The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-06
From the Crueiunau Enquirer.

THE LATE FUGITIYE-sLAyE CASE IN THIS CITY II
It is evident from indications, that the Aback republic
cans will seek 10 make political capital out Of the late
fugiuseslave case 10 this city and the shocking tragedy
with which il accompanied 1t Is according to their
tactics to seize upon everything which produces momen
tay and ft gust Of popular passion and for the
furtherance Of their mischeyous and dangerous agta-
ton Their affiliated presses and congressional orators
viii now have text TO harp upon in renewed denunca-
tons OF the ugtvesaye law aud the compromises OF the
constitution Under these circumstances IL well to aks
dspassionate view of the matter The ugtvesave en-
actment merely carries out express stipulation 10 out
national compact and upon the faith of which, among
other things this Union formed Article 4, section 2,
of the constitution, reads thus;
"No person held to service labor In State under
the laws thereof escaping into another SHALL IN conse
quenee of any law regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor but shall be delivered up The
claim Of the party 10 Uhom such service or fd6or may De
daen
The above is emphadcally explicit and of the
States where there slaves have alternative but
TO obey the mandate of the constitution, by multiplying
it. be guilty of act of perfdy that would be good cause
for and would probably lead to, the dissolution of the
Union Even admitting that the delivering up ofugires
is disagreeabe duty it is written in our bond ounion,
and every who prizes the latter will be for adherng
to it. The benefits derive from the confederation far
oyerbalance any other consideration Should the Union
be dissolved it would not help the slaves at all since they
peace and ay along the border between the discovered
States who would otherwise he constantly at war; treaty
spuaons would undoubtedly be entered into for the re-
of fugses Every motive that possibly influence
and govern intelligent human being prompts MS to stick
to our present constitution and faithfully carry out its
provisions 1t formed by the sages of the revolution
the head of whom George Washington. One of the
first Congresses that convened under the administration OF
the Father of bis Country passed ugitiveslave law al
identical in provision with the present one to carry
out the conceded obligation imposed by the constitution
At that time all the States but held slaves Because
have since abolished it, that does not impair the
dity of the constitutional compact 1t still remains in all
its binding force.
The founders of our government practical en-
and their legislation governed by the light of sober
reason rather than by excited feeling and passion Their
craftsmanship has been the admiration of succeeding
generations. In this connexon cannot forbear quoting
the language of of abest and most illustrious
statesmen the late anened Silas Wright of New York.
That distinguished man, in his speech at Canton, New
York, on the 4th Of July, 1889, said
Are there any who will blame our venerable fathers
the delegates in the convention of 1884, for giving their
sent this clause Of constitution All the old hlr
States ssented to it, and to all the other concessions
and compromises which have been mentioned connected
with the subject of domestic slavery. The people of all
the States assened to them and fifty years of internal
peace and abundant prosperity have attesed the wisdom
of the convention What American citizen will now RISE
and claiming to be purer than Washington, the press
dent of that convention--purer and more patriotic
than the sages who. supported him in the great
work of forming our constitution, they had
previously in the achievement of Independence
will cast the first stone at the temple of human liberty
which they erected Who that loves his country will
open again the delicate and troublesome compromises thus
formed thus settled and consecrated by time and
happy experience with the hope of reaching better results
from the present temper and feeling of tue country Who
will upon The OF time and chance the invaluable
blessings have gained, the triumph to human liberty
have secured for the dark and stormy prospect which
presents itself Of perfect In effort
Who will wantonl ranple upon the faith we have SOL
EMMY pledged brethren of other States upon
ing the conederacy, In the hope of moulding them 10
yielding disposition in some future compact Who
will boldly strike at the Union ITSELF and stake its fate
against his sympathy for the slaveP
Ia response to Mr.. Wrghs last nterrogatory, say
one unless he be ignorant and unreasoping fanatic
uhprincped denagogue and corrupt politician All
good citizens will uphold the constitution, and the laws of
the land passed in pursuance thereto Whoever manests
disposition to resist and thwart their execution deserves
public reprobation and should suffer for bis misconduct
with penalties.
Nothing is more censurabe than the conduct Of aboli-
tonists generally in such cases who seek to hwart the
administration of justce-somemes through the forms
law by OF habeas corpus and then again by orcble
resistance thereto Their philanthropy is very partial the
blacks alone being the recipients Of it, knew
them TO be particularly excited any legal oppression
injury done white person. Their tender conscences
very much troubled in connection with institution
for which they in degree responsible upon any prn
cipe that holds TO the maxim that mind your BUSH
ness is useful and healthy rule In the OF life
The late desperate Of craSed and phrensed negess
cutting throat Of her child in order prevent It's
return TO s MASTER altogether unprecedented. FREE
sueuty slaves after having tried the BLESSINGS Of freedom
in the northern States and Canada and finding to be the
hardest kind OF crvude return Of their accord to
their southern "house of bondage fact which makes
the conduct of this slave the inexpcable and
usual.
The abolition paper here the Commercial chuckles
the late escape negroes from the other side Of the river
very likely connived at by Of its underground railroad
friends-in the following facetious terms;
4The slaves in northern Kentucky have IL seems been
taking advantage the frmncss Of the union between the
shores of that State and those Of Ohio 10 make their escape
in considerable numbers Various Of the fight Of
parties composed Of the peculiar property OF the Kenuc
aus were circulated in the city yesterday king together
the numbers that flee Canada and those who being
sidered precarous win be sent to the far South II prob
able that the negro population OF Kentucky will suffer
extraordinary depletion" ...a
Not since Chases election have the black republicans had
such victory, and 1t would be still gratifying to
them if Il could made the occasion Of collision between
the State and general government
Notwithstanding s iny politics. there philanthropy
in the Commercial II regards the escape Of the slaves
only as means Of advancing the bac-repubUcan dema-
qogue II s unfortunate for the interests Of city, which
are identical with those Of southern uegbbor that
should have public journal here which Is ell the time do
ing its best to interrupt their amcable relations and
Cincinnati become odious to the whole lower country
IT. n. Exc he IA If