Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-26
The wheeler slave Case.

That portion Of the American people who
respect the sanctity of the laws, and desire the
continuance Of friendship between the several
States, will be astonished at the open robbery
committed by certain white men and negroes
of Philadelphia, upon Mr.. Wheeler of North
Carolina. There was no prctence of claim on
the part of the slaves to their freedom. There
was no attempt to escape from the ownership
Of their master. On the contrary, they remon-
stratcd against this unwarrantable interfer-
ence. Ina word, Mr.. Wheeler was held in terror
of his life whilst his property was taken VIC
lently from him. We have seen almost an uni
versal condemnation Of this act. The Wash
ington Union, with its usual disposition to
charge unjustly any criminal act to its political
adyersaries, falsely attributes this robbery to
the American party, or to its influence in Phil
adelphia, and charges the only convention
which has bound itself to maintain" the
legislation of the present administration, with
having instigated the violation of one of the
most important laws upon the subject of slave
nv. The New York Tribune, the ally of the
Union, in its assaults upon the American plat
form, defends the robbery as commendablc
act on the part of the free negroes who achiev-
cd it.
But it is plain that this is one Of the legiti-
mate consequences of the Abolition movement
headed by Wilson it is intended by such acts
to stimulate into active eruption the growing
alienation between the sections. We do not
doubt that such acts have been authorized by
Abolition tactics, to widen the breach between
the North and South, and thus precipitate a
contest between them.
But we care not who has instigated or who
defends this infamous and faithless deed, it
will rest with the State and Federal authorities to
make ample atonement fla citizen of one State
cannot take his property into another without
having it taken from him by strong hands, the
dissolution of the Union must be inevitable;
for enc of the chief objects-an intercemmuni-
ty Of rights-will have failed entirely.
We cannot sufficiently express our contempt
and adherence of the cowardly and dishonest
course pursued by the Tribune. Itasserts that
the courts ofjustice have affirmed the right of
every slave in transitu through State to his
freedom. Why, then, did not some friend of
these slaves resort to the courts for their re-
liefp If this course of robbery shall be pur-
sued, may we not expect that some Philadcl-
phia vessel will be detained in Southern port
as an hostage, or as m indemnity for the out
rage2 How can it be possible that the South
ern people will continue to visit, deal with, or
much longer to continue political connoxion
with people who systematically revile them,
and upon every opportunity seize upon their
property? We presume this dastardly Tri-
bune, whose editor stuifs grass in his ears"
when he hears gun, viii advise the free ne
groes who threatened the life Of Mr.. Wheeler,
as 1t has done the friends Of freedom" in
Kansas, to "meet the shareholders at the thresh-
hold, and, by an organized armed force," Ere
pei their invasion"
But VIC call on that portion Of the American
party which is so much incensed against the
present administration that they viii not con-
sent to maintain any one OF its measures or
who have been led by their prejudices to with
draw from the American platform, to behold
the consequences Of Republican fusion and
negro notification. Let them read the letter
Of Wilson, svowing his purpose Of universal
emancipation; the declaration Of Chase to the
same purport; the platform at Columbus, the
sole object of which is announced to be per-
pctual agitation upon the subject Of slavery,
and this last fragrant iniquity, perpetrated with
the object Of bringing about collision be-
tween the States, and they will determine to
come out from and repudiate the disunionists
and fanatics, who, under pretence of prcserv-
ing the North from an impossible aggression,
perpetrate acts which bring the Union into
imminent peril