Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-05-31
WHOLE NUMBER 87s


WHOLE NUMBER -S73
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fifth section, and the fugitive thereby es-
capes, that he has not "inisrect. y" aided
in that escape-and hence becomes liable
to the imprisonment, fine and payment of
one MppSand dOIarS for eaCl iugitlyo--tha
penalties Of The seventh section. In tho
Connolly case at Cincinnati, the doctrine
was distinctly avowed by The Court, that
feeding, clothing or watering fugilivej
was "lndilectly" aiding or abetting the.
escape, and hence II sufficient violation OF
the act IN question, to subject a man 10 It's
penalties. Any man, Therefore, who will
not assist in catching ''niggers," when
called upon by the proper officer, or who
sees bL to give the naked, starved, aud
painting .tn9itiye a, crust, OF bread, a few
old clothes,and drink of cold water, must
pay one thousand dollars To his master for
the pfiNilessl hesi iisg bis Cue and ifnpriazs
onment!
Such is the Fugitive Slave Act, SO far
as 1t relates to the action OF the people Of
the free States. We stop not at this time
to show lis vlIainous requirements of in
justice IN reference to the poor and friend
less creatures that it seeks to return to a
| horrible system of untold and unutterabls
wrongs and expressions. Neither on this
point do we exhibit its violation of The
rights Of the States. These shall be shown
in another place. Now we shall show tho
position of the Democratic party. in re-
gard 10 the inhuman violations which ths
act contains, of our constitutional and
natural rights
In the Democratic National Conyen-
tions, held, respectively, in Baltimore in
1852. and in Cincinnati in 1856, the party
resolved that they would abide by and
adhere to a faithful execution Of the
acts known as the compromise measures.
| settled by the Congress Of 1850, tie act
tor recIaiming Jalgtjp3s from lab ~ or SER
Vice iHcLuded;' which act being designed to
carry ont an express provision of the Con-
stitution, cannot, WITH FIDELITY THERETO.
DE REPEALED, or SO changed as 10 de-
stroy or impair its efficiency"
Such is the position Of the Democratic
party in regard to this wicked and uncon-
slitutioua law. Never before was it
avowed that any law which Congress
could make, could not be anm0ae by the
same power. Never before did any party
| charge it as a breach of the Constitution,
not to believe in the eternal necessity Of
any particular act Of oar natiorAF legisla
tuIe. For upward of sixty years we had
been making and unmaking laws, OF all
kinds. The people had become accus-.
toned to think themselves competent to
enact and repeal laws as policy or princi-
pie might dictate. They had supposed
themselves capable of progress and i'm
proyement, and had been in the habit of
changing ard adapting their laws to suit
their ever-varying circumstances. But
10 and behold! IN the year of our Lord,
Democratic party, by usurped power, sue
ceeded in fastening upon an unwilling
people, undoc various false preten2es, an
odOus and unconstitutional law, which
dsgraces us in the eye, of all civilized
nations, and which we caRsot rePcal with
"Gdeh;y" to the CONSTITUTION OF the
United Stares!" This position, be it re-
membeled, is deliberately taken in two
national conventions, and is now the plat
form doctrine Of the party. VIII the peo-
pie sustain it. or will they Indignantly
sweep from power the slave-holing,
dough faces who maintain it? We be-
ieye they will do the latter. "My faith
is in the people"-in their love OF truth
and light S.
NorE.-The philosophy of all this ID
very simple, and quite easily understood.
The slave power has taken possession OF
he Democratic party organization, and
debating its policy, has used it as too
willing tool for advancing the interests Of
slavery propagandism in their most odious
and obnoxious forms. The Democratic
party, once the pride and glory OF our ma
ion, is now degraded to the mere register
lug Of the euicts of slavery. or these,
he Fugitive Slave Act is Que of the most
disgracetu, yet il is the only plank in the
Democratic platform which is absolutely
interchangeable. But, is the servant g,ea.er
thsn his master?" Slavery commanded
ID democracy had to obey!
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