Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-14
O. 0 M M unitatr0.
FOR rug WASHINGTON sgnTINyI,


No question has presented SO fruitful theme
for political speakers and writer's, as that oil
slavery-Abolitionis especially. If they have
the slightest pretext to letof little extra gas,
they never fail to abuse the South, and that
horrible institution, slavery, alleging as an ex
cnse for their violence, that its federation
and continuance will result in sending to the
warmest dominions of his satanic majesty, not
only those who participate in the crime, but a
good many Of those acho hear Of ii.
Now | can forgive an ignorant man many OF
the follies to which flesh is heir" but cannot
forgive those who kaoaoingly misrepresent the
power of Congress over the subject of slavery,
for the purpose of pandering to a morbid, viii
ated philanthropy, merely for the sake of ad.
vancing their political position, at the expense
of truth and justice, while by their folly they
endanger the integrity of the Union.
Nor can forgive the Harriet Beecher Stowe
Tom Cabin writer's" who, for a consideration,
seize upon the religious weakness of a portion
of our fellowcitizens, and discover those bonds
Of fraternal fellowship which should exist for
all classes, and for every section of the Union,
for the hypocrtical notoriety of not being "like
other men," 1t would certainly be more honest
for all speakers and writer's upon the subject,
to tell the people the whole truth in reference
to the power Of Congress over this subject,
than to preach their cant as to its morality.
Why not tell the people that Congress has no
poacer ichatecer over this subject. That it is
domestic institution, exclusively under the
control Of the people of the States in which
it exists and that if law abolishing slavery
in the States were to pass both branches Of
Congress, and receive the sanction Of the Presi-
dent of the United States, it would be void and
Of no effect.
Why not still go farther, and tell the people
that slavery cannot be abolished, even by the
people in slave State, unless the owners of
such slaves are paid full compensation for
such slave or slaves. You cannot take pri-
vate property for public purposes, without pay
ing the owners compensation y and this prin-
cple is applied to persons as well as things.
This would be telling the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, and if this
was announced by those who were known,
would not our Abolition friends cease to agitate
question that can end in nothing but bad
feelings, engendered by making an effort to do
that which they are utterly unable to do
Common honesty would seem to dictate to
those who have SO long disturbed the public
peace upon this subject, that, their efforts be-
ing futile, impossible aud illegal, further at.
tempts to deprive their neighbors of the Just
rights consttutionally secured, would be follow
ed by public contempt, enforced by all the
power of which violated right was capable.
"The Fugitive Slave Law is mere embodi
ment of constitutional right, and is as clear
as the sun at MONDAY. Read the clause:
"No person held to service or labor in one
State under the lars thereof escaping into
another, shall, in consequence of any iasc or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
sercice or labor, but shall be delirered up, on
claim Of the party to whom such service or
labor may be due" The language is clear and
explicit; comment is unnecessary.
1t is now proposed to repeal this law; and
the next Congress are to carry out this man
date of the Abolitionists. When this long de-
ferred act of justice is repealed, you may zeal
culate the value of the Union" for there is not
q slave State in this confederacy who can SO
far forget her constitutional rights as to remain
one moment in a Union where these rights had
been sacrificed by power unsanctioned by
law. JUNIUS.