Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-12
EHnER LAW.

&AAFE Law
The deep-seatsd hostility Of the North to
The law f0r rendition Of slaves, has manifested
Itself ia various modes. They have denied its
eonsHtutionality their legislatures have pass
"a acts to obstruct ihs execution they have
set up the mandates Of the higher law against
its clear provisions they have demanded its
modification; they have openly proclaimed
that the moral sentiment OF the North would
never permit the fulhllmens Of its provisions ;
their public speakers, in the forum and the
pulpit, have dsnouncedit terms;
me halls Of Congress have echoed with Trades
against its terms, its purpose, and those for
whose protection it was passed. The Repub-
Hrans have demanded that the slave who
escapes shall not be surrendered without 3
trial BY Jury, Notwithstanding the Constitu-
ton declares, in terms so plain that sophistry
cannot gloss it, the fugitive E" shall Be delivered
ID upon claim Of the party 10 phOm such service
or labor shall be due" This provision Of the
Constitution which, in the language Of Mr..
WEBSTER, twas a matter Of absolute right
and Justice to the Southern States" and was
adopted without opposition from Mssssehu-
sets to Georgia, has been tempered with BY
the Black-Republiean Congress which has
just adjourned. An act passed the House on
the % inst, BY a vote Of % to 50, securing to
the slave a trial by jury before a federal Judge,
and it is made the duty OF the federal attor-
ney, under heavy penalties, to provide for the
prosecution by the slave against the owner.
Owing to the late hour Of its adoption by
the House, and the great press Of business
upon the Legislative body, we presume the bill
did not reach the Senate. The large majority
it received in the House, taken in connection
with the fact that the Blsek-R Republicans will
have a majority in the next Senate, warns US
that the ensuing session Of Congress viii most
assuredly witness its adoption, or that OF some
amendment still more odious. There is not a
single slave state in the Union, which has not
amply provided remedies for the assertion Of
freedom in the State courts by those who are
entitled to it, and from whom It may be wrong
fully withheld. There are certain safeguards
thrown around the remedy, however, to prevent
e~itizeas from being h~srsssed BY baseless suits
OF Nlle GudIdNLEAH huNAf AOA NAdnftNr - AuN
provision that the surety for the plaintiff shall
be responsible to the defendant for damages,
il upon Investigation it shall be apparent that
the suit was Instituted malieiousiy, or without
probable grounds. Every facility IS afforded
to promote a fair and impartial trial in behalf
Of one who is improperly held in bondage. The
innate love Of justice and the heightened public
sentiment which pervsdes the southern people,
have always procured for these statutes a full
recognition and complete enforcement. But
this viii not satisfy the Black-Republiesns.
They demand a trial for slaves before Black
Republican federal judges, aided BY Black-Re-
publican federal attorneys, who will dispense,
not the laws Of the United States, but the doc
trines Of the Chicago platform. We learn,
with establishment, that some regard this move
msnt Of the enemy, rot as an insulting agrees
sion, but rather as an evidence Of concession.
Those who are thus wilfully blinded, would
probably regard the invasion Of the Southern
States BY a federal army, as an indication Of
a desire to protect the institution Of slavery.
With such we cannot reason, and fear they are
stricken with judicial blindness.