Year: 1859

From the Detroit Free Press.


A Hard Dose fer Old Wings.


The black-republican have at last taken
open ground against the fugitive slave law,
and, as party, demand either its repeal or
its notification. This ground was taken in
the Ohio State Convention last week, where,
among other things, "they demand the re-
peal of the fugitive slave act of 1850, as it
is subversive of both the rights of the States
and the liberties of the people, and as con-
trary to the panest duties of humanity and
Justice abhorrent to the mora senses of the
civilized world" The black republican par
ty is composed largely of those who former
ly acted with the whg party, and we must
acknowledge to a curiosity to know how this
new test of faith will be received by such.
Will they acquiesce in it, or will they rebel?
As wings they acquiesced in this very law;
it was endorsed in their platforms, and sup
ported by their orators and their press. Are
these very men now to stultify themselves
and their action of former years 10y giving
even tact acquiescence in this concession
to the rampant abolitionism of the party
with which they are now acting? 1t is well
known that the abolitionists of the Western
hpSeTNo uCIldlQct llIlo lCtiOh liolll VIC Artdto
convention, and it dare not be refused. 1t
was these very abolitionists who in 1914 de-
feated Henry Clay, the great leader of the
whigs and now the wings of to-day are ask
ed to give over almost the last remnant of
their conservatism to please them. Will it
be done'


The whole black republican party of Ohio,
whigs and all, are now made to. demand the
repeal of this law. Let us see what was the
action of the whig party in former days. In
their national platform in 1852 was the fol
lowing resolution


THAT the series of acts of the Thirty first
Conrress-THE ACT KNOWN AS THE FUGITIVE
SLAVE LAW INCLuDED-are received and ac-
quesced in by the whig party of the United
States as a settlement, IN principie and SUB
stance, of the dangerous and exciting ques-
lions which they embrace and so far as they
are concerned, we will maintain them, and
insist upon their enforcement, until time and
experience shall demonstrate the necessity
of further legislation to guard against the
evasion of the laws on the one hand, and the
abuse of their power on the other not im-
pairing their present efficiency; and we de-
precate all farther agitation of the questions
thus settled as dangerous to our peace, and
will discountenance all efforts to continue or
renew such agitation, Wheneccr, achercyer, and
howeyer tie attempt may be made, and we
will maintain this system as essential to the
nationality of the whig party and the in
tegrity Of the Union"


The law was passed under whig Admin
istration, signed by a whig President, and
advocated, in Congress and out, by Henry
Clay and Daniel Webster,- good whig
authority in their day. 1t was voted for 10y
as many wings as democrats, among the
former of whom were such men as John M.
Berrien, John Bell, George E. Badger, Willie
p. Mangum, John A. I'earce, Humphrey
Marshall, Edward Stanley, the black repub
lcan candidate for Governor in California
and by VIM. Ii. Bissell, now Governor of
Illinois.-Daniel Webster touched the very
pith of the thing in a speech which he made
in the Senate in the summer of 1850, when
the bill was under discussion: "The principle
of the restitution of runaway slaves" said
he, sis not Objectionable umless Tie consh-
tuition is objectionable. If the Constitution
is right in that respect the principle is right,
and tie loac prooiding tor carrying 1t into
effect is right" And again at Buffalo the
next year he used the following language:


81 was in Congress when the law was pro-
posed | was for a proper law. | had in
deed proposed different law | was of the
opinion that a summary trial by jury might
be had, which would satisfy the prejudices
of the people; but | left the Senate, and
went to another station, before the law was
passed Now undertake as a lawyer, and
on my professional character, to say to you,
and to all, that the law Of 1850 is decidedly
more favorable to the fugitive than Gen.
Washngton's law of 1893; and | tell you
why: In the first place, the present law
places the power in much higher han,s-of
independent Judges Of the Supreme circuit
courts and district courts and commissioners
who are appointed to Office for their law
learning. Every fugitive is brought before a
tribunal Of high character, of eminent abili
ty of respectable station. q


"Do YOU find among all those persons
who oppose this fugitive slave law any ad
mission whatever that any law ought to be
passed to carry into effect the solemn stipu-
ations of the Constitution Tell me any
such case. Tell me if any resolution was
passed by the convention at Syracuse
avoring the carrying out of the Constitution!
Not one. The fact is gentlemen, they OPP
pose the Nhole-they oppose the whole
not a man of them admit, that there ought
to be any law on the subject They deny
altogether that the provisions Of the Con
stitution ought to be carried into effect.
Well, what do they say9 Look at the pro-
ceedngs of the anti slavery conventions in
Ohio, Massachusetts,, and at Syracuse, in the
State of New York. What do they say?
That, so help them God, no colored man