Newspaper Page Text
1
L T. 1ML 1 jgH ."J JBff
BENJAMIN S. JONES, EDITOIl.
'XO UMOX WITH SLA VEIIOLDEIiS."
ANN rE ARSON, PUBLISHING AGENT.
VOL. 15. NO. 50.
SALEM, COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO, SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1SC0.
WHOLE NO 772,
The Anti-Slavery Bugle.
From the Wisconsin Free Democrat.
LETTER OF MR. BOOTH—DESPOTISM
OVER THE SOUL.
To the Editor of the Free Democrat :
m-T. ?T"
I learn Unit a la repurtcil, that it is
tauit mat l am now id prison, ana ihnt l could tic1
released, at any time, for tho asking ; and that'
... ...
there are not wanting Republicans.,, say. .h.u
if I am not willing to ask for pardon, I ought not
to bs released. Let mo state the mattor fairly.
Tli 9 Supreme Court of this Stalelias decided that
tne Act unucr w nun i was convicted was uncons-
. , , . ,,, . .,
tttutionnl, was n i law not voidable, but void and
' ,
discharged me from the sentence uf the I S D,s-
Ttct Court By this decision, it pieced the
power, outhority and sovorc.gnty of tho State fr
the protection of my liberty against any attempted
,r . . . ,
fntorceinant tit the onuioal sentence, iliat doci
, , ,
Bioo of the Supreme Court stands unreversed as
the law ut (his State, for it refused ubedicnco to
tbe mandate uf the U. S. Supremo Court, requiring
iv lu nvoisi) its decis.on, and douied its appell.uo
jurisdiction.
The Suite, then, by its highest tribunal, has de
clared me innocent, and fu'ly entitled to its protec
tion from arrest and ioipriioooi -ot. lis Exe cutive,
Oo. i(. to Jill, in his Annual Message, referring
approvingly to (lie decision i f the Supreme Court
declared it to bd the law uf Wisconsin, and 'volun
tarily pledged all the power of the State to ecc i'.
tni'uiced.
1 have, than, the judicial decree, and the Execu
tive pledge the word und oath ol the Siato guar
anteeing my liberty. I have also the declaration
of every llqiuldivaii roper in the State, at tho time
of oiy dischatge, und the tcs-loti. ins of more ihun
a hundred public meetings, ill favor of the deci
sion of the Supreme Court, und uf t-ustainiog me
in the position 1 had taken.
1 have also lhe L fgisl invo ajtio-i of tho State in
my fdvor, declaring; slave judgments void,, mid
punishing. Willi Doe and imprisonment, nil who
re-c iiiiont and re-imprison for lhe 8'tmu i-a ise,oTie
who has been discharged on a writ of hahean cor
pus. I have, then, tho Jultcial, the Executive,
and the Legislative autho icy of the Suite for say
ing tnat I am now illeialli imprisoned, that I was
kidnapped, and those who now hold me a prisoner
have no moro rigla tj hold me thus, than they
Lave tu iuiprisun Judge Cole or Gov. Uandull,
without the pretense of authority of law.
Now, what am 1 uskud to do, tu entitle mo to a
release ?
1. To deny thefaiih of Witcoasia, by acknowl
edging that llr writ uf habeas corpus and the
Ilight uf Tii il by Jury may be constitutionally
abolished, and that an unconstitutional Act a
null! y unty Ce a valid law, strong enough to
override the rights and sovereignty of the State,
its Courts, its Executive, its Legislature, und the
liberties ol lhe people.
2. Tu become a hypocrite. For every ono knows
that if 1 should ak pardon fur violating tho Fu
gitive Act, and ptuuiise tu obey it hereulter, 1
would be lying.
run i D.I NOT REC1GSIZE IT AS A LAW. It 1.1 a
bold iistirpuliuii, striking directly ut the liber
tics nf the people, and the authority if Jchorali
)i hat God commands, it forbids 1 What Hit fir
bids it commands ! It is cruel, bluodv, wicked,
despotic, damnable ! Those wh j uphold it, if' they
proless Republicanism, deserve tho scorn ol rlcs
pots : if they proless Christianity, deserve the
scorn uf inli dels and uthcisis, and richly merit toe
damnation they assign to unbelievers. And I um
asked tu swear fealy to eu-.-h a law, before I can
be released belure the question of my release can
even bo considered. The petitions of leading dem
ocrats in this oiiy, asking for my relea: e, could
Hot 3ven he considered, till I asked for pardon, un
der oath, wroto Attorney General Black in answer
tu tbe prayer of ihesu petitioners.
A. P. I'ratt, on his way to the Charleston Con
vention, called on the President, as did other deb
igines who lelt a deep iuterest in my case, nnd uf- j
his interview with that 'old public functionary'
wroto back tu the Netcs, speaking by authority, '
with great apparent satisfaction :
Yuu may say lu Mr. Booth that the President
will remit his fine tcAen he icitl own up that he did j
in breaking the laws, and promise to do bet- j
ter ktreafter, und not till then.'
