The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-01-12

rowed arm of the general government, vel
each sovereign State has right to INSPECT
the proceedings under which that recap
tion is effected, and equally so, whether
the reception is made by the master in
person, by his agent under seal, or his at
torney, the Government Of the United
States, in right of the master To that ex-
tent personal liberty laws are within the
powers of the several States, and enjoined
by the duty they owe to every person
found upon their soil-that of personal
protection against unlawful aggression.
And now, who does not see that il is not
| from political grievances, either real or
supposed, that the threats of disunion
spring? Is it not manifest, that if every
| personal liberty bill was repealed-every
fugitive slave that escapes returned or paid
for-a code establishing and protecting
slavery in every Territory Of the United
| States was enacted-reserving to the Ter
ritories the right Of admission As free or
slave States, as they might desre-that
the rights and condition Of the slave States
in that regard, would remain substantially
the same as they now are2 \ slave paid
FOR once year-a few murders and rob
berries in the Territories, beyond what
would otherwise happen-these are about
the sum OF the positive results that would
be derived by the South, from granting the
| enactment of these measures.
The effect of yielding to these demands
on the part of the North, is entirely diff
ferent question.-Il Happily, that is a ques-
ton which it is not necdiul TO discuss.
Odious as the fugitive slave law is. the
Republican party have never proposed to
repeal or impair it. The eminent citizen
whom they have elevated to the Presi-
Il I'll ! Il.
duty of the President to execute it. He
also viii declare, in apt and proper time.
perhaps, that there are some other laws Of
the United States, operating upon white
men (but TIE operation Of which has not
been invoked since the celebrated t.ial IL
Richmond, Virginia, forty years ago, or
more) which it may become his duty to
execute upon HeH,, a. well as this law upon
the black person"
With the existing legislation III respect
10 the Territories, the Republican party
have not the present power 10 interfere
They have never proposed any substantial
Interference with II, II they had the power,
so far A. | know. Whatever right the
southern planter now ha-, - 90 into any
Of the Territories Of the CLlt.d States
with Ais slaves. and 20 hold them in slave
~ there. tho Republican, party % not pro-
pose to deprive him Of. They claim, indeed.
the r.Ikt 10 DO so whenever they have the
needFul majority in Congress. but con
sCious that it is 4 barren right. they have
never proposed 90 lar as l know, - erer-
else Il
But there is one thing il ta:s regard
I that they do propose 70 do. They Do p.o
pose, a. soon a. they acquire t.e power,
that the course oi peaceful emigration,
o. . f.H-
shall not be iEte:le.-l with, Ly violence
or intimidation from any quarter. They
intend, a. soon as they acquire tie power,
to protect every settler III tbe Icrr.-osie-.
IN his person, ia bis property. .na IN Tie
exercise OF all hi :lr!It:u. iIzaSh.-r-. -
this viii be 4 material departure from lie
policy Of the Government daring the .=-t
xix years, it Inay DE that II wsli Ds regard
ed IN certain quarters Of tie [ GIoL. and
by certain public tugctlcuar.e-- - rcvo!Q-
tlonary in lis character, and ju-tiiy!nE re-
bel.lou. That however, is 4 sEe.t.cn DO
not propose now 10 liecu-a tto1S1 c@udDg
cofapsl- nle TO admit, that It : 4 II re Sc
.s H1i 4ssl-snt Of the po',sf, hitherto
tha any which result from the other grew
suces whici. have been examined
1t - no; needfGl TO pursue tins ex.lui-
nation farther. Every man can zee that i
willing 10 see, from what source 'ne thres =
Of di~uuioU 10 ra' spring Other grounds
must be explored III order To ind tie
source from which they do proceed, and
unhepV,iy, ii = not i-r NC shall have 10 20
10 fad them
Il belong, 70 the philosopher to enquire
and Il may not bs unworthy OF the States
man to JOIN III the enquiry. whether 1 long
course OF peaceful administration, 20 co!!-
Quoted A. IN csGse constant cultivation
of the frIt,rn4l feelings a.l reasoning
T powers of all the iue:s.tef- OF .Ee body 20
/ lite, Will no, tend 10 the transmission oi
these peaceful qualities from generation to
/ generation. Ii there j. ANY considerable
degree Of truth in the foregoing in;.natior
and ! an strongly Of opinion that dill
gent enquiry into facts would 20 lar to
ward. establishing i as solid aud i'm
pre.nable truth-then indeed, a key j
/ placd in the hands OF the Staiesmsn, where
with he may unlock the mysteries Of the
! present imbroglo. and command, or, al
the least, powerfully influence the desti
nes OF the future. For iu>olence and 4
lust OF un ju>t and despotic power, have =
place. also, deeper, or more patent, in
F every heart: aud If fosterti and -tiDUia
ted, by a government, or by a state o: 20
ciety constantly operating IN that behalf
they must augment from generation to re
neIatIon, until they culm.Hat4 III deetruc
ton at iaSt-unle-s indeed some strong
and rghtful hand shall arrest the nladnes.
i'll its course. and stay il there until reaso,
shall have time to bring the patient home
Looking TO the constitution Of sOciet,
III the Southern States-Loukinv at tEeii
long and despotic control of the Genera
Goverumcnt-Looking at the politics
causes assigned for their dissatisfaction
and seeing their in,uiiiciency cy-Looking Il
the moral causes that have been po!i.te,
out. and seeing their su:iciency,-th gov
erninT power OF the United States mus
come TO say, that they do understand TIE
causes upon which threats OF dlsunion rest
and must now proceed 10 consider, and 81
far as is needt!l to declare, the reued,
which their duty enjoins them TO apply.
Conscious OF the uprishtness OF their in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the torbeaianc'
that Is due to errors OF opinion
of the cardinal principle upon which re
publican governments rest, tina. the ma
.jority must bear rule, a. we'll as OF the hu
name qualification of that rule that th,
just ri ghts OF minOrities should be consider
ed and respected the governing power o
the United States approach the execution
OF their duty, with firm reliance upon
the sounduess OF their jud ,ment,-con
scious also that that Judgement is temper
cd by benignity. Guii-d-inhuencrd
controlled 10y these just principles, the,
are now about to execute that judgment
upon the Offending members Of the Body
Polite
Their power in this regard, is derived
from the Constitution of the United State
and the laws made in pursuance thereof
Their instrument, III the first ihetance, Il
the President of the United States.-But
the President of the United States in exc
cutting, as the instrument Of the govefnin,
majority, their ,jud sments upon the cliend
ing members OF the Body Polite, must b,
liz, tho tn.