The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-02-20
Southern Rights and Concessions.

SOuthefn Rights and Concessions.
| Our national difficulties could be settled
in twenty four honrs if the Republicans
would agree to abide by the Constitution of
( the United States in all It's provisions, as
interpreted by the Supreme Court. The
F, most ultra Southern States ask nothing
! more than this. We hear a great deal of
bluster about the exhorbitant demands of
the South. Republicans tell rs that il would
be degrading in the North to yeild TO them /;
and yet, these demands embrace nothing
more than the South is entitled to under a
judicial construction of the Constitution.
The first demand of the South is, that
| the provision of the Constitution requiring
the return of fugitives from labor shall be
faithfully executed. and that all State laws
which embarrass, conflict with re,ard, or
obsirucf the peaceful! enforcement OF the
fugitive slave law shall be repealed. There
is nothing unreasonable in this demand
The South has right to It's runaway slaves,
and the North has no right 10 protect them
from capture. There can be no appeal in
opinion. No matter how deep the sympa.
thies of Northern men may be in behalf OF
fugiiives from bondage-no matter how
great their reluctance TO witness the return
of runaway negroes, they have no right 10
array public senlimen: against law. Noex-
cuse will avail 10 avoid the execution of a
direct and plain provision of the Cons,iiu-
lion. Many Northern States have been
grossly culpable in the enactment OF laws
which increase the dangers and difficulties
iu the way of the capture of fugitive slaves,
or render their return next to i'm mpossible.-
The South eEands that these laws shall
be repealed-that masters shall meet with
no difficulty in re-tsking their fugitive prop
erty; and that the provision of the Constitu-
| tion, made in their behalf, shall be execu-
ed 10 the very letter. In this an unjust ex-
action? Would it be a hnmilialing con-
cession for the North 10 acknowledge the
binding force of the Constitution and the
I laws passed in pursuance thereof
The second demand of the South is in
reference TO the territories. The Supreme
! Court of the United States having decided
/ that slaves are property, and that the citi
zens OF the Souiher States have the right io
take such property into the common terfi-
tories and hold it there until excluded by
the authority of State Constitution, the
Southern States, interested in slave proper
", ask that this decision be respected anc
enforced as all other decision Of the Su
preme Court are respected and enforced
This is the sum and substance OF their de
msnds. They don't require anything more
than the highest judicial authority in ths
country has pronounced their right. They
only demand that the Constitution, as au
thoritively expounded by the Court, shall
be respected. While that decision stands
it is the right OF the South TO enjoy all th'
benefits which il conters. Congress ha
not power 10 destroy this right; and yet
because they insist upon it, the Southern
States are accused of exacling degrading
terms from the North.
II the Northern majority are required II
recede from the position that Congress ma,
and should exclude slavery from the terri
tories, il is their own fault. They had NJ
business TO assume the right 10 exercis'
power not warranted by the Constitution
If il is humiliaiing to abandon an unJus
and illegal claim. they mus. suffer this NOR
tification for the obligations OF law ar
more imperative than the DEGREES of party
But, for the purpose of reconciling diff
cullies, the Southern States now loyal Il
the Union, propose to yield the right to tax
their properly into portion of the com
mon territory, provided their right to IN
remainder is recognized. This is subtan
TALLY the offer made by the Critienden reso
Iuiions. They involve concessions on botl
sides. The South comedies a portion O
what the Supreme Court has determined Il
be their right. The North yields its pre-
tensions TO exclude slavery south of 5000
which supreme judicial authority has deci
ded il has no right to do. And YET, the Re
publicans grumble at this proposition as
il sought TO extort enormous concession
from them. The concessions are principal
" the other way.-Pafriot and Union.
- A Convention of BIoomer damsels
reported to have resolved that they wi