And the News, immediately after its editor's re-
turn from Washington, declared ; 'S. M. Booth
will continue to safer the penalties of violated laws I
untewAecETs down on ms knees and begs ronin
mercy. Let him do this, and we duubt not l.is0f
prison bars wuuld open.'
This is the debasement required of me, as the
condition precedent of my release ! Nor is there
any certainty of my release, ihould I thus humil-
iato myself. Does any honorable man any Re-
publican say I ought to comply with such a re-'
I If so, I would like to know lis name,
wbnle proceeding shows, in a strining '
light, the despotic character of slavery, and uf our J
Government undor its present nduiinUtra-
Here is a statute which lhe morul sense
the people of the Free States regard as a uur-
patiun a violation, of tie Constitution, ond dan-1
Keruus to liber.y. And of those who hold it to he I
Constitutional, most of them regard it as inhuman
and oppressive, and when put to tbe practical
test, wuuld themselves disregard it by giving aid !
and comfort to the fugitive. This statute, so nffcn.
sive to the mural tense, and so opposite to the su.
ter judgment ul the people, is attempted tube
enfuroed, in my case, with a pertinacity, a rigor,
and a vindictiveness characteristic only of the dos.
putisui of slavery.
For the f-cnienco of Judge Miller, against me.
Can only be fulfilled by perpetual imprisonment, or
be remitted by my acknowledging the justice of
the Fugitive Aut, ot.d "getting dowu on my
knees" before the president, and "begging fur
mercy '
I have now been four months in prison. My
business has been interrupted and broken up, my
plans all frustrated, my pecuniary interest injur,
d, and how much damage Ibis imprisonment has
been and is likely to be tu me, any business man j
,
would readily perceive, if he had been suddenly
arrested nnd confined as I hare been. I hive n
fiimilj needing my earn and eff.,i . to proviilo fur
Ihcui. Thoro is overy inducement to leal inn to
wish to bo nt liberty, nnl it is no light
snciifico I am Compelled to make, in remaining
bere. But I tinvo n other allrirnutive. I cannot
do what is required fir my release, without din
;h,nur. without sacrificing tho most cherished con-
viction ol my life, and without a complete stirrer.-
der. on m v rrnrt. of thn trl.i i.iii nwt, :.,n ;n 1...I... I
! uf Krnc. , , " Jm ,u 7
- - "i'"'"!"'
by tho istuto or Wisconsin. I hold her honor now
in my Keeping, nnd it li or courts nnd authorities
and people nil deny the faith they have professed
,,,i .,i. i;t, . i: . i . .i
Iir,u siiciuni'j.Jika trembling slaves, to the mic-maii
,i , ,,;, t i . t i, . , l i
p ucr, and permit Judgo Mil. or to rtJo ruugh -hod
jUJCr lhe ctlstilJti,m BI1(I ovor , .,,
tJ nj ,! libertica of , , (lf m J
'cn,;n .,, Mt , .,.. rMt
'.,.. i..,. .i i i
( tempt Her courts, tfiat lie may imprison her ct.i-
- .,.. i i, i ;0 j . i .i , ,,. ,
e"s and work hts despotio will lor the establish-
,.,, ,,p i., i . ,
Mmd-hound for the Klavo catchers uf tho South, 1
trust th i w hile life nn J reai'on remain to mn, I
(hitll not ho found am iiig tho recreants to liberty,
and that I shall bo abbs to oppose to tho desp itistu
the slave power that no ho'ds mo, a will
stinnjr. a patience as en.lurins. a faith us firm, a
couras ns tinflin..iifi.r nn.l a li.mrt l.Anr..t :
ni.i-iy iij iiurpim, hou l:arioe pari I
,i, ..; r , ,.,
fie M'tuce u' ireedniii. as inv kn In n t.rps nn.l
jailers show in the service of Sliveiy.
II liberty is a (time, and the love of if a felony,
then am I justly imprisoned. But if it he the
foundation and corner st ono of our Republican ed
ifice, and the permeating spiiit of all our Uepuh.
lican institutions, then is my continued imprison
ment a monstrous anomaly and wrong, and a dis.
graco lo tho state of Wisconsin, which should red
den with the blush of shamo, the c!ioe!:s of every
honest, liberty-loving citizen.
In a pestcript to a business letter, written me
not long ago. Senator Drn kee says : "II ow-strange
it is. that you have to lie in jail, contrary to the
laws of our uiutc 1 Is there n- t vir-uo enough in
the people to maintain their mm honor and vindi
cate lhe decision of their own Coons ?'
I leave this question lor tho people to answer.
-
r
S. M. Booth.
U. S. Custom House, June 28, 18C0.
The following is an E iitoriul of tho Wiscon
sin Free Democrat, i. Republican paper, in rela
tion to the proceeding.
THE CASE OF S. M. BOOTH.
live efforts to procura a written kxleis corpus dur
ter ing the first weeks of his imprisonment, su far as
any aid and comfort has been given him, or efforts
made for his release, he might ai well have bcea
imprisoned in South Carolina as in Wisconsin,
And notwithstanding we have a Republican as
wrong cendency in all brunches of the government, he
has received no protection from tho State Govorn
roent whatever, which hud been bo freely pledged
to him.
