The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-19

A~ANN~ PASfo1tA~A
virtually exssho proclaimed that sectional hatred had
become 80 intense that the opposing armies Of sebaoo
were not mora hostile ia feeling than the North ana south
Was u by selecting the representative OF Ohio in the fed
eral Senate such as this while these ineendiary
avowas were yet warm bis lips that the honor and in
nuenoe OF our State be maintained and promoted as
a member Of the Union
No highminded patriot Of any marty can Gail 10 Lament
the mpoen and contemplate rank which the State has
been consigned for six long years far the election Of
Mr. Wade at this national crisis produce any effect upon
the destiny Of the Commonwealth This il not the opinion
OF partisan democrat alone il is shared by large num-
bers Of intelligent men Of every party.
Equally unfortunate upon the standing Of Ohio was
every other act Of the majority in legsIang upon ques
ions touching affairs Of federal The fusion party
In their platform Of last July carefully ignored their pre-
Vous position on the fugyesaye law. They did for
reasons Of policy bearing upc the then pending problem
OF success or defeat at the polls Their ranks were
bned OF factions which upon the the exradton Of
ugtives from labor had held conflicting and logically
rreconcilabie opinions The radical abolonist and the
intriguing and supple eesoer had agated for the re-
peal or the fugitive law They had denied the power Of
Congress over the question of escaping fugives The
other section represented by the editors Of the Ohio State
Journal had required acquescence in support of the
ures OF 1850 as embracing and fulfilling the obvious
promises of the constitution Our readers are familiar with
the bitter and boundless determinations of these hostile
tons. Regarding the late inviting opporu-
nifty for joint pursuit after power and spos they
cooy omitted from their July creed any reference the
fugitive law and elected legislature unconmtted before
the people upon that vexed and Improbable issue
We hold, therefore, that Mr.. Nonroes Eo-caled ha5sas
corpus BILL aside from its intrinsic character was fraud
and surprise upon the people 1t had neither been de-
manded promised and ii therefore superauous
Of actious agitation 1t even claimed as
desired by the entire State or by any party
dtnga tba tba It
proessedy urged necessary to preserve the integrity of
the fusion party upon the If It had been deemed
possible that the vote of the could lie safely dis
pensed with at the ensuing presidential election if the
had been advocated by less able than its
author Mr. Monroe have not the slightest doubt the
bill would have been tabooed in the fusion caucus for
sideraons affecting the reputation of the fusion party of
Ohio in other States .
The provisions of the bill in keeping with the surrep
ttous tactics by which it oisted upon the State Its
legitimate effects will be to bring into conflict and to en-
broi by increasing the anagonism of the federal and
State jurisdictions If il do not engelder this unmtgated
evil it will be only because the act will become dead let
and fall short Of its design. Purporng 10 be act to
amend the habeas corpus act ii departure from the
true principle of habeas corpus and tend weaken
and obstruc the just of criminal law without add
ing single valuable safeguard to personal liberty. One
essential element of the habeas corpus writ ia its being d.
reced to the officer alleged to have Illegally deprived or
restrained the prisoner of his liberty and the penalty
posed for the offence of disobeyng the command TO bring
the prisoner before the court and show what ground or
by what authority he is imprisoned This substitutes
wholly different proceeding, Instead of holding the off,
responsible for the dstenton by commanding his ap
pearance and showing Issues TIE writ to another officer
take the prisoner out Of possession of the frat and 1t
quires appearance and answer in accordance with
all prior legislation this subject Thus where the re-
ssnt has been Illegal the question is not made against
the offending officer. Ne-
The act intended specifically for Wrestling from the
United States msrsha the custody Of fugitive slaves This
was avowed IL said in opposition to its enactment
that in many such caaesit might be G-conhict be-
the officers Of the State and Of the United States
would be inevitable The marshal is absolutely bound
enforce bis warrant will be the State officer Neither
has the least discretion He must enforce his
be liable heavy responsibilities Yet the process of each
directly hostile TO the other Each is required If be APP
prehends opposition call the force of the vicnaqe
1t is easy see therefore, that either the federal the
State law be dsobeyed by its officers mortal
war must result
But this calamity may not only ensue in street fight
over q fugitive slave The law formed that the
Of blood aud carnage might between the
ministerial officers Of the several courts counties where
the party held charged with any criminal offence against
the State Of Ohio So that this rampant sympathy for the
slave has found In statute which exposes the c
zens OF Ohio deadly conflict any hour day While
the intended for the enanehisement of the negro
soil, it may lesmately afford full opportunity,
through corruption violence for the escape of the black
est criminal II will not do to hope that such results will
flow from this -stArred legislation. 1t s enough to
see that it may any moment 50 operate BY its obvious
terms.
We might pass from this subject 10 Others showing that
designedy and by being mised by demagogues
and auaesm the ruling spirit Of the late legislature d.
recy tended place the State Of Ohio in the position Of
notification whenever the question Of slavery affect
ed But shall take another occasion TO review their
artinn upon federal as well MS State uuestionz