Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-28
Che Greenlan.
THE SOUTH AND CANADA,

The ever grasplng and restless Slave Power of
the South is just beginning to agitate another,
and entirely new, project to advance her inter
ests, and enforce respect among nations for her
rob5er dominion. This project is no less than
to compel our General Government to pen a
controversy with Great Britain, with demand
for indemnity for all the Fugitive Slaves that
have escaped into Canada, and treaty law for
the rendition Of all who SHALL hereafter seek
refuge in that Province.
The Times, one Of the leading organs of tho
Slaveocracy of the South published at the cap
itai OF south Carolina, boldly puts forth the
following article, which is warmly responded to
by the Charleston Mercury and other papers of
less note in that and other Of the Saveholding
States
"FUGITvE SLAvEs-Treaty with England for
Their rendition.-lt is the object of government
to protect property Every government has
right to define what shall constitute property,
and to provide for the redress Of injuries to it.
Under these general principles the United States
havo recognized slaves as property, and provided
for their rendition when they escape from their
masters. More than this, Great Britain has
made compensation for slaves stolen by her
troops from American citizens, at the requisi-
ton of the Federal Government. Upon the
principle recognized in this demand and the
concession to it by Great Britain, the South
ought to insist upon the formation Of treaty
with Great Britain, by the Federal Government,
for the Surrender of fugitive slaves. The United
States have already formed treaty with Eng
land for the surrender of rogues, thieves, rob-
bers, murdercrs, and all other criminals, the OBJ
Jet which is to protect the lives and property
OF her citizens and not the smallest depreciation
Is vcrcommltt9d upon any other property ex-
cept slaves, that is not followed by an instanta-
neous demand for redress. Upon what principle
at justice is q difference made by the Federal
Government in the property of the North and
the property Of the South! None that we can
see Yet thousands of slaves are annually spir-
tied across the Canada frontier, and protected
by British subjects and laws against the pursuit
of their masters
= Az the matter now stands the Fugitive Slave
LAW is a positive injury to the South 1t drives
the African into Canada, and allows the Yankee
10 indulge his sympathy for the fugitive with
oit any personal inconvenience to himself, or
injary to the parity Of his Saxon blood But
l't England deliver the fugitive slave to his
master. and force the Abolitionists either to col.
nnlze New England with runaway slaves, or
se"d them back to the South, and we could af.
ford to repeal the Fugitive Slave Law The loss
that the South annually sistains, by the run
sing OF slaves into Canada, is of sufficient i'm
portance to justify her public men in insisting
upon some action of the Government of the Z.
States in the premises
Lot our public men move in the ma tier, and we
question not that the President and the Ameri-
can Minister at st. James will give the move
1nent u cordial support. Besides this lisa golden
moment which may never retun Before VIC
get another sound nun in the Presidential chair
poaco may be made in Europe, and the Europe
an powers become less inclined to look with ia
!or 1pon the demands of America"
We suppose it would be hardly expected even
b. the unblushing South, that Great Britain
would pass an ca post jacto law for the rendition
o the tngltives chat have already fed for, and
fund protection under the English law in Can
ada, and thus become citizens and subjects OF
thnt Government. For these, the South would
expect u cash indemnity, at the appraisal price.
Welt let US see what this would amount to.
About two years ago, some pains were taken
10 ascertain the number of Fugitive Slaves in
Canada, and it was ascertained that there were
at that time about 10000; and, as the escapes
have not only gone Oh. but the ratio of direct
escapes from the South been greatly increased
for e." two last years, it is now estimated by
e. y.aa .udges that the number now cannot fall
nae, If any, short Of 80 600 Putting these,
It's they are now held at the South by the lot, at
800 each, the sum would amount to twenty
tvo millions of dollars Will England ever
consent to pay that sum, for sach a purpos,
Never till her proud throne of thousand wears
Is overturned by American troops But will
SAe ever consent, in the face of her own Consti-
tuition and laws, and the decisions of her high
est tribunals for centuries, to II treaty law 70,
tao rendition to the South Of future escapinp
iNsitivess 1t seems hardly possible, and vet is
iacre not some reason to apprehend that her
great commercial interest in the cotton trade
ana her anxiety to avoid a war with this coun.
try (should matters be pashel to that extent)
may eventually reduce her to the humiliatine
g.l.ernatige9 The possibility of such an event
Is, at least, worth considering But will the
SO tn persist in such demands, and drive the
FEDERAL Government into the disgracoful courss
d enforcing them even by an aggressive war
IniS, again, does not seem possible, but would
it be stranger than what we have witnessed in
the movements of the South, and the complete
Babversion Of our Government in carving out
their objects, during the past year No stranger
no more improbable, and no moro outrageous to
humanity and the cardinal principles of our
Renublic.
Freemen of the North your humiliation is
bat just begun, and nothing bat your prompt,
decided and united action, not only to curtail,
but, as We believe, to destroy the accursed in
stitution, can save your beautiful Temple Of
Liberty from its black and blighting grasp in
Inc present, and utter demolition in the f,,-
ture,
HINT FOR AcrIoN.-The St. Josenh'a Ca.
=ette, published on the west line of Misso,r;
and speaking for the Shareholders, saws
50 Emipranta arc ,oonrnr