Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-04-17

Status of the Slaves in SeceSSia.
PHGNIxvILLE. ILL, March !. 1862

Va an artlcle written Tor the chicago
Tribune by DR.. A. G. Meacham a
friend of my father, and political
co-laborer with him. 1t was not pub.
lished in the Tribune, but, as its SEN
timents and logical deductions are
calculated strongly to facilitate, and
render more thorough the investiga-
ton commenced, of the true political
relations of the colored population of
the seeded States Of our Govern
ment, it will no doubt prove inter-
esting. / am yours, &C.,
.. BETSY PERDY.
Errors CHICAGO TRIBUNE: IF we
calmly consider few well establish
ed truths in relation to our govern
menta! fabric, on the one hand, and
the course pursued by the people of
the seeded States on the other, we
shall come to the inevitable conclu-
sion that there is no legal slavery
that is, slavery that is rendered legal
by the State or Territory wherein it
exists being recognized as such by
the Federal Constitution-through the
whole territory of Secessia.
All that vast territory now under
the blight of secession was, for many
years, recogized as existing under
constitutional forms of State Govern
ments. But their identity with their
perpetuation, as States, was wholly
dependent upon certain given contin-
gencies, the fulfillment of certain de-
scribed obligatiuns and restrictions.
In case therefore that any State ad-
mitted into the Union of States, I'M
der that consideration, fails to COM
ply with said contingencies, it must
OF necessity become null and void, in
its capacity as constitutional State.
Nothing can be more certain.
Well, what were those contingent
cies, obligations and restrictions, we
may inquire, which rendered the terri
tory of Secessia valid States, and
continued them i'm the Union?
The first and leading one was, that
a republican form of government
should be maintained. Another lead
ing feature was. that the living juris-
diction Of the General and superior
Government should continually ex-
tend over its boundaries. A third was,
that q system of revenue should bc
maintained in successful operation
throughout the State, for the mainte-
nance of the common interests of the
whole country. A fourth was, that a
postal system should be maintained
in successful process by the General
Government throughout the State.
The maintenance of these and 9th
ers which might be named, in any
State, constitutes its validity, and
forms in behalf Of said State an cqui-
table and valid claim upon the Fcde-
raj Government for it's protection, in
common with all the other States.
But the non-fulfllmcnt of these condi.
tons, on the part of an individual
State, must needs invalidate its or.
ganization as such, its identity as an
integral part of the General Govern
ment, and its rightful claim upon that
Government for protection. This is
precisely the state of the case with
the territory of the seeded States.
While recognized as valid govern
ments within the pale of the General
Government, whatever subordinate in
situations existed therein of kindred
and general character, were recogniz-
ed in common, and maintained by force
of the Federal authority. But so
soon as the people of State violated
it's great obligation by demolishing all
the institutions of the General Gov
eminent, and resisted and threw off
its authority, it forfeited all claim to
its protection and recognition as
State. 1t falls back, therefore, by its
own gravity into state of territorial
anarchy. The territory becomes the
property of the Federal Government,
and all the civil and political institu-
tons thereof fall to the ground, so far
as their constitutional validity is con-
ccrned. The law of slavery, then, is
rendered void, and the whole mass of
slaves, at stroke, are set free by the
negative force of the act of seces-
sion.
The authorities of the Federal Gov
ernment have no more constitutional |
right to return fugitives from Seces-
STA than they have to proclaim free
negroes, or free whites, slaves. Then
upon what principle Of right was the
order to Gen. Seerman based, to
seize the slaves, so claimed, of loyal
masters in South Carolina and putting
them to labor for the Government,
giving assurances to their would be-
owners that the Government would
make due compensation Seize
men made free by the act Of secession,
and pay their spurious claimants for
them Pay q thousand dollars to a
man, to satisfy a false claim to a per-
son as free as himself What kind
of justice is that? Who among nor
thern freemen will wish to be taxed
to pay false and unconstitutiona.
claims made for men as free as air
If these loyal slave owners have had
the misfortune to lose their slaves at
the hands of their secession country
men, whose business is it? Whose
fault /? Is it from any other cause
than that they were in bad company
Where then is the justice in our pay
ing the damages, any more than for
the Government to pay for my horse
that is stolen from my pasture? A
demand made in this latter case
would be treated with the highest in
dignity. 1t would be viewed as just
cause for revolution. But if the de-
mand is made for "nigger" claim.
ed as slave, it is held as sacred.
having been sanctified by usage, and
is submitted to without q murmur.
Good heavens /! what state Of moral
pollution and morbid sentiment have
we come to?
By what right or authority have
some of our military officers seized
and returned fugitivcs-fugitive free
men, fleeing from rebel tyrants for
their lives and liberties their reb.