The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-30
The last Dodge.

Inc Albany AHdS, the VAN BUREN organ
gives the following indication of the policy OF
the Abolitionists 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 the same
result can be accomplished by the more moder
ate plan. The forms of law are to be used as
shields for the forcible resisers of the fugitive
slave law; and that " irresponsible po,cer-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 .4tias.
The RE CUE CAsE.-The trial of the rioters
in tine 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.
voived in this controversy The right of n
master to reclaim fugitive servant, is one. The
right of a free citizen to immunity from accusa
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 a
debt-the debt which the man. servant owes for
care, nutriment, education and protection during
homage. In fact, this debt is acquitted quite
as fast as.it accunulates and no fugitive ever
owed anything in equity, to bis master.
But this matter affects a 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 " i'll be dis
solved" and a frightful train of evils follow,
unless fugitive negroes from the plantations, in
all cases, are brought back to 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 repudiuted, it is
strange there should be so much sanctty in this
1t is, however, domestic institution down
South, and there are in it perfections doubtless,
that escape our more distant vision.
But we ut the North, here, have domestic
institution" to which we attsch Importance 1t
relates to something higher and better than the
reclamation of service or runaway debtors. It
is the right of citizens to protection against any
undue process of law, especially against being
jeoparded by any accusation not emanating from
fairly chosen grand jury, and founded upon
legal proof. This is part of our State consti-
tuition. 1t is ipwoven in our whole criminal svs-
TEN. 1t is guaranteed by the federal Consttu.
I ton to the North and to the South
If those who winked when the tugacious Jerry
took to his heels, and bid God speed to his
pendant rags rather than to Mr. Bowie Knife
his pursuer, are to be regarded as hostile to the
Constitution, those certainly are no less so 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 r.
responsible power--the grand jury.