Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-03-26
From the Washington States, March II.
Anti-Slavery Legislation...-th Passive
South

arc 50 SCIlSltiNc III regard 10 tnO speculative
sanctions of slavery in the Territories, DO |
not exhibit greater zeal in resistance to ag-
rrrrsioue vt palpablc and practical char.
actcr. Is it that their energies are cxpen-
dcd in the discussion of amctaphysical issue,
insomuch that they have no thought for
questions of the gravcst import and the
most pressing urgency? We applaud the
patriotism which starts at the shadow of
attack, but we diStrust its fidelity when it
fails to rcpcl actual aggression.
Although it be the abSurdcSt idea in the
world that Congress may ever be brought
to lcgislatc for the establishment of slavery
in the Territories, yet while the South is
supposed to have right to such ,intcrvcn-
tiun we must commend the fidelity of those
who refuse to surrender even barren safe
guard. The incxplcablc circumstance is
this: why do not the champions of Con
grcSsional Intervention propose an applca-
ton of the principle for the protection of
slavery in Kansas? 1t is not that Kansas
has simply prohibited the introduction of
slavery but by act of the Legislature has
positively abolished slavery in the Terrific
ry. The case asserts the principle of "squot-
ter sovereignty" in the most offensive shape
aud employs itfor the coniiScation of South
ern property. Why is thcrcno attempt to
invoke the action of Congress against this
enormous injusticc?
But this is moi the only invasion ofSouth
! crn rights that has been consummntcd with
i'll the last few months Here is an alb
stract of bill which hns been enacted by
more than one Northern State, and which
is now pending in the Legislature of New
York. We quote from the Tribune 4
"The Personal Liberty bill, now pend
ing before our State Legislature at Albany,
appears to have been drawn with great care
and skill. 1t has four objects in view
The first is to prevent amy person holding
any Office or special authority under the
laws OF this State, whether civil or militia
ry, from taking any share or part whatever
in the official execution of the acts of Con-
grcss for the surrender of fugitivcs from la
Dor. This object is embraced in the sec
tions of the bill, from the 9th to the 18th
inclusive.
The second object of the bill, carried out
in the thirteenth section, is to secure to all
residents in this Statea defence, at public
expense, against any attempt that may be
made to carry them out of the State, under
the claim that they arc fugitivcs from 9th
or States, bound to labor under the laws
thereof The third object of tho bill is TO
secure to all persons so cluiucd the priv-
lcgc of n jury trial, upon thcpoint whether
or not they are fugitivcS from labor, liable,
under the Constitution ofthc United States,
to be removed out of the State. The fourth
object is totally to prohibit the holding of
any person in this State as slave, or the
exercise over any person therein of any
right of property either by sale, purchase,
delivery, or otherwise. We might, per
haps, add, as n fifth object of the bill, the
vindicatng-aSainst any doubt or,suspi-
cion which might attach to it in consc-
qucnce of the obitcr dicta of some of the
judges i'll the Drcd Scott cosc---thc entire
right of this State of New York to admit as
citizens persons of African descent. - 2
Is it possible to conceive more insult
ing aggression upon the rights ofthc South,
or IL more defiant denial of the obligations
of the constitutional compact? The pro-
son in the Federal Constitution which
stipulatcs for the return of fugitive slaves,
is set at nought with every circumstance of
traitorous INSTRUMENTATION. The conflict
between the paramount authority of the
Federal government and the power of the
State is prccipitatcd with deliberate pur-
pose of denying the South legal protection
of its property The Judgment of the SUI
prcmc Court is divided, and the action of
Congress within its legitimate sphere nul-
lifcd--and this is done blythe Legislature
of State which processes still to be mem
Der of the confodcracy.
Is no step to be taken in vindcation of
the COnstiturionY Is the South to endure
these wrongs and indignities without so
when all the power of the Union was inyok-
ed to subduc resistance to an act of FEEDER
al legislation which sovereign State pro
nounced unconstitutional. Will nothing
be done to chastise the insubordination of
States which openly renounce the obGga-
tions of the Constitution for the ayowcd
purpose of assailing thcrights of tho South?
MSrRMoNriL BRoKERA oE.-!The NewYork
correspondent of the Baltimore Sun relates
the following;
"A case Of, matrimonial brokerage" was
7 torcthe Supreme Cuurt yesterday 1t ay-
lrs that man named Neilis sued another
named Grouse. andhis wifa Ann. to receiver
tho sum of 81 900. The plojntiR alleges
that the lady. before her marriage, pronis-
ctl him 81 900 if lie would procure her q hus-
band: in accordanec With which he intro.
dueed several genilomnl to tho lady, one es
whom she accepted. and is now bcrhmsland.
She refused to hand override boon, bowovor.
and hence, the present ,aetinns1