The Woodville Republican, and Wilkinson advertiser. (Woodville, Miss.) 1853-18??, 1853-02-15
Right Of TrausIi by Owners Of Slaves

The recent decision III the State NJ New
York, by which the slaves Of a citizen Of Vir-
ginia engrating 10 Texas were liberated from
HIS ctistody Is IN accordance with other dcei.
sions previously made In different States The
contributions made in New York and in Rich.
mond to indemnity the owner are the earnest
evidence Of public feeling (soine public feel-
ing, at least, that the decision in unjust; and
@ have always regarded the previous cases as
departures from law, am happy To find that
the point involved has al length caught hold Of
public attention. H gas
These decisions result from a n,isapplieatlon
of the common law as laid down in Somer-
sets case, which has no application 10 these
States, in cases Of Internal transit, for the sim
Pile reason that these States are not nations The
citations from Vattel, and the reference 10 rules
Of international law, would have application 10
the subjects of foreign States, and tie slaves Of
such, If brought hther, would be free z 'i
The people Of these United States, ns one
people, acting within their States just rs they
act when electing President, have made
Constitution which recognizes the existence Of
slavery in all the States that see fit 10 adopt Il,
and the people Of all the States that do not
adopt II are bound 10 regard slavery ms lawful
and slaves Of property. They have all agreed
that slaves shall he represented h Congress,
and that the States 80 represented shall contr-
butte To the public burdens in proportion to rep
resentatioh Now, can portion Of the pco-
pie acting in a single State contrayene what all
the people have provided as rule for all in the
paramount law Can a State prevent the right
of transit through its borders by citizens of
other Statesl Can any State limit this right
or impose conditions on ii that tend TO defeat
or destroy itl II has been often urged and Is
yet urged, as a duty Of the Federal Govern
ment to construct canal ut the Falls a Ohio
on the Indiana side; suppose the work done,
and citizen Of Kentucky should take passage
with his slave at Mayssille for Memphis, Ten
nesee, and on his voyage shall lr carried through
this canal, Is the slave ernancpstel because he
has passed through the State oflndiana. which
docs not permit slavery 20 her own citizens
If this be 80, Il affords an argument against in
tenal improvements by the Federal Govern
mcntnot yet urged. lfa State may thus do
stroy the right 10 one species d property II may
do 80 to another Species and we have seen Il
attempted recently in Northern State 10 as
sert that spurious Bquosar incapable ofown-
ership. II the relation of nlasier and servant may
be disturbed, 70 may that ofparent and child.
The rights Of personal property attend the per.
son Of the owner, and in the eye Of the law are
present with the person. In our Government
the right Of transit from one part Of the Union
10 another is the right Of every citizen Of every
Government TO pass to and ffo throughout dc
limits ofhis own country. Al local statutes 10
fetter the right Of transit OF 10 deprive travel.
Ter Of his property, and all decisions of iudes.
10 that end, are rcpugnant 10 the constitution
and genius ofour Government. The decisions.
although several times releatedin different
States, are not law.--- National Intcli;ge,oce 1