The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-16
From the Richmond Enquirer.
nho Surrender of Burns-sla III the South
RPiOice.


n the fugitive Burns had been set free by the
orrupt decision of The court. had been rescued
from the custody of the law by the violence of the
,oob the shock would have been ielt TO the reno
,est extremity OF the Union. Such an instance OF
successful resistance TO law ana TO the power OF
the Federal Government, would have brought upon
the country worse calamities than any foreign foe
could possibly Infct. In this view the recapture
Of Burns IS the legitimate occasion of patriotic ex-
uation.
But the triumph is not complete, and we rejoice
over a victory which is only not so bad as the most
disastrous defeat. IN so far as the interests OF the
South are involved, the slave might as we'll have
been allowed 10 escape. With whatever success
the supremacy Of order was indicated by the sur
render OF Burns. regards the efficiency Of the
law for the recapture oil fugitive slaves, the issue
was determined adversely 10 the interests of the
South. Ii some representative from the North
we're TO suggest the repeal Of The fugitive slave
law, and were to propose instead, that The Govern
ment should compensate the owner for the loss Of
his property, would the South accept the offer !?
Certainly not; md why Because, the proposition
would substantially amount to this; that the South
should be Unidentified Cor the violation Of its rights
out of its funds. Yet this compromise would
be far better for The South than submission to such
an execution Of the law as Eas achieved in the
case OF Burns. The expense Of the recapiure Of
Burns cannot fall short Of fifty thousand dollars,
and as The Government assumes the responsibility
OF tins debt, the South pays for the recovery of It's
stolen property In The proportion that lis conribu
ton 10 the federal treasury exceeds that Of the
North. Better would it have been for the interests
oil the South n The Government had abStained from
oil enteaVor7 to execute The law, had suffered
Burns to 60 his way in peace, and had repaid to
Mr.. Suite the full value of his slave.
Such Instances Of the violent repression of the
popular passions by military force as we have lust
seen IN Boston, are terrible necessities in repub.
lIcan government. DespotiSm executes its pur-
poses with the baynnet, but in free governments
the supremacy OF law Is dependent on the voluntary
submission OF public opinion. The institutions of
liberty cannot cO-cXst with military violence, and
when n free government is driven to invoke the
aid OF the so.dsfy go carry out its laws the day
of It's overthrow is not remote. It's decay has
already begun, tho contagon of inSu bordination
Will rapidly spread, and the exercise of military
power IN the repression OF popular outbreaks, will
DC no longer remedy IN great mergencips but
an expedIent OF everyday and familiar resort
In such contingency, whatever may be The forms
'ot government, military dcspcism dominates, and
The people are no longer free. We rejoice al the
recaP'ure OF Burns, but few more such victories.
and the South is undone
IL becomes the imperative duty of The people of
the South, in view of the extraordinary and porten
tous circumstances of the crisis to concert meas
ures Tor their safety and for the protection of those
guarantees OF liberty, which northern violence ex-
poses to such imminent hazard. We know thai
the public mind Of the South is anxiousv engaged
IN working out the problem % Southern duty and
destiny, and that some of the most conservative
ana Moderate m"n amongst us see no way of
eScaP' and no career OF glory in the confederacy
But II IS for the North TO say if the Union shall