Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-12-05
SPIRIT OF THE AGE. A Weekly

sufferer by abolition ~ascendancy. Gun State
is a barrier of protection to the Cotton States,
against anti-slayery aggressions. Our friends
in the South can certainly bear the admins
tration OF Lincoln as long as We can. Then,
let them heed the voice of Kentucky, stand
true to the Union, and not exhaust all hope
of yet maintaining the Constitution. The
Democracy of Kentucky, those men who,
in the support of Mr.. Breckenridge, have
given earnest of their fidelity to the rights
of the South, viii appeal to the South to give
whatever movements are now in contemp:a-
ton, and, like patriots. uphold the Consti-
tuition and the Union. Do this, and all may
yet be we'll
REPEAL OF TUE PERSONAL LIBERTY LAWS.
The Philadelphia Bulletin Republican, says:
But the men of the South who are not
frenzied, are asking the people of the North
to dc something else, by way of restoring
confidence and harmony. They ask that
the Northern States repeal all such enact
mcnts as in any way interfere with the Fed
eral Laws in reference to f~ugitiyes from la
| Dor. This is not an unreasonable request,
and it should be cheerfully and frankly com
piled with. The tenor of most OF these
State laws has been much misrepresented.-
But this matters little. Eeyen if the laws
were meaningless and imperative, yet il
their titles or phraseology are offensive to
our Southern fellow citizens, if by any forced
construction they could be made to appear
hostile to them, let them be dotted out oil
the statute books. This is no time Tor pune
tito. The Union is in danger, and the PEG.
pie of the free States can afford to make many
sacrifices to save it. They should promptly
I'D 1l-.-c. H. -~--l -
made by the South to repeal every law thai
can possibly be constructed into an inter
ference with the Federal laws or u design
upon the property Of Southern C. tizens.
We think we can safely promise that the
Pennsylvania Legislature, which is to NEE
in January next, will, without de ay, repea
the statute of 1S4T, which, although having
no reference to the present Fugitive Slave
law, is still an offence to the people of thu
South. 1t is almost a dead letter as it is
and it's continuance is not needed. But ever
if it were, we could readily give it up, fo
the sake of restoring peace to the country
The same may be said of the laws passed b.
other States, some of which are far NOR,
severe than ours, and were enacted will
special reference to the Fugitive Slave law
1t is doubtful whether the repeal of thes
laws will satisfy all the South. Still, as it i
demanded by many Southern people as thu
only thing that can tend to abate the presen
excitement, we should yield to the demand
Those who advocated the election of MI
Lincoln, should advocate such repeats
They owe it to a man whom they have calle
to a place of such mighty responsibility, tina
they should, as far as is possible, remove a
obstacle. in the way of a peaceful and SUI
cessful administration If these oifensiy
statutes remain unrcpealed-supposing eve
that there be no secession-they would sti
be causes of disagreement and quarreling DIT
ring his whole term Of office, and would Ser
eusly interfere with his efforts to govern tn
country properly and peacefully.