The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-21
THE ECHO AND THE wANDEnrR.


tits highly probable that a cargo Of slaves have
been landed in one of the States of the Union We
are in possession Of specific information ON the
subject there nevertheless many reasons TO be-
eve that the question has assumed practical shape
and perhaps il should be so treated by the public In
the Of the Echo and the proceedings Of the tr-
bunas thereon caudor oompels ms to admit that our
institutions have failed, The laws have not been
executed as they ought 70 have been, aud, as we
believe nne-tenths and more of the American peo-
pie desire they should be- We say therefore, that
our institutions in the referred to have failed.
They have failed to the extent of screening instead of
furnishing offenders. This is clearly misfortune
a great, radical fundamental misfortune. Every
at all conversant with the structure Of our sys-
tenn knows that the punishment of crime is mainly
intrusted 10 jnres to be drawn from the people. II
the community of the place refuse to enforce penal
laws we sec no adequate remedy therefor nor can
call il anything else than failure of our nstitu-
tons The evil we repeat, is fundamental, because
it is acknowledged 10 be without remedy, in this
that it prevails in opposition to the majority of the
American people Assuming that the Wanderer, as
reported has landed cargo of slaves in one of the
ports Of Georgia and that the capyes being dis
tributed and sold throughout that State, we have
right infer that it is in accordance with public opin
ION If the people of Georgia are opposed to the slave
trade and to the recognition ofsave property on such
tenure, we take it to be the clearest thing III the
world that they will punish the offenders, and if
their statutes are defective, enact others by which
all parties acting with knowledge of the facts shall
be held to proper account. 1t lis hardly fair to sup
pose that the laws of Georgia have been framed
to meet the contingency to which we allude. The
federal tribunals have undoubted jurisdiction of the
original offenders but they stand poor chance of
honestly executing the laws in community who
not only wink at the crime committed, but yolunta
rily and knowingly aid the criminals in rendering
their unlawful schemes profitable and safe.
We need not express the horror and disgust of an
honest, law-abidng people at such scenes OF reck-
lessness, depravity and tanaticisnl If the people
of the State referred to have no respect for the
Judgment of their countrymen, they may well take
upon themselves the responsibility of degrading our
national character and our federal Institutions The
difference between those who violate the law and
those who refuse to execute it, is wholly inappre
cable. We rely quite as much upon public intell
gence and virtue upon the police and the courts
We have no standing army, and very small execu-
tive force Our whole political system is based as
much upon the idea of good intentions on the part
of the people themselves as upon good faith the
part of their agents. The latter, indeed, can never
execute Justice without the countenance and aid of
the former. If the people of Georgia are deter
mined to import slaves and to make slaves, the fed
eral authorities will be confined in their efforts to
suppress the traffic, wholly to the high seas where
their jurisdiction is complete.
But perhaps, granting that the Wauderer has
landed slaves upon our coast it is only one Of those
ftful gusts which so often overtake us and which
rather to purify than poison the atmosphere
another Burns riot and rescue--a partisan enter
prse--an Exeter Hall demonstration. We trust it
may thus turn out.