The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-03-25

ed by the offended party as an amable, cd
ucated, and intelligent gentleman, under tho
influence of delusion and a false estimate of
imperfect translation, had been induced to
attempt the violent abduction of the SER
wants of citizen of North Carolina-a pub
lie oflicer-passing on duty to foreign
country.
This indiscreet tattempt--and cOncealment
in evidance-had subjected him to impris-
onnent, deprived him of the comforts of
family and home, caused great inconven-
ience to many, and the loss of valuable pro-
perty to public minister, by an acknow-
ledgcd infatuation, in direct opposition of
the law and letter of the constitution of the
United States, as we'll as of the pure intent
neighbors would not pull fairly-to the con-
stitution of general government, solemnly
consented to by fair consultation and adjust
ment, and respect the purposes of our
common Union, we had a right ''to switch
them up little if we intended to maintain
the Union.
We were required to attempt some legal
means 10 settle this question of races upon
a constitutional, honorable and sensible ba-
sis, and demand compensation for losses
from the government of the United States.
as we did when the British abducted our
property in slaves, from the Chesapeake.
Those who formerly carried and sold
slaves to the South, in ships, were Eastern
owners and merchants. They had been
duly paid for such property, though unwil-
lingly received, at the first; as it is noto-
rious, Southern colonists originally and
strongly opposed the introduction of African
slaves.
If the plain moral law had then been en-
forced against those supposed to have "stol-
en- them for sale, we should have had no
farther trouble for the moral law does re-
quire the penalty of death for stealing a man.
But the servants were honestly paid for,
at the enforcement of Great Britain. The
payments received, were proftably invest
ed in various other ways, for the benefit of
some-whO now wipe their mouths calmly,
and charge the South with all the evils in
cident to humanity, as if none could be
found, elsewhere in the world.
In conversation with a gentleman of
highest authority in Virginia, allusion was
made to the difficulty of impressing South
erners with the true import of Ancient
Law, in its just sense. 1t was alleged, some
of the noblest, most intelligent, generous
and pure men in the Northern section of the
United States were conscientously inhu-
enced by doubts of the propriety of return
ing a slave to his owner even Southern
men sometimes participate in this feeling;
while others, without scruples, recklessly
upon several other matters, which attracted
the attention of modern reformers, in defiance
of all law and every moral precept.
1t was under this head the delusion was
called-''a gastric one,''-from recollection
of some eccentric expression of the Rev.
Sidney Smith.
Our servants interests, and our own, re-
quire us to arrest, as speedily and as kindly
as possible, the fanatical prejudice, almost,
if not quite superstition-about runaway
unquestIonably sanctions the possession of
such property, taken from people differing
from the Hebrews, but with strict regula-
tions, under a very original and simple
formula, for the humane treatment of them.
The loss of an eye, or of q tooth, was to
be compensated-by giving liberty to the
slave!
The moral law requires generous conduct,
to servants of all kinds. 1t would be well
to remember such provisions have never
been repealed.
That our runaway servants, often impelled
by a curiosity natural to them, who hang
about the outskirts of Northern cities, are
neither so cheerful, happy, moral or con-
tented, as the majority of our plantation
negroes, no one who has observed them with
unprejudiced eye can conceal from himself.
1t is to the advantage of the owner as we'll
as the negro he should be well cared for, and
treated with humanity. Southern people
do not abuse valuable property, more than
their neighbors.
If there are exceptions to this rule, they
are certainly not confined to the South.
A continued interference with this sub
ject, as a mere political question, reacts to
the prejudice of the negro-mentally, NOR
ally and practically. 1t must be fairly met
and decidedly resisted upon every just
ground of reason and revelation, which
happily, do not contradict each other. l
am not aware in opposing precipitate ad-
journment or otherwise, there was anything
said to offend a truly conscientious man.
| Truths do not confict-and we have too
strong evidence of the principles which
characterize moral law, to credit the violence
and errors which accompany arguments-in
favor of its perverse misapplication.
1t appeared to many in the Convention
idle t. adjourn without an attempt to do