage his extraordinary virtues,
has introduced him into the company of saints.
Less by genius or eminent services, than by their
offerings, do the fugitive slaves of our country
now commend themselves For them every senti-
| ma of ic cd
- 'Who could refrain
That had heart to love, and in that heart
Courage to make his love known Z"
Rude and ignorant they may be; but in their very
efforts for Freedom, they claim kindred with all
that is noble in the Past. They are among the
heroes OF our age Romance has stories of
more thrilling interests than theirs Classical an
tiquity has preserved no examples of adventurous
trial more worthy of renown. Among them are
men whose names will be treasured in the annals
oftheir By the eloquent voice they have alrea-
dy done much to make their wrongs known, md to
secure the respect of the world. History will
lend them her avenging PEN Prescribed by you
during life, they will prescribe you through all
time, Sir, already judgment is beginning A
righteous public sentiment palsies your enactment
And now, sir, let review the field over which
we have passed. We have seen that any compro-
mise, finally closing the discussion of Slavery under
the Constitution, is tyrannica, absurd, and impo-
tent; that Slavery can exist only by virtue of
positive law, and it has such positive support
III the Constitution, it cannot exist within the Ma
tional jurisdiction that the Constitution nowhere
recognises property in man, and that according to
its true Interpretation, Freedom and not Slavery is
national, while Slavery and not Freedom is sect
onal; that, in this spirit the National Government
was first organized under Washington, himself
Abolihonist, surrounded by Abolitionists, while
the whole country, by its Church, its Colleges its
Literature, and all its best voices, was united
au1 nSt aD1th Aar of haf
nowhere within the National Territory covered a
single slave; still further, that the National Go
vernment is Government of delegated powers,
and as among these there is power to support
Slavery, this institution cannot be national nor
can Congress in any way legslate in its behalf :;
and, finally, that the establishment of this principle
is the true way of peace and safety for the Repub-
lie. Considering next the provision for the surren-
der of fugitives from labor, have seen that it
was not one of the original compromises of the
| Constitution that it was introduced tardily and
with hesitation, and adopted with little discussion,
and then and for long period after regarded
with comparative Indifference; that the recent
Slave Act, though many times unconstitutional, Is
especially so on two grounds:
First, uspuraton by Congress of powers not
granted by the Constitution, and an infraction OF
rights secured to the States; and secondly, de-
NAL of Trial by Jury, in question of Personal
Liberty and suit at common law; that its glaring
unconstitutionality finds prototype in the British
|
constitutional two parallel groundsfrSt because
it was uspuration By Parliament of powers not be-
longing to it under the British Constitution, and an
inraction of rights belonging to the Colonies; and
secondly, because it denial of Trial by Jury in
certain of property; that Liberty is faI
aove property is the outrage perpetrated by the
American Congress far above that perpetrated by
the British Parliament; and, finally that the Slave
Act has not that support in the public sentiment o
the States where it is to be executed which is the
| jfe 0t all WI ITuGence nd
| of Washington require.
Sir thus far have arrayed the objections to this
Act, and the false interpretations out of which il
| has sprung. But am asked what offer sub
stitute for the legislation which denounce. Free
y will answer. 1t is to be found in correct appre
citation of the provisions of the Constitution, under
which this discussion Look at it in the dou
Bile light of reason and of Freedom, and we cannot
mistake the exact extent of its requirements Here
is the provision:
ssNo person held to service or labor in one State
under the laws thereof, escaping into another shall
in consequence of any law or regulation therein
be discharged from such service or labor, but shall
be delivered up claim of the party to whom such
service or labor may be due"
From the very language employed it is obvious
that this is merely compact between the States
with prohibition on the States confering no poUe,
| on the nation. In its natural Specification it is
compact. According to the examples of other
countries and the principles of jurisprudence, it is
a compact All arrangements for the extradition Of
fugitives have been customarily compacts. Except
under the express Obligations of treaty, nation
bound to surrender fugitives. Especially has this
been the with fugltives for Freedom med
ieval Europe cities refused nize this obliga
ton in favor of persons under the Ma
tional Government. In 1881, while the Neither
lands and Spain were united under Charles ". the
Supreme Council of Mechlin rejected an application
from Spain for the surrender of fugitive slave
By express compact alone could this be secured
But the provision of the Constitution borrowed
from the Ordinance of the Northwestern Territory,
which is expressly declared to be compact; and
this Ordinance, finally drawn by Nathan Dane, was
again borrowed in its distinctive features from the
early institutions of Massachusetts, among which
as far back as 1913, was a compact of like nature
with other New England States. Thus this provi,
sion is compact in language, in nature, in its
whole history; we have already seen it is COM
pact, according the intentions of Fathers and
the genius of institutions.
AS a..compact its execution depends absolutely
upon the States, without any Intervention of the
nation Each State, in the exercise of its judy
rent, a1iN determine for itself the precise extent of the
obligations assumed. AS compact in derogatlon
of Freedom, it must be construed strictly in
respect-leaning always in favor of Freedom. and
stunning any meaning. not clearly obvious, which
takes away important personal rights; mindful