New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-09
SLAVERY IN FREE STATES.

We give place In anOtEer part OF TINS paper 10
the letter Of citizen of Indiana, who endeavors
at once to overthrow the views Of THE TRIBUNE
and to defend Gov Wright for his recent cowardly
attempt to surrender the Rev. I. b. Mccormick
to take his trial in Kentucky, on an Indictment
which Mr. Mccormick declares to have been
fraudulently procured for the crime of melting or
aiding slaves to take possession of themselves and
become freemen. Our correspondent somewhat
weakens his argument it is true, BY admitting
that he is not acquainttd with the previous discus
sions of the points on which be proposes to in
struct the public; but, as other intelligent men
NAV be in the same unfortunate position, we will
briefly state the argument covering the general
question.
The constitutional provision under which Gov.
Powell called upon Gov. Wright to surrender
Mccormick for trial, is found in the second section
o me ,ou;; article of the federal Constitution
it is as follows:
"a person charged with treason, felony or other
crime, who all flee from justice and be found In
al other State shall demand of the executive OF the
State from which he fed, be delivered no to be re-
moved TO the Sa having jurisdiction OF the crm'.
1t is assumed that, as the melting or aiding of
slaves to run away is crime under the laws OF
Kentucky, the Governor OF Indiana is bound to
deliver up Mccormick to take his trial for that
crime. But this is TO give perverted and lntol-
cradle scope to the constitutional provision, of
which it is impossible that either the intention or
the letter should stretch so far. 1t cannot be un
derstoOd to recognize as crimes those acts which
are declared TO be such by the arbitrary, or acct
dental or unjust legislation of this or that State;
but only those which are crimes essentally-evs
in themselves-Ofenses against the universal sense
and cons cence Of civilized society IT, for instance,
supposing that one State had enacted witchcraft
to be felony, a woman indicted as witch should
escSpe thence Tito another State, the Governors
reluistion for her surrender ought to be disre-
garded for the reason that wichcraft is not essen
italy a crime and therefore cannot be included
under the constitutional provision in question.
Precisely the same is the case with the aiding Of
enslaved persons to obtain their freedom. That is
crime in Kentucky, indeed, but not in common
sense or justice. In truth il is not only not crimi
MAJ act but in itself yirtuOus and laudable and
reQuisition for person accused of having commit.
ted it, should no more be regarded than one for
witch or cOpjuTer.
Such, we submit is the only constitutional
ground in the premises; and if Gov. Wright had
possessed little cleaIness of Judgment and little
manly independence of soul, he would have taken
DO other. TIE argument addueedby our correspond
ent from the pol, gamists of Utah does not affect
it, If Utah is admitted into the Union, il can only
be ON the ground that polygamy is not essentially
a crime; for sssurelly people of criminals could
never be allowed TO form State in the national
federation. We trust that ground will never be
taken by Congress and the Executive; but should
it be, no State ought ever aferward to expect the
extradition OF bigsmist for the act Of admission
will be equivalent to the declaration that bigamy
is hot crime in itself but only such By mere
local and accidental law.
Such, in our view, is the only tenable exposition