Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-07-07
DEMOCRACY AND i, GENERALIZATION.
The Fugitive Slave Law an ExamprV.,

cries, and it is an excellent plan for their
fellow-citiZens, while admitting their pres
ent antics, occasionally to remind them of
the capers of the past. 3u m7t f-9uod 81.
Ever since it has been demonstrated that
our national government IS strong enough
to crush rebellion, and particularly since
it has been administered in the interest of
progress and freedom, and by men who
are determined that every American citi-
zen shall be protected in his rights, the
democracy have despaired of the republic.i
A strong central government wasnota bad
thing to have arOundsO long as the pro-
slavery Democrats could control it, and
while its principal function was to catch
runaway negroes and extend the area of
slavery. COLL
But just at present the fatherslo of Democ7
racy are soaring the infants OF, the, party
with the bug-a-boo Of Capitalization, and
the civil rights bill and the kuk1hx law
are held up as black spectres to make mid
night horrible to their tender soals.ni 1H1
1t was outrageeusly oppressive in Uncle
Sam to interfere with the inalienable right
of few States to break up the nation and
to steal its territory and property. But it
was an act of outrage and oppression y at
which all Democracy CRASHES its teeth and
bowls, that our hard-fsted old Uncle
should get so centralized rs, to interfere
with the darling Democratic privilege Of
burning school houses, whipping school
masters and Republican vOtersla and hang
ing ''niSgers." -- rtr,-., .-tl,-r 4r..f,, 81, On
In the good old times when the strong
arm of the general government was always
raised and ready to interfere in behalf of
slavery, no Democrat had any fear of CEN
tralizatiOn.I The whole machinery of this
mighty natiOn-its army, its Judiciary and
all its officials could then be made use of
to capture some starved and hunted fugi-
tive who scented liberty in the north wind,
or to punish the bold tTansgressor who
should dare to afford the wandeTer a lOdg
lug or crust of bread There was no lack
of constitutional power in the general gov
eminent then, and no lacklO zeal on the
part of those who administered, it. The
Democrat then prattled about Onesimus,
and swore by all the gods in his calendar
that the bible and the constitution madeit
the principal function OF the government
of the United States, and the chief, end of
every loyal citizen, to catch and send back
to him his unruly chattels.- The Democrat
of to-day has dropped thebible altogether ;
but he by turns screams, and chatters about
the constitution, and denies that the gov
eminent has any right or power whatever
to protect either its citizens or their prop
erty. lHilli.a.i Eltlh) .'3 2iifHt 4 ~
On the lSthof September, 1859, w3is pass
ed the act of Congress commonly known
as the Fugitive Slave Law. l. had be
come common for ungrateful negroes, who
did not realize that the peculiar institution
was one designed andWpheldiih lspirit of
pure self-sacrifice for their benefit alone, to
evade their guardians stray oil into
the free States or Canada. And certain
evil-disposed Abolitionists, Regardless of
their constitutional obligations, and for
getful of Onesimusy We're won't 20 give aid
and comfort otheseA dislienesb ste,tiers' OF
themselves, by giving them a little to eat
or a place to sleep, baiid ieveH-f0' their
shame be it spOken--a sly lift across the
Detroit river. .'..t' ~
1t was obvious that if this great nation
was to be saved,twoe things must be ac-l
complished. The Fleeing negro must be
caught, and the constitutiQn-breakin
AbOlitiOnist must be punished. 1t was
equally obvious that all this was the ap-a
propriate functions ofthe0 General Cove
eminent No opportunity so appropriate
and grand for the.eXercise of-an the vast
powers of great and free nation as the
capture of some melancholy darlley while
fleeing from slavery; and no flight so no.
BILE for the American eagleas to follow the
chase with the blood hound. gT1l6s did
our wise and patriotic statesmen look at
HiclCOCE, anu LtlCS lCBIoIdtHN lIDtEtIiN
this direction, untroubled by the fear of
Capitalization. IN -,4ii mn frf
Lest the ordinary officials of govern
ment might not be abundant enough in
every case to promptly discharge this
grand and paternal function of govern
ment, the first three sections of the above
mentioned act confer jurisdiction on COM,
missiOners to act in cases of fugitive slaves,
and provide "that3the Circuit Courts of
the United States and the Superior Courts
of each organized tefritoryE the United
States shall, from time TO time, enlar9ethe
number Of commissioners, with a view to
afford reasonable facilities to reclaim fugi-
tives from labor, and TO the prompt dis
charge of the duties imposed by this act"
No one had any fear of an army ofEOf1ice-
holders then.
By the way, the delicate euphemistic
circumlOcutiOn by which the fastidiOus
democrat of former times avoided the
rough words slave and Slavery" is
shown in this statute, which nowhere
comes nearer to. calling ,thingssby, their
right names than in the ofrrdteFted ex
pressions, 'fugitives from labor y and
such fugitive ...~
BY section four, it was made tli9 tfdty of
all these federal judges and commissioners
"severally and collectively fnl tafnl-tirAe
or vacation" to grant certificates to the
claimants of "such fugitiyes upon proof,
&C., with authority to take and remove
such fugitives to the State or territory
from which they might lave Aed.
By section five, it was made the duty of
all marshals and deputy marshals to exc
cute process under the act, and should such
officer fail g to use all proper nrean$ diliA
gently to execute the same,f he was to be
fined one thousand dollars : 10 the useJof
such claimant" And if "spch fugitive
escaped after his arrest, " Whether with or |
without the assent,of such marshal Or his,
deputy, such marshal shall be liableon his
official bond to be prosecuted for the bene-
lit of such claimants for the full value of
the service or labor Of said fugitive in the
State, Territory, or district, whence he es-
capped. paN .2hQarl 22g1(l .2b0nrl Il
No fear of Capitalization in those good
old democratic times, under 1.-THE = Consti-
tuition as it was.n One of the most no.
ticeably lovely features i'm this emjttentlv