The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-06

we pnDliSned on TUESDAY snort eX- |
tract from a speech made by the Governor |
elect Of Pennsylvania, at a dinner, which was |
given in Philadelphia on Saturday, in honor of
Mr.. A K. MCCLURE, the Chairman of the Republic
can State Committee. We must again refer our
readers TO what was said on that occasion, for the
speakers are gentlemen of influence and high posi-
ton in Pennsylvania, and their unwillngness to
look unpleasant facts squarely in the face, proves
that we have done the people of the North no in
Justice in asserting that they have endeavored to
avoid meeting the real issues before the country.
We remarked a few days ago that the Northern
press had resorted to quibbling and equivocating
rather than admit the character and object Of the
Personal Liberty Bills, and the truth of our obser-
walton is proved by the fact that the Republic
can politicians who dined together last week in
Philadelphia, could not bring themselves to &C.
knowledge that Pennsylvania had ever attempted
by any legislation on her part, 10 interfere with
the enforcement of an act Of Congress. The Gov
ernor elect Of the State, Mr. CURTIN, on the occa-
sion in question: asserted fatty that no laws "to
contravene or obstruct the execution ofany act Of
''the Federal Government" had ever been ode
''signedly placed" upon the statute book, and he
strongly intimated that none are in existence
which will bear any such construction. Mr..
McCLuRE, the guest ofthe evening, SAID: II can
''speak confidently when say that know Penn
''sylvana is not obnoxious to the charge of seek
ling to defeat in any way, the faithful execution
"of the laws. 1t is charged that Pennsylvania
''has sought by her legislation to obstruct he rem
edition Of slaves. have looked carefully and in
'vain for any such legislation.' This allegation
is explicit and decided, and are puzzled to I'M
dersand how any man could have made it who
was really anxious TO give to the complaints of
the South, a fair and impartial hearing. The law
passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature in l847
provided, we quote from PURDoNs Digest,
that no judge, alderman or justice ofthat common
wealth shall 'have jurisdiction or take cognizance
''of the case Of any fugitive from labor from any
''of the United States or Territories under a Ger
''tain act of Congress, passed on the 10Th day OF
February, l793,, entitled, AN act respecting fu-
''gltlves from justice, and persons escaping from
"the service of their masters nor shall any such
Judge, alderman or justice of the peace, issue or
''grant any certificate warrant of removal of
''any such fugitive from labor under the said act
"of Congress, or udr any OTHER lar ahorityor act
y congress " me CHueH tCtdteS. The law
further provides that eff any person or persons
Claiming any negro or mulatto as fugitive from
"serviude or labor shall under any preence of ar
'WorHy achatsoecer, violently and unanimously
'seize upon and carry away to any place. or at
''tempt to seize and carry away in riotous vio-
'lent, tumultuous and unreasonable manner and
$50 as TO endanger the public peace, any negro or
"mulatto within this commonwealth, either acuh or
"sgibom the intention Of tdFing such negro or mt
"IHto before daY district circuit judge, the per-
sons so offending shall be deemed guilty of n mis-
demeanor, and punished by fine and imprison-
ment
Is there any honest man, we ask, who has
doubt about the true object of this law? Was it
not "designedly placed" upon the statute book
Ito contrayene or obstruct' the Act of 1793 or
any similar Act of Congress? Or can any one af-
feet to misunderstood the force of its provisions?
1t is worse than idle, at time like this, to cav
over technicalties or bubble about terms. Every
body knows, and none better than the Governor
elect of Pennsylvania, that scarcely any effort
could he made TO retake a fugitive slave in that
State, which would not be declared by jury to
be "Violent, tumultuous and unreasonable" and
they know, moreover, that the legislators who
drew the law intended TO deter the STAKEHOLDER
from seeking the redress to which, under the Fed
eral Constitution, he is so clearly entitled. If the
Republican leaders who discussed this subject on
Saturday had approached it little more frankly
we should have had much more confidence in their
patriotic protestations. They avowed their deter
mnation to respect the rights of the South and to
advocate the repeal of ''any act of the people of
'Pennsylvania" which interferes WITH restricts
or limits the rights of any Estate or man in the
''nation, but we cannot possibly be expected to
derive consolation from such declaration when
those who make it tell us, in the same breath, that
such laws as Pennsylvania has already passed do
not Construct The rendition of slaves and that
the South has nothing to complain of on that
score