American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-01-21
Why was II Bone?

The Washington Union, discussing
the question OF the slave traders and
the landing of cargo Of Africans in
Georgia, asked why San act of piracy
has been committed, AS sordid and wan,
ton as ever disgraced the times of the
buccaneers p Why have these negroes
been stolen from their homes and thrust
upon our soil? And this is it's answer:
Simply for their money ga1ne. It
IS not pretended that any value can
ensure to this continent, its people or
its institntions,except the mere pccuni-
airy advantage that may result from a
larger supply of labor. Only moral
injury to society can come Of these
'rnportations. The laws of the coun-
try are broken, the public sentiment
of. the whole sountry offended, piracy
committed, and guilt deliberately in
Cured, solely for sordid gain. For
the benefit Of the pocket the sanctity
Of the law has been invaded. Entrench-
cd securely behind the law, the South
has successfully defended her cons,i-
tutionol rights against the assaults of
her enemies for quarter Of a century;
but now some Of her own people are
wiling to turn upon and batter down
that hitherto sacred and imprcgnsble
rampant. Heretofore the pride of the
South has been that her cause was the
cause of tho constitution and the laws ::
but now some Of her own people en-.
deavor wantonly to abrogatc and set
aside those instruments. At last, a.
mong her own citizens, there is divi.
soE OF counscls between the uti2s and
the honestnn, there are those willing
to geek only what is cxpedient and pro-
Stable stthc expense of what is lawful
ana that is honest. Has the South
turned Je,"? Is gain, ia the almighty
dollar, to be hy.nceit:th the god Of the
cavalier?
1t seems TO us that one Or the most
important questions ever presented Cor
decision Of the Southern people is nom
before them, in the case of the piraticsl
persons who have just succeeded in
landing n cargo Of Africans on her
coast, and sold them for money in vi
olation Of the law. 1t is question
whether the public sentiment of the
South will permit the laws and con-
etltution Of the country to be violated
with lmpunity. 1t is question whether
a local prejudice or fanaticism will be
allowed to override the law and the
courts of justice. 1t is a question
whether, for sordid gain or any sort of
pecuniary advantage, the South will
consent to permit the constitution, her
palladium, to be trampled under foot.
What are few frightened, frail Afri-
cans, to the value Of law upheld in her
integrity, and rcyerenced, and obeyed
by patriotic people?
Upon which the New York CONNER
clal Advertiser thus remarks:
The Washington Union is right
The people Of every State have an in
tercst in the maintenance Of the consti-
tuition and the laws, but the people of
the South especially so. The safety of
their peculiar institution is insepcrably
connected with the guarantees of tho
constitution. Moreover, the Slave Stated
arc,by the inevitable Law ofprogrcss, be-
coming the minority in representation
and will makola fatal mistake if theH
trample upon the constitution and the
laws, whose inviolability is the minor.
lty's safeguard and protection.-.Mobie
Datiu advertiser.