The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-02-21

surely, a tallacy more groundless has never
had popular run. To examine is to explode
1t. Does the Constitution wrong the South
The only unequal advantages conferred by that
instrument are two. 1t bestows on the South
the privilege Of capturing escaped slaves within
the limits OF the States which have prohibited
Slavery, thus, to that extent curtailing the local
sovereignty OF the free States, and suspending
the operation of the worlds common law
Again, it endows the Slaveholding States with
an extra representation in Congress, and a SUI
perlor franchise in the election of all Federal
officers, by adding three-ffths of the slaves to
the number of the free people ofthose States as
the basis OF their representation, thus endowing
them permanently with vastly more political
power than it confers on communities of similar
size in the free States. These may be wrongs,
but are they wrongs of the South?
Has Congress wronged the South? 1t has
bought Louisiana and Florida, fought the Sem
lnoles aud Mexicans, receded from the Jeter-
sonian policy of Slavery restriction, enacted fu.
gtive slave bills and enforced them, connived
at the slave trade, packed the Supreme Bench,
and winked at disunion-all for Slavery. These
may be wrongs, but are they wrongs of the
South?
Has the Judiciary wronged the South Con
slider the comparative efficiency in execution of
the Federal laws in the interest of Slavery, as
compared with those in the interest of Freedom.
The other day at Cleveland, in the extreme
North, the poor girl Eliza, was arrested and
proved to be a fugitive slave. The Free State
Court and Personal Liberty bill availed only to
demand evidence. The evidence being produc-
sd, Ohio withdrew her protec ting hand, and
abandoned the innocent woman to her fate
The bond under the Constitution was paid even
| to the pound OF flesh. But at Norfolk, the cap
tain OF the SLAYER Storm King was acquitted,
our national laws against the slave tr ade being
| dead letter. We bave known numerous in
stances of the rendition of fugitive slaves, bu
we cannot recall single instance of punish
ment under the laws against the slave trade
These may be wrongs, but are they wrongs
of the South?
Has popular Sentiment wronged the South 7
There is not spot on Northern soil where our
fellow citizens Of the South may not freely
come, freely hold, and freely speak their opin-
IONS on any topic, and find personal freedom and
freedom ofspeech conceded to and maintained
for them by Northern sentiment as well as by
Northern law. Their every personal right land
every right of property known to the worlds
Common law, is revered and guarded as theil
own. But innocent Northern men, and South
ern too, who merely dissent by silence from the
prevalent Pro-SlaVery sentiment III the South
are not safe there. They have in many instan
SSo OCOu nluIuoIOu, anu III udLy more D6cn lP
unanimously expelled. Are not these facts p
Perhaps they indicate wrongs arising from pop
ular sentiment, but are they wrongs of tn,
South?
Among the picked men of the South now con
vened al. Washington il there not one clear
sighted enough to discriminate between equa
rights under the Constitution and the common
law, which every, Southern man enjoys perfect
ly in every Northern State and in all nationa
territory, as distinguished from those extr.
Constitutional guarantees and that nationa
propagation of Slavery which, under the tern
concession" is demanded by the South Anc
is there notGone gallant heart ready to stand by
truth and his country, and to expose to his com
peers and constituents the emptiness and in
justice Of the cry, Wrongs of the SOUTH
N. Y. Tribune.