The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-12-15
THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER is, 1883
FUGITIVE SLAVE Law.


FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
The Fugitive Slave Law is an odious
enactment, As compromise measure We
have favored ii, as being the lesser Of two
evils, As a whole We have not opposed it,
as being jus, in its object. In its features
il is ahominable and We blame no one for
not submitting TO lis requirements. So far
as the immortality OF the act is considered,
We would as soon steal horse as a negro,
but there are those who think themselves
doing God service in depriving the slave
holder of what the laws OF our country ae-
knowledge TO be his property. From the
number and activity OF this latter class of
persons, souiherners are beginning 10 real
ize the fact that the Fugitive Slave Law is
no triumph to them. but is operating very
prejudlciallr to their interests From the
favor with which it was apparently receir-
ed, they had tlattered themselves that il
would be rigidly enforced. but they since
understand that it was accepted merely as
compromise measure. and net as an ap-
proved law of the land. They find that not
only the Abohiionists, but the moral senti-
ment Of the north, is opposed to the prin-
cple of men being inroluntariiy slave
catchers, and that rather than he forced TO
comply with the acquisitions of law tina,
eompels them to violate the sanctity OF their
conscience. they vii! sooner submit to the
penalty imposed. They find also, that
where the moral sentiment is so opposed to
the enforcement Of provisions SO repusnant
as those involved in this law, il is likewise
too powerful to permit the punishment of
those disobeying its provisions, And more,
they find that it is the very nature of the
law, from its operation upon mems con-
sciences, 70 array as enemies TO slavery ma
ny who had formerly thought little upon the
subject, and TO convert into active opposers
others who had been quiet observers of the
workings Of the peculiar institution
The practical operations OF this law are
manifested in much larger per centage Of
slaves escaping from bondage than before
It's enactment. thus proving its tendency 10
be the reverse of what was contemplated by
southerners wien they rejoiced over its
adoption. Though living law OF the land
Il Is SO seldom enforced in comparison with
the number of times violated. that in effect
1t is almost dead letter and sou,herners are
made TO feel the inutility of attempting to
act successfully against the moral convic-
tons OF large proportion OF the people.
A stringent law having for i,s object the
suppression Of a great evil, can be rigidly
enforced so long as the moral sentiment of
community is arrayed upon its side, but turn
that potent influence against it and it be-
comes powerless. 1t is thus with the Fugi-
I've Slave Law and the people of the north
may congratulate themsel, es tina, while the
victory was apparently 10 the south it has
in reality been achieved by themselves, and
al the same time, the harsh feeling that had
arisen between the two, threatening d.vis-
ion of territory, has been allayed.
II the operators OF the underground rail-
road'' are TO be credited. and they profess TO
speak truth, this law il potent engine in
the hands of its enemies TO rid our country
OF slavery. II has already cost the south
millions Of money and thousands q siares,
and they will Yet, under operations 80 differ
ent from those contemplated, become clam
orous for lite repeal The officers of sim
gle ferry at Detroit assert that within the
last twelvemonth niHa hundred fugiti1s
have crossed on their boats plying between
that city and Canadu. The Detroit Irib-
uae, paper posted in The munruvres Of the
underground railroad says, that the state
ment Is not exaggerated. Slaves possess
ing the activity. energy aud, we may say.
intelligence Of those making SO desperate
an effort to accomplish their liberty, are Ger,
tainly worth one thousand dollars each.
Hence, here is one item alone of nine hum
bred thousand dollars lost to the south in one
year at a single ferry. What the loss has
been to il throughout the Union il is imposs-
BILE to estimate. But for the law under con-
sidera,ion We doubt ii the south would have
sustained 1ne-tenth the loss. This has been
and ever will be the practical operation OF
every enactment which has the moral SEN
tment Of community arrayed against it, but
give to law the weight OF this approval and
it will triumph, despite every opposition that
can be brought to bear against it.
How to save money.
Il was the remark Of farmer, as he call
ed in and subscribed for our paper yestcr-
day, that ''he had lost just fifty dollars By not
I. 4 . m