The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-31
The last Dodge.

The Albany Atlas, the VAN buren, organ,
gives the following indication of the policy of
the Abolitonsts in relation to the "rescue case"
The forms of law are to be interposed in prefer.
ence to the direct assertion of "higher law"
principles, as it has been found that lie same
result can be accomplished by the more moder
ate plan. The forms of law are to be used as
shields for the forcible ressters of the fugitive
slave law; and that +" irresponsible poper-the
grand jury" to be even more sumarily dealt
with, than those imprudent citizens of Southern
States, who attempt in person the reclamation
Of their property. What opinion can the North.
ern editors entertain of the intelligence or the
firmness of Southern men, when they gravely
put forth such mockery as this
From the Albany fila.
THE RESCUE CAsE.-The trial of the rioters
in the Syracuse rescue has not fairly com
menced; for the government, arragned for gross
irregularities, has not yet been acquitted.
The truth is, there are two domestic nstisu.
tons, and two great constitutional rights, in
yolved in this controversy. The right of
master to reclaim fugitive servant, is one. The
right of free citizen to immunity from accuse
ton. except upon indictment by grand jury, BY
due process of law, and his right to fair, open
and impartial trial, is another.
in its nest respectable theoretical aspect, the
reclamation by the master OF his fugitive ser.
want, is nothing more than the enforcement Of q
debt--the debt which the man-servant owes for
care, nutriment, education and protection during
homage. In fact this debt is acquitted ouite
as fast as il accumuates and no fugitive ever
owed anything, in equity, to his master
But this matter affects great institution at
the South, and as it is guaranteed by the Con.
stitution, the administrators Of government con.
slider it Of great Importance that it be enforced.
Indeed, they protest that "the Union will be dis
solved" and a frightful train of evils follow,
unless fugitive negroes from the plantations, in
all cases, are brought back 10 work out the ser.
vice due their masters. Considering how little
, respect is paid for other debts, and how many
go uncollected, and are even repudiated it Is
strange there should be so much sanclity in this.
II il, however, domestic institution " down
South, and there are in II projections, doubtless,
that escape our more distant vision.
But we at the North, here, have domestic
institution" to which We attsch Importance. Il
relates TO something higher and better than the
reclamation of service. or runaway debtors. Ii
is the right of citizens 10 protection against any
undue process of law, especially against being
jeoparded by any accusation not emanatinp from
a fairly chosen grand jury, and founded upon
legal proof This is part Of our State consti.
tuition. II is nwoyen in our whole criminal sys.
TEN. It's guaranteed by the federal Constitu.
I ton TO the North and 10 the South.
II those who winked when the fugacious Jerry
took to bis heels, and bid God speed to hi
pendant rags, rather than 10 Mr.. Bowie Knife
his pursuer, arc to be regarded as hostile TO the
Constitution, those certainly are no less 80 who
shuttle and pack grand juries, and procure accu-
sations against citizens not found in evidence
Let all domestic institutions be taken care Of
but especially that great institution, the safe
guard OF the citizen and the bulwark against ir.
responsible power-the grand jury.