The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-11-20

frlDce OF Wal66.
Northern Journalisa upon Southern
Agitation.
1t Is somewhat interesting to note the fact
that just Of this perilous junoture, when the
cotton States ara ripe for secession, and when
tho conservative men of the South need all the
aid that the Norh can possibly give them, The
tone Of the black republican press continues TO
be de6ant In the extreme. The Tribune warn
ly opposes any sttempk 10 oonciliate the people
Of South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia, and
Gays, in effect, u they desire to 60 oxt Of the
Union, let then 60. The Tines il not quite 90
candid, but its conclusions are similar to those
of the Tribune. The heroes Of the Mincio have
teen all along very brave evidently antici
pating that there would not be any very great
trouble in the South; but latterly the deliberate
way in which the Hre-eateTs have gene to work
has frightened our quadriiateral contemporary,
and be shows signs of weakness In the knees,
and softening of the backbone, falling back
upon the old idea that State cannot secede
without procuring the passage Of an amendment
to The federal constitution authorizing the
breaking of the compact.
The Chevslier Webb says, in one column of
his paper, that 1t has been his great object to do
everything in his power to allay excitement
and to induce our Southern brethren tc look at
the truth as It is. This statement is remarkably
cool, when we consider that not very lcEg ago
the doughty Chevalier declared that the South
should be whipped into submission" and that
on another occasion be informed an astonished
world that he would shoulder musaet and
march, like another Bayard, against the seces.
sionists.
On one pojnt-and it Is a most important
one-we find the black republican press united.
1t has been suggested in various quarters, North
and South. that there was moro feeling IN the
cotton States with regard to the hostile iegisla
ton of the North than upon the mere fact of
Lincoln's election. With q black re-
publican administration, federal officers
Of the same stripe, end all otker, per.
sons in many Of tho free States prevented
by local law from carrying out the provi-
sions of the Fugitive Slave act, the South, it Is
alleged, would have no longer any rights In
Union than in it.. The repeal Of she Personal
Liberty laws would, 1t is believed, do a great
deal towards calning the South, because under
those circumstances the incoming admins
tration Could not say that the federal officers
were unable TO execute the law in certain
States on account Of the opposition of local
ensctmenss In other words, the South believes
that Tic Ss.ss aud FEEDER al eashorities could AID
would combine to render the Fugitive Slave
act null and void The idea Of sending black
republican marshal to catch fugitive slave,
where there was any loophole through which
the officer could escape from the performance
Of his duty, according 10 bis oath, Is extremely
rich.
Under these circumstances the conservative
press of the North has called for the repeal Of
the Personal Liberty bills, and this call has
been met with scorn and contempt The
Tribune states In the FIRST place, that the Per-
sonal Liberty laws are practically Of no account;
that all the clamor about themis hollow and delu-
sive, and that the States will modify, repeal or
retain them as and when they see st. The Tribune
has more about the arrogance Of the South, and
declares that no halfway measures should be
adopted with such people. The Posi- takes the
came ground az the Tribune. The Times, doing
the Blondin business in its usual style, proposes
that the general government shall reimburse
the owners Of the slaves who may escape. IL
the people Of the State into which the slave
fees could be taxed for bis valne more OF the
fugitives, We opine, would be returned to ser
vice or labor.
II remains. M usual, for the Courier to cap
the climax Of all this sbsurdity. The Chevalier
Webb gives an elaborate abstract of the Personal
Liberty laws in order to prove first that they do
not nullify the Fugitive Slave law; secondly that
II they did the States had right 70 enact them
thirdly that II Is the intent Of the laws to make
Il difHcult for the claimant to obtain the return
Of his slaves fourthly, that ii would be as well
TO modify the laws somewhat, but that there
can be no hope "for such repeal until the Fugi-
tive Slave law itself shall first be shorn Of its
offensive features" sixthly, that the Law IL now
executed as fairly as can be asked, and II the
| Unipd States officers do their duty quietly
and peaceably the law can be executed In every
| Northern State and we believe that under o
republican administration II will be thus exc
| cuted.n
We have little to say in regard 70 the
Co,rier'S false logic, and only word ~ to it,
misstatements OF fact. Everybody knows that
the Personal Liberty bills do practically nullify
q federal law which Is founded upon the consh.
tuton everybody knows that In some dis
tricts the execution Of the Fugitive Slave
law ID physical impossibility. What chance
would the United States officers have for
doing their duty quietly and peaceably" in
Ashtabhla county, Ohio, or Worcester county,
Massachusetts,, or Onondags or St. Lawrence,
| In this stats' What chance had they In
| the city Of Chicago last week. The Personal
Liberty laws ought TO be repealed, for various
reasons other than the Cancellation Of the South
They raIse conflict Of jurisdiction between