Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-20


BAKER's life of SEWARD, page 50, says : The law
which permitted master travelling through 1ne
State Of New York with his slaves to retain them
for the space of nine months, was repesed through
h;s fSrvr,pn.sl influence. It was this repeal oy
,yhic, the slaves in the Lemon case, who had been
,,,,,,,t f-or virginia to New York in order to be
shipped to Texas, were saved from perpetual pond
age"
act allowing the fugitive slave the benefit Of jury
trial"
IAN act was also passed, at his instance, prOhib-
ting State officers from participating in actions for
the recovery of fugitive slave, and denying the
use of the public jails for the detention of fugi-
tives."
"These acts of Governor Seward win FORM"
says his Biographer, an enduring monument OF
his heartfelt devotion to the cause of freedom,
as embodied in the Declaration Of Independence"
These acts must be also regarded, as the most en-
during memorial Of his base disregard to the Con-
stution Of the United States and of his utter unfit
ness for any station, in government of laws No
man knows better than he does, that he was labor
ing to overthrow the Constitution of his country,
and no man cared less for it, when he could gam
Votes by it,
His biography further states:
Amongst Governor SEwARD's last recommenda-
tions to the Legislature, was an amendment OF sne
Constitution, by which the freehold qualification
required Of citizens of the African race as cond
ton of exercising the right of suffrage should be
abolished. He urged the necessity of granting the
right of suffrage to every class Of persons subject
to the laws of the State" VF--- ~ Z
Three men were charged with stealing negroes in
Virginia: and conveying them to New York, they
were demanded by the Governor Of Virginia, of
SEWARD, then Governor of New York. DE refused
70 deliver them on the ground, that it was not an
offence by common law to steal slaye.-Page IS.
To aid slave to escape from bondage was an act
of benevolence and humanity, says his biographer.
Thus negro stealing is justified in order to get
votes in New York, as it is by Governor DENNIsoN
in Ohio Some tell US now that this state of feeling
at the North against the Constitution is a temporary
gust of policy and that it will blow over.
ItRppears that negro stealing was thus justified
by SEWARD in 1872 and that the notification of the
Constitution was then practiced as it is now. The
fact cannot be disguised that the Constitution has
been practically at an end for years in almost all
parts of the North on this subject
The Governors of Georgia, Louisiana, and flr-
gina, demanded fugitive slaves OF SEWARD IN Taln
The State of Virginia, combined with other states
resorted to retaatory measures says the biography
but il had no effect on the conscience of Gov SEWARD
VIII not Congress, during the first term of LIN
coLN declare in the face of nations that the holder
of slave is thief undeservlng of Office, and that
free negroes are citizens of the United States.
No decision was ever attacked more violently
than Mr.. LINCOLN attacked that decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, which declared
free negroes are not citizens under the Constitution
Shall we help him and his party to subjugste a
Southern State?