The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-11
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
AN APPEAL NOT SECTIONAL

We copy from the Newport Neaos letter
from Miss Wormeley, iavorably known in this
community as the daughter Of the late Rear
| Admiral Wormeley, and the author of "Ama.
bel 1t is a touching appeal for aid in behalf
| OF some OF the victims Of law Of Virginia
which conslgns all the free negroes of the State
to slavery or Punishment
| 1t is very delicate subject for us to sneak
| about, as our sympathies would incline us To
Tor whatever view we take of the cases referred
to by Miss Wormeley will bring us into conflict
with the Baltimore platform The letter il in
the first place, sectional miss Lizzie from
| the North " was the person appealed to in the
| hrst instance and Miss Lizzie promised ,ehen
she came North, to do what she could for the
appellants
In the next place We do not know how even
| " lay Miss Wormeleys letter before our read
CTS ihuch less 10 speak OF 1t as 1t deserves to
DO spoken Of without agtating the slavery
| queston-an offence against which there il an
express commandment
but tnsss y greater difficulty than either
OIL These I0express Sny sympathy with these
negroes u 10 reflect upon the laws end Govern.
meht oil Virginia, the mother of Presidents; il
Is 10 teach that the laws of mercy of Justice, of
humanity, and the laws Of Virginia, are not
consistent with one another. To raise money
Tor the objects contemplated by Miss Wormeley.
Is TO assist In converting the subjects Of Virgin.
Ia INTO CRIMINALS, whom her laws punish as tho
ancient Greeks punished their yilest malefnc.
TORS, with slavery or banishment il il 10 an,
peal to higher law than the black law when
every one knows that there is none higher in
all the Old Dominion.
NOW, we 90 not see how We can say kind
wor2 lor me ostracized John Gordon. or the
bereaved S~san, v'ithqut stirring up the wrath
ana rouSing the apprchensions OF i, those dis
interested champions Of the Compromise, "a
whose nnceaslng exertions, it is generally sur.
Posed, the Union owes ITS preservation up Il
tRis writing. 1t We say that a law which com.
Peis inc separation OF man from his wife and
ohudren 10 unnatural is brutal is shocking Il
every moral Instinct is Tot tolerated by the Law
OF nations, even between beligsront paweyS
why, we renew the agitation of sectional cues
ton, that endangers the Union, embarras.es tb,
Administration, and puts in peril the desire,
result OF the August elections IL we ask hcl,
70 Purchase Johns family, and set them free
we are guilty ct an ehort TO violate the law O
Virginia. which Furnishes those who may b
guilty OF getting free, in whatever manner, wit
hideous penalties; If we defend our appeal /
the humanity Of our readers, by asserting tn
inhumsnity Of the Virginia law we conyic
ourselves at once Of believing in higher la,
than the firg'nians are expected to obey Wit
such difficulties in our path, We do not zee no,
va can do anything for John Gordon II h
wishes to remain with his family, he must hay
his papers csneelled, purge himself Of his fire..
dom, and, BY beeo"ng slave again, brin
himself once more under the protection of tn
laws Of his native State. That is the best at
vice We can afford to give John Cor don and ii
family. There is nothing, however, in the Ba
tlmore platform, or in the laws OF Virginia,