The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-19
The Central and Southern WING Organs attack
ing the Fugitive Law.

ing the FugitlVe Law.
We copy below from the National inteiiigencr of
yesterday. and commend the particular attention of
readers. the remarkable demonstration we have ye,
seen oil the purposes and policy OF the southern wing OF
the wing party. Considering the tenor Of this whig
manifesto, which is copied with full editorial approval
by the central wing organ al Washington from the
leading wing journal Of Vrginia-consdeTng the time
chosen for lis publication, during the session OF the
Wing Convention-consieng the character of the plat
form upon which the southern wings have agreed 10
alyhe country cannot fail to in this movement Of
the leading southern and central wing organs, evidence
OF the determination of the southern wing party 10 sur
render to the aboionst majority III their own ranks,
and TO Join the Seward and Scott wing of their party in
attacking the fugitive law unconstitutional viola
ton OF the reserved rights OF The States
The manifesto in question preiends 10 have Tor lis
purpose TO show that the democratic party, in adopting
the kentucky resolutions of 80, has declared the
fugitive law 10 be unconstitutional and void. But
that this be its real purpose appears by the fact
that the democratic party while adopting The Kentucky
resolutions, did specially name the fugitive law and de-
clare il 10 be not only constitutional and as such 10 be
faithfully executed but declared further that the said law,
being designed carry out express provision OF the
constitution cannot ,r fidelity thereto be repealed, 50
changed TO destroy impair Us efficiency" Here is
the resolution at length:
sRs,oiped That the foregoing proposition and
was intended embrace the whole subject OF slavery ag
aiion ia Congress and therefore the democratic party OF
Union standing This national PLATFORM viii abide by
sud adhere a faithful execution Of the acts known
the compromise measures, settled by the last Congress-
the act reclaming ugyes from service labor IL
ouded which act being designed to out an express
provision OF the constitution, cannot with fidelity thereto
repealed, changed as 10 destroy or impair It's ef-
cheney"
Now, in the face Of this language 10 say that The Demo
cratic Convention, by adopting the Kentucky resolutions
sanctioned the opinion that the fugitive law is uocon-
stuonal, is too gross absurdity 10 receive the edo
rial approval Of the National InfelgeEer the Rich.
mond Wing, trtepi that approval be gipcn for some
speda and uiioior purpose A glance at the article
and at the plain facts OF the shows that the
real object OF these whg journals is to surrender the
law 10 the wing abolitionists unconstitutional
statute They see that the wing party has no hope OF
rallying as party to maintain that law Its introduction
into the wing platform rves the wing party in twain
Hence these southern wing journals resolve TO give y
up and 10 that end, they represent il penal statute
enacted in order o create, define, and punish the crime
of negro s,ealng and, such, unconstitutional stat
ue because negro stealing is crime not specified among
those which the constitution expressly authorizes Con-
gress 10 define and punish by statutes in their primary
purpose and character penal.
That the design OF these wing journals, in taking this
ground as TO the character Of the fugitive law is 10 give
il up 10 the aboliioniss Of their party as unconstu
tonal appears also from the erroneous construction
which their manifesto puts upon the decision OF The
Supreme Court in the PrSg They tell that The
coun decided hat Congress has nothing TO do with the
rendition OF fugitive slaves" The court has made no
such decision. The decision which made The fugitive
law OF 1880 necessary TO the effect, hat when Con
gress undertook the rendition Of fugves il must
psh that object by means Of United States officers, and
not by means OF officers holding their commissions from
the States 10 which the rendition takes place In
iormty with this decision, the law OF 1850 provided and
empowered certain United States officers act in such
| cases.
The Kentucky resolution referred 10 specifies certain
penal statutes which passed by Congress in order
to create. define, and punish certain crimes, and these
statutes declares be unconstitutional and void, for
certain rendered reasons II the Inteiigencr and the
Richmond Wing deny this doctrine, then they deny the
unco nslituonally OF the alien aud sediion laws. But,
they do not deny and dare not deny, the doctrine OF the
Kentucky resolution such penal statutes which have
for their primary object The creation, definition. and pun.
ishmen OF crimes But to propate the abolonists OF
their party and 10 make ou the fugitive law TO be con-
stlulona they represent il as being such penal stat
ute designed not as The Democrac Convention declares
10 carry out an express provision OF The constitution"
but designed TO create, define, and punish the crime OF
negro.sealng Such an idea Of The unconslaIionally
Of the fugitive law is Just absurd i would be