Year: 1861

Prom the Cleveland Leader Of Jan. 2ih


SHALL THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW Be
ENFORCED TODAY.


Elsewhere In this mornings LEADER will be


found full report Of fugitive slave case in


C!eveland-the first that has occurred in this city


for nineteen years. The consideration of this case


involves serious results, and must be met with


calmuesS and delibera.ion.


! After these many years Of Republican service,


it is not needful TO declare the conviction Of the


LEADER that the Fugitive Slave Law is unjust, op-


pressivs, infamous and unconstitutional. Our


past history has shown our views too clearly for


them to need any new enuncaton now
What we say, therefore, upon this question, will


not be misunderstood as any concession of princi.


pie or Of faith, but as what we consider our duty


to say in this crisis.


This fugitive case is made, at this time and in


this place, as a test question. The Issue to be


tested is whether the Fugitive Slave Law can be


enforced upon the Western Reserve, which South


erners declare "the hotabed Of Abolitionism." A


rescue from the officers Of the law, would be trums


peted though the length and breadth Of the land.


Secessicnists would seize upon it, as proof that
tho North and the Republican party are wiltul
nullifers Of the laws. The disunion fame would


be famed with tho assertion that all the lawabid-
ing declarations Of Republicans were false and OF
of no effect and the hopes Of ell who yct look to
peaceful Union. would be cast down by an uni
timely move.


On the one hand should the people of the city
of Cleveland, in the Western Reserve-whose Bit
ter hostility to the system Of slavery is provOrbial
and whose every sympathy is reused in favor OF
the escaped bondmen-if this people, by their acts
to-day, proclaim to the country and the world that
they can set aside their feelings and their sympa-
thies that they will submit to the power of the
Federal Laws, even though those laws be totally
repugnant and unjust; that they have calm
judgment which outbslances all the impulses Of
the moment, and brings the latter in subsection to
the former, then the effect of the act for good Ot
this pa.icular crisis, will be felt through all the
country


The Keope of Ohio and the Western Reserve
are Law abiding people, Notwithstanding the SLAM
ders shat have been poured upon them. They
hate and detest the Fugitive Slave Law, with oil
the power of their honect souls and yet, when 1t
is clearly set before them that they must submit
for the time being to that law, we believe they
will do it.


A strong feeling has been raised in favor Of pur-
chasing the woman and setting her free. We
know personally of six indyduals-fve Republi-
cans and one Bell and Everett man-who would
willingly contribute to the amount Of $500, AMI
we have no doubt enough might be readily raised
to make the purchased if her master would consent.
This be will not do. He says he is determined to
test the question and see If fugitive can be re-
claimed from the Western Reserve. lie will not
sell the woman until she has been legally delivered
over to him, and taken to Virginia soil then he
will sell her if desired, for $1,000.


It will thus be seen that the case must come this
morning before the Courts and Commissioner and
that being done, the law must take its course
Most gladly would we have it otherwise, but the
only recourse left to us, is to exhaust oil legal
means of proving her freedom. If this fails, then
we must await the hour, when, with the legisla-
live power in our hands, we can sweep the infa'
nous law from the statute books, and have 20 law
that we cannot with a clean conscience obey.


Our colored citizens are much excited over the
case, but we believe their good sense and prudence
will prevent them from resisting the action of
The law. They should remember that nothing will
be- gained, but very much lost, if they should un-
wisely attempt q rescue. Were they to attempt it,
hey would be met BY an overpowering force shat
would render hopeless the accomplishment of their
purpose. No, colored citizens, do not undertake
,ueh rash act, but show TO the world that you
ire possessed of noble qualities which enable you
10 bear and forbear, even under an unrighteous
aw.


But we do not anticipate disturbance. We have
,optidence in our citizens, white and coiOred, and
We have, too, full confidence in our Mayor, and
n his ability to preserve peace at this critical
uncturo.