New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-30
PROGRESS OF DOUGHFACKIsM.

PROGRESS OF DOUGHFACKIsM.
It's said that the darkest hour in the whole
twenty. -four is that which Immediately precedes
the break of day. So in feyers and other violent
disorders, the malady generally attans its highest
viruence Just preceding that rally and reaction OF
the vital powers which enables the constitution TO
triumph over il. Ii is the same In the moral and
political world, and Of this example is given IN
the working Of the Pro-Slavery poison in the Free
States Pennsylvania appears just now to be
the locality in which this infection operates with
the greatest intensity, converting the Legs
lature now sitting at Harrisburg into sort OF
political abscess Of a very unwholesome charae-
ter What Judge Kane attempted to do by Ju-
dicial construction, the doughface Members oil
that body are attempting to do By Legislative
act-that is, to give to shareholders, slave
drivers and slayetraders the right of transit
with their slaves through the State. One Jo-
seph Paxton Of MontOur has distinguished him.
self BY sending in petition to the Legislature ask
ing for law granting such right, with penalty
for its violation. Mr. Montgomery, in presenting
the petition said that the petitioner is an Od-ne
Wing Disciple of the Sage of Ashland, and that
the right Of transit for slave property through the
State is secured TO the citizens of the Southern
States by the law of nations and the Constitution
of the United States Mr. E. Joy Morris, once
Wing, and now X. n. Member from Philadelphia,
denied in the name of that champion of the princi-
pies of what was formerly called the Wing party,
that he Mr. Claw ever advocated Slavery, or
even the liberation of Slavery, in the Free States
of the Union, in the set forth in the petit
ton lust presented. But Mr.. Morris was imme-
diatey silenced by the PrO-Slayery Speaker who
called him 10 order The question being taken, the
petition was referred to the Judiciary Committee
Yeas 90, Nays 81.
The Committee after due deberatOn brought
in two Reports That by the majority main
tains that no legislation was necessary, be-
cause by the law of nations and under the
Federal Constitution shareholders already have
the right OF transit through Pennsylvania
with their slaves, nor ought any existing
State law to be construed as intending to take 1t
away. The Committee conclude in the following
biph.fown strain: Our Southern brethren are
protected in their property by stronger
" bulwark than an Act of the Pennsylvania
Legislature; and your Committee cannot consent
to disgrace our Commonwealth in the eyes of the
" civilized world by assuming to give that which
she has neither the power nor the inclination to
take away. The Committee ask to be dis
&" charged from the further consideration OF the
"subect." Yet with all this readiness TO pro
strate themselves and their State before the Jug
gernaut of Slavery, the sgners of this Report are
but set of cowardly sneaks can they fail to be
so set down by the shareholders. They are willing
enough to grant the right of transit but have not
the courage to pass an act TO that effect instead OF
which they turn over the slavedrvers to the exist
ing law of Pennsy lyana expounded and add
ministered by Judge Kane
The Minority Report denies any right of transit,
either under the Federal Constitution, by the law.
of nations, or under the law of Pennsy lyana. And
what is more those who sign it are satisfied that
the attempt to legaize any such transit would
lead to contests and connections, by which our
Southern brethren" would lose more than they
would gain. In their opinion, friendly relations
with the South, as well as the domestic peace and
tranquility of Pennsylvania, will best be main
tanned by the denial of the prayer of the petitioner
After the reading of the reports the Commit
tee were discharged from the further consider
alton of the subject, and the petition was with
drawn The matter is thus referred 10 the de-
cision of the Supreme Court of the State. ma
iOrty of that Court have evinced strong dispo-
.tion to take their law from Judge Kane. Whether
they will do to this point remains to be seen.
A further illustration of the character of this
Legislature may be found in the fact that
a resolution offered a few days ago, directing
the Judiciary Committee "to inquire if further
Legislation is not needed to protect the personal
Liberty of citizens from the arbitrary proceedings
of Judges of the United States exercising jurs-
"diction in Pennsylvania" was rejected by IA to
81. The House seems perfectly satisfied with the
late proceedings of Judge Kane; and to protect
him in them, bill has been introduced to change
the yenire of WillismsOns suit for damages from
Delaware County to Philadelphia.
TIE Express has an article on isms in which it
enumerates with many damaging epithets andinsinu-