New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-29

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very far and according to another French proverb
il is only the first step that costs Of both these
sagacious remarks we have a striking instance in
what is now happening before our eyes in the steps
taken and proposed for the extension OF Slavery,
The first step was he paming of or the attempt
| to palm of upon the North . cruel, unconstitu-
tiona, dsgraceful, kidnapping statute as the fulfill
ment and nothip, more than the fulfllment,
of the obligations imposed by the fugitive
clause Of the Federal Constitution. This frat step
audaciously taken-and which, before it was taken
at least nine persons out of ten would have pro-
nounced impossible-called forth indignant remon.
stIances from all the better part of the commu-
nty and fret walked from a slumber of years that
spirit of republican liberty and that faith in the
rights of man which lie at the foundation of our
democratic system. But as this spirlt-sO long
and deep had been its slumbers-arOused itself but
gradually and as all the mean mercenary and sub
servient, unfortunately too numerous among US,
hastened in the mean time to accept the office of
,lave.catchers and kidnappers, both as friendly
service and legal duty the slave olgarchy were
thus encouraged and led on to take another step,
the naked wickedness Of which, as in the former
eaae it was again attempted to cover over with
the mantle Of the Federal COnsttution--no less, in
fact, than the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
and the opening of all the Territories Of the United
States acquired aud to be acquired to the ocsupa.
ton of the shareholders.
The next and third step was, under cover Of the
Squatter Sovereignty sections Of the Kansas.
Nebraska act to subject the settlers Of Kansas to
the authority of Legislature and local officers i'm
posed upon them by Border Rufiian invasion from
Missouri and other slavehOlding States. The
fourth step is that now being taken-the setting
up for this bogus Legislature of the right to i'm
pose upon the Territory of Kansas, of which three
fourths at least Of the inhabitants are FreeState
men, sayeholdng Constitution. Fraud, false
pretense and gross imposition having been carried
thus far, The Charleston Mercury proposes to the
sham Democracy to take still another step in the
same direction. We quote from recent number
Of that able journal:
"Tbe law Of Congress carrying out the power
given to Congress by the Constitution prohibits the
African STARE trade, and makes the trade piracy
But if importing negroes as emigrants from Africa is
not the l0re trade then the laws of Congress do not
apply to it, We suppose s%si"1ts ,h from nt.S ss may
ultimately De brought INTO Inc Unilcu states
as emerants from Germany or Ireland. Nor will the
circumstances Of agreement being previously made
for employment and wages at all affect the Legality OF
the importation. Hundreds, Thousands are being i'm
ported daily from Europe, under agreements with the
manufacturers Of N.wEngland, to carry on their fac
tor;es If the Government of the Unihd States shall
therefore, determine that the importation OF negroes
frum the African coast, by England and France, as
smis1 ants into the West India Islands, is not the
African slave trade then the whole trade of bringing
neproes from Africa is also open to the Southern
States. What becomes of The negroes after they are
jntorted into a State ,W be affair of the STATE.
The General Government can have nothing to do with
it, The enforcement of any contract for wages will
be entirely witbin the jurisdiction OF the courts OF the
States. And If public opinion, or The real nRder-
sfonding Of the emigraHt', establishes procticaiy mat
hev shall be siares, there IS no redress byo,y other
GuflOrity than that of the States an Th'eh they are
iocated.'
Tile Mercury shows itself an apt scholar in tho
school Of Douglas, Pierce, Buchanan and fancy;
but throw all conscience and honesty overheard
once adopt fraud and lying as the basis Of political
action, and one gets along very fast and goes very
for. But then q little question arises which we
recommend to the serious consideration OF The
H.reuyu and the Sham Democracy generally:
Where, under this system, one will be likely to
bring up'