The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-15
ANOTHER STRIDE OF SLAVERY.

The New York Tribune of the I'd instant
contains an interesting letter from the Rev. T.
b. Mccormick, giving history of his persecu-
ton and suspension from his functions as
minister, by the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, on the charge or suspicion of assist
ing in the escape of fugitive slaves; and of the
attempt of Governor Wright, of Indiana to sur
render him to the authorities of Kentucky, on
the demand of the Governor Of that State The
letter is long, but it will repay perusal. The
constitutional question involved is one Of great
Importance and there can be no doubt that
the course pursued by Governor Wright is in
derogation of the rights and independence of
the State, as well as the liberty of the citizen.
Allowing that Mr. Mccormick was guilty of
assisting in the escape of the slaves, as charged
in the indictment, (which he denies,) there
would still be no warrant for his delivery to the
authorities of Kentucky. The Constitution Of
the United States stipulates for the surrender
Of fugitives from justice, where the fugitive is
charged with treason, felony, or other crime;"
1nde. stooI in the State on which the demand
is made, or by the laws of nations. There is
no such crime known to the free States, as
stealing slave. Where Slavery is forbidden,
the laws cannot be cognizant Of the offence of
taking slave from his owner. Slavery is
against natural right, and is condemned by the
law of nations. BY the common law, and by
the general laws of civilized nations, ahy insti-
tuition, law, or custom, which infringes natural
right is to be construed strictly, and TO- be kept
strictly within its well-defned limits. The Eng
lish Judges, hundreds of years ago, whe0 honest
and faithful to their trusts, invariably leaned
to the side of Freedom in every suit involving
the rights of the villain or slave on one side,
and the demands of the lord on the other.
None but the corrupt tools of power took the
opposite course of giving the advantage of their
doubts, in contested cases, to the side of priv
lege, as against right. Doubtless, the same
thing is true at the present day; but while the
supple tools of the Slave Power are named le-
gion, the exceptions who initiate the Judges of
old England in the dark ages, in sympathizing
with Freedom and Justice, are few and far be-
tween.
If the opposite construction be admitted, and
the States be mutually bound to surrender fu-
gitives from justice" without regard to the ma
ture of the offence which may be pronounced
crime, the most absurd consequences Will fol-
low. The effect would be to extend the legis-
lation of each State over all the States and the
bloody code adopted by the Missouri ruffians
for Kansas, together with the Mormon code for
securing the rights of the harem, would become
obligatory upon Massachusetts and New York.
Among the "feoniss" created by the sham
Legislature of Kansas, is the offence olSspeak-
ing against Slavery; and we believe that most
of the slaveholding States punish the freedom
of speech as a high crime. Should the free
States surrender fugitives from such Justice? If
Northern man should have the temeritx to de-
nounce Slavery in Maryland, and then make
his escape into Pennsylvania, must he be. sur
rendered, on demand of the Governor, because
the State of Maryland has thought fit to punish
free speech as a crime? All the Southern
States have, in open violation of the Constitu-
ton, punished as crime the bare entrance
into the State of Northern colored citizens.
offence must therefore be regarded asia crime
or felony Of the deepest die. If it is not so dos
ignated in their codes, the omission,s merely
accidental, mere oversight, since the punish
ment is greater than that which is visited on
felonies in many cases. Now, suppose a North
ern colored citizen, thus enslaved in Violation
of the Constitution, should be "stolen.n or en-
ticed away by an Abolitionist, is it moi evident
that this latitudinarian construction &the Con-
stitution would require his surrender?>"
The principle of surrendering fugitsSs ex-
tends to the Territories. Utah is Territory,
and, until few months past, if not atpresent,
Brigham Young, Mormon Polygamist, with
ninety wives, more or less, has been Governor,
with a Legislature harmonizing with him in
sentiment. 1t would be quite in harmo6y with
the spirit of his intoerant creed, as well as with
the fanaticsm of his followers, to punish any
dissent or opposition to the Mormon tenets, as
high crimes or felonies. But it will.be said
that the Federal Government would never toll
crate such things. We see no reason, in the
nature Of the things, why the barbaroas code
of the Mormons may not as we'll be sanctioned
and upheld by the Federal Government, as the
equally barbarous laws against free speech
which exist in all the slave States. The only
reason, if any, why the latter have the prefer
ence in the eyes of the Administration is, that
they are backed by the ruling class in fifteen
States, while the Mormon monstrosities are
confined to single Territory. TIE doctrine
of "squatter sovereignty" if honestly carried
out, would not only warrant the Mormon code,
polygamy and all, with all laws which the
saints may deem necessary to uphold their sys
tenn, but it will absolutely require the admis-
sion of Utah into the Union as an independent
State. Under such circumstances, Ssnd with
Governor Wright's Interpretation of his consti-
tutional obligations, he would be bosnd TO sur
render to Brigham Young the whQlSynod or
assembly which excommunicated - McCor-
mick for the high crime of questioning the in
fallibilty of his saintship-that is to say, if
they should avow their sentiments, within the
bounds of Utah, and then make theie escape to
Indiana.
We should be glad to press home ;he argu-
ment to Southern minds, by drawins -FOUR Illus
trations or suppositions from the opp site quar-
ter-by citing laws of the free State.. palpably
| unjust, narrow, and exceptional. Bur we know
of none such, except those which assail the
rights of the poor handful of free people of col
or. The Northern States have no laws against
freedom of speech--nothing which they claim
as property, which is not property in the South,
and throughout the world-they have manufac