The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-04

1t has been said in the North that the South, by
demanding the repeal of what are called the Per-
sonal Liberty Bills has raised an unnecessary and
immaterial ISSUE 1t is asserted that these uncon-
stitutional laws are practically imperative, be-
cause the people who endeavor to prevent the en-
forcement of the Fugitive Slave Act seldom resort
to them for that purpose, but prefer TO adopt more
vigorous measures to accomplish their ends The
operation of that statute is not usually defeated,
we are told, by the nterposton of parties assum-
ing TO act under cover of State laws, but by
violent mobs whose proceedings override all rights
and all legislative enactments whatsoever; and the
same resistance thar is offered to the arrest and
rendition of fugitive slave, would be, therefore,
displayed even if the obnoxious Personal Liberty
Bills had never been Thought Of For these rea
sons, then, it is suggested that we oaght not to
trouble ourselves embarrass the North by ask
ing the repeal of the laws in question, when, in
the language Of the Tribune, the "South would
mo. be Profted one silver by their abrogation.
That these views find favor in the North is
natural enough, for the people of that sec
ton have manifested every disposition to
avoid meeting tue real issues in dispute but
an argument so fallecious is not likely to i'm
pose upon the South or to bring abolta better un-
Outstanding between the hostile States Wensist
that the repeal of the Personal Liberty Bills would
be a measure no less practical than important
Whether they are habiually appealed to to forward
or sanction aggressive acts against citizens Of the
South it matters little, for one single instance Of
injustice sufficient to Justify community il, de-
nouncing the medium through which the wrong
md ira LAS, g., 4.
by which to illustrate the oppressive working of
these laws, for they have but too recently been in
voked to satisfy the vengeance of the people of
sister State against resident of Maryland More
over, these illegal acts palpaby serve to encourage
the lawlessness which has been so frequently pro-
ductve OF serious consequences t. the inhabitants
OF the border States. 1t cannot be doubted that
many mob in the North has been nstigated to
set at defiance the authorities and laws to which the
Southern stranger looked for protection. by the
mere recollection of the fact that sworn le-
gislators and judges had themselves re-
pudlated an act of Congress, and had stigmatized
as kidnapping what the SUPREME CoURT defiues to
be legal right. There is still another practical
consideration, which cannot be overlooked in this
connection. These laws are the cause of fearful
agitation in the South because they indicate the
hostile and uncompromising spirit of the North;
and even if they were obsolete, they ought never
theless to be swept from the statute books The |
Slave States are entitled to ask for some proof the
conservatism, of which the North makes so loud q |
profession. They and their institutions have been |
directly and indirectly assaulted continually for |
twenty years past, and they may fairly expect |
their brethren of the Free States to offer them
some evidence stronger than words, of determi-
nation to respect in future the provisions of the
Constitution The repeal of the Personal Liberty
Bills would give the South the welcome assurancet
seeks for and would afford it the strongest ground
for believing that the North is DESTROYS TO mr..
sue concatory course. Surely the reouest Of
the South is not unreasonable, and it is hard 70
comprehend how the people of the North can re.
ect it, if they are really anxious to restore bar-
mony between the several States and so preserve
the Union