Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-06-09
Mob Violence and The Fugit-
i've Slave Law.

The recent exhibition Of mobocracy, in
the attempt to rescue an alleged fugitive
slave from the hands of the officers in whose
keeping he was IN pursuance Of law re-
ceives, as It deserves, the condemnation of
all good, aw.ablding citizens eycrywhefe.-
Forclble resistance TO law. ina government
like ours, cannot be justified for single mo-
mont under any circumstances, however az
gravaung. Revolution is too powerful an
element and too dangerous to be resorted TO
under a republican government. Ii is the
duty Of every citizen claiming the proleetion
Of law, TO abide by and obey all the lows of
his country. Otherwise liberty IS cXtbanrcd
for anarchy, and legal restraints for nwlcss-
ness and violence.
Bat while We canno, Justify those restless
spirits, who h1vc dlsgraced tAeus evcs and
New England by their conduci in lttempt.
ing by violence to tiWart the Administration
of law, we cannot regard these fntics as
the only guilty party IN the matter They
have received countenance, encourGomont
aud support from a majority of the present
Congress. he compromss in dyor Of
freedom have been wan,ony assaibd and
ruihlessly tramp'ed upon by the Sohth aad
their dourhiace allies az the Norll and il
Is but natural that such an example. from
source that ougli; To DE entitled Ia consider
alton. should be initiated 10 other quarters --
II freedom cannot be secure under the Con.
sttutlon and the laws Of the land, itcanno'
BE- expected TINT slavery will escape some
severe shocks.
Not IN Justification of mob law, bat NJ a
consideration ihlt should be cn'itlcdto gicat
weight when occasions for the display Of
mob violence are forced upon us, We would
urge the change that has been GRATED IN
public sentiment here ~ the North by The
recent action Of the South IN nbrogatng
compromise Of their own making. After
having received their consideration, and
while that Of the North was yet IN allegiance,
they have annulled the contract. It so hap
pens that the North has so far received
quite as much benefit as the South from the
Compromise Of 1850, aud we cannot well be
blamed by our Southern brethren If we fol-
low the example they have recently get for
ms. Although the latter compromise meas
ures have still the form of law, they have lost
the force to which all law should be entitled
The North will earnestly seek and improve
all opportunities for the repeal Of every por-
ton of those measures that favor slavery in
the least degree. We hope they will offer
no violence to the execution of those laws
while they remain on the statute-b book, but
we are quite confident that they will 90 no
farther than the strict letter of the law d.
reefs in aiding their execution.
We commend the following from the New
York Times, az faithful exposition of the
feelings Of the North in relation to the mat.
ter, as well as correct statement of our
present duties:-
In 1850 It was alleged that rood Er'h
to the South required every citizen to AID IN
the execution of the Fugitive Slave Law
This reliance exists no longer. This appeal
has lost It's force. The Slaveholdng inter.
est has forfeited all claim to such plea. Il
has set the example of violated faith. IL
has proclaimed, by the high handed repeal Of
the Oldest and most sacred compact under
the Constitution, that such things as I.eps-
lalye Compromises have no validity that
II recognizes no obligation of comDacts:-
that It keeps no faith with Freedom that
It's only law Is the law of force, and ITS only
rule Of conduct the prosecution of It's own
schemes, by any and every means which oc-
casion may afford. Nobody IN the Free
States can any longer feel under any moral
obligation TO consult the interests or the
claims of Shareholders, in connection with
tins or any other law. But We owe il 10
ourselves 10 obey the law or, at all events.
not TO oppose mob violence To its execution.
We do not suppose that any man, whose in
stincts would not incline him to become a
slave-drver on a Southern plantation. will
hls aid in returning a fugiiiye
slave, or accept and hold an appointment
which would make II his duty to do sas Bat
resistance of the law is another thing. Ii
strikes at the basis Of society Il Involves
Infinite esils, snd can do no good. The sue
'essiul rescue Of a slave does nothing 10.
wards repeating the law. 1t only saves the
money which would buy him. while il in.
'olves deep disgrace and loss Of moral
strength, which will far outweigh the paliry
advantage that may be gained The treat !
nent of Judge Hoir IN South Carolins.
whittier he went on perfectly legal andle- |
Ultimate errand, sunk that State into a pro- |
ound and universal contempt, from which |
lalf century will not redeem her. Massa-
husttts ctnnot afford to initiate her exam |
lie, or to provoke her fate"
IL. .