, 1862-06-03

This ubiquitous law was only intended to
crafty the malignant slave power, to Offset
the escape Of California from its clutches,
and to insult and humiliate the free States.
it should at least be so modified as to con-
form to the spirit Of our laws-placing ths |
fugitive and his claimant, the plaintiff and
tie defendant, on level before the courts. |
4 retrospective view Of some Of the |
leading events connected with the passage
Of this barbarous enactment, may serve to
direct attention to the weakness Of its
claims Oh our respect or forbearance. It
has the form Of law; but is in the nature
Of violation Of Law. The struggle which
preceded the acquisition of Texas, most
of OUT readers remember. How reluctantly
the North assented to the addition Of slave
territory greater than the area Of France
how the lending journals of the South con-
tinually declared that if Texas came not
to the South, the South would 60 to Texas,
how disunion and civil war we're boldly
Threatened as the penalty Of defeating the
plot-hoT bargain was finally copsum-
mated, and how the South was still unsat-
isfied,-an these things are fresh in our
memories, and possess additional import
ance as links in the chain Of evidence fix
ing upon slavery the guilt Of a long pre-
mediiated and dreadful crime. The annex
ation Of Texas preceded the commence
ment Of the contest in California less
than four years. 1t frat, all parties
conceded the impossibility Of resisting the
triumph Of slavery in the new Pacific
Territory. It seemed to have everything
its own way. Southern blacklegs kept the
drinkipg-houses. Southern lawyers stood
foremost at the bar. Southern politicians
made the speeches at public meetings,
Confident Of an easy victory, and eager to
humiliate the free States, the slave power
taunting1y declared that the people of Cali
foInia should choose their own domestic
sazstitutions. The North was dcsponlent,
and, because Respondent, powerless. Tex
as, California, New Mcxico-and then the
Southern barrier against freedom would be
complete. The ultimate mastery Of this
whole continent was at stake, and one Of
the contending powers had given up in de-
spair.
Suddenly there came great shock,
as Of an earthquake, and the Repub-
lie was shaken to its center. Califor-
MIA had prohibited slavery, and
asked admission as free State
Then what commonon there was in the
domain OF slavery-Wha: howl of rage
and gricf-What change from grinnin,
cxultaiion to the blaclzness Of disanpoint-
ment and ti1e ferceness Of revenge! But
the North was too irresolute to improve its
advantage. The tine for decisive action
slipped away and it came not again. For
thc third time in the history Of the Rcpub-
lie there was signal opportunity to crush
treason to powder, and for the third time
the opportunity was not improved The
Stare power soon rallied from the effects
Of the blow, returned to the onset, and
dcclared that the people should not choose
their own "domest1c Institutions" and
that California should not be aimit-
ted, unless slavery received full compen-
sauon for the lost prize The usual ar
gument was employed mpliance OF dis.
union The North coaxed the South
bullied- The claim Vas SO monstrous1y
unjust and unreasonable, the assumption OF
Southern supremacy was so Insulting and
barefaeed, That the free States were ashamed
to5ield. Then came the conservative II
bcr1bes and Pharlsees, hypocrites, tempting
the people with smooth words and lyins
promists. Of course there was 9 compro
mise-and such compromise! New Mex
leo refused admi lance as free State, ant
Ret back under the shadow Of slavery; fif+,
thousand square nllles added to Texas, ant
Len million dollars Of pin money; fugi.iy'
Save Law purposely and uunccessaril,
harsh III its provisions, in order, q
lis infamous author, the traitor Mason
afterwards openly boasted, to make the Lu
initiation OF the North as affect as th,
triumph Of the South was couplctc.-thi
was the price e1acted by the slave poye
for abandoning its claim to California. at
te1 California had prohibited slavery. Til
was Tie ransom paid for the first new Stat
which had escaped from the clutches Of til
monster. This was the cost of disgrace
tul truce which slavery never intended t
Keep. The assumption Of the British GOV
elanlent, nat mau born under its juriE
oic1on could neyer cast off lis alleyiauct
once caused WAT; but slavery set up til
clam, That any territory over which it an
time had dol~s of Obtaining ;u1isdictio,
owed lis allegiance, and could not he sn1
rendered without such compensation as
chose to exact. No ghwaymap, no \
rate, no ecclesiastical inqulsi,or, no tyra!
spoiled s,y power, eTer made so high han,
ed, overbearing, OF unjust demand
was refinement Of insult and cnel,
which only slavery could have the ing
nuity to devise or the audacity to inf]ict.
Ills reverence for this aboninable Is
that makes 80 many Of our commando
bring disgrace on the service and II
country, by STOPPING low enough to b
come voluntary s1ave-catchcr5 for rebe
It is a shield for treason, and and a sour