Look at lV, IIere is B ninn kidnapped and hel 1
plil)0Q in t,, mi(J of thne.fuUrth, ofa mUUolt
frue pe0)e, in JeU,lnce of lllBir ,wj , dc(...
Lion8 of lheir hiflhM Cj(jrt tnJ lheip )wn
tious, pledges and declarations a hundred times
repealed. They have declared, over and ovor
jugain, that, for the praisewurthy act for which be
is now imprisoned, ho should not suffer either in
his person or in hia purse ; that he should bo pro
quisition tooted from injury either to his liberty or proper
This ty; and yet be has been allowed to lieout months
one third of a year in prison, his business r.eg
Fedora! looted, bis pecuniary interests sacrificed, not per
tion. mined the liberty of a chattel on a southern plan
of tnticn, but shut up like a refractory slave, and nu
earnest efforts have been mado for his release!
When Supreme C,mrt 8jjliurnedi it WU8 .
!der.tood that an application would bo made to
JujKe Cul fl)f writ of hlxUa) co,u, but a9 o.
We yesterday published a communication from
Mr. Booth, on which we had not the time to com
menr, stating the condition on which he is hell as
a prisoner in the U. S. Custom House, the ro te
lion of the petition of lending Democrats in his
behalf, the reasons why ho Cannot comply with
tho requirements demanded of him by lhe powers
at Washington, as a prc-rcquiairo to his release,
and the posiii in the Stato sustains to him, in this
case, by virtue of tli3offici.il acts of its Judiciary
secutivo and Legislature, nnl the decbirutiuns
anu pieuges ol 1 1) press and people ol iscoiisin.
Hi statement is clear, truthful, explicit, and is n
lull indie ninn of the course ho has pursued since
his imprisonment, and must meet the hearty np
prova1 of all who have a spark of iii-inhood remain
ing in lheir souls, The di ibolic .l Fugitive Slave
Act ho refuses to recognize as a law, and be de
clines to usk pardon for an act which his con
science approves, and which tho good und liberty
loving of ull countries must honor. And he is
riyhl.
But no outsider, who lias dono no:hing lo re
lieve him, could blame him had he yielded the
point in controversy, and acknowledged tho right
eousr.ess of the Fugitive Ac:, and thojust'uo of
his itiiprisonmont, by asking the President to par
don him. True, the Slavo I'owcr woul 1 have tri
umphed, in such a cane, not only over him but
over the Statu uf Wisconsin, and no thanks are
due tu tho Republican patty of iliii Stato that it
has not done so. For, w ith exception uf tho abor
gal proceedings cost money, and as none was rais
ed for that purpose, nothing was dune, and all
hupe and expectation failed in that quarter. Then
it was Mr. Booth's plan to prosecute the U. S.
officers, by whom he is now held, fur false iinpris.
onment, and repeal the suit once a week, ns lung us
his imprisonment continued. And iu the present
constitution uf the Courts of tbe State, there is no
duu t lie would recover liouvy damages. But
clerks and sheriffs, and traveling cxpeuses and
lawyrrs, must be paid, nnd without inuney noth
ing cuuld be done, and Mr. Booth's application to
lawiers, to conduct civil suits against those who
hold him in illegal confinement, was as useless as
(be upplicatiuo for a writ uf habeas corpus.
Now, it is perfectly idle fur Republicans to find
fault wiih the U. S. officers, or with tho Federal
Government, for keeping Mr, Booth in prison, as
to
it
is
r'i .'i iiuir e.i.n no i -id tne uinn.
'en , .. , .
follow the teaching uf the Dred So ott Judiciary
m n- , , . .
j All theso officials understand that Slavery is the
!,:,, linJ c,)Iliril,iinjc t.k,nt ol 16 nati(inilI
nr,j ,Ji;lleRt, f the sl,ue p,
ei,Jmast ,,,.,, ,,,,.,:..,...; ,. ...
jdiciul decrees, isecutivo declarations', authority,
rights and sovereignty of tho S'ate.
Hi is kept in prison now, solely -leeanso the
State has failed to vindicate its authority and hoti
of as'or, and rederm t!io plodgos it has milo ta protect
his liberty. Tli.it he is held in prisun noT, is us
L li ihn r.nlr ..f il.a l?..n..i.i;..-..n r...rn :.
,i. r . ,, .
the fau t of 1 in K arelin itn.r irnrprmnnnt n. mnt.
long lis they iln nothing for hi release, themselves.
Tim present administration will say, llint by ini
f risuiiinjT .Mr, B o th they but execute a law they
lotind mi the eiatuto book, when they took the
j reins of government. TlioMirsh.il will any, that
he is but un Executive officer, and is only carrying
' out the order of 1mm sunni'mrs nn.l 1 1, .. l I, a !...
' 'not wish to hold him in prison n single day. The
District Attorney wi;l say. that in movintr the
J Court to ro imprison Mr. B ailli, he has hut obeyed
..-.I..-., r iv . i . : . . j . , . . . . .
, he would say tint ho was so eager to conviut Mr
Booth, that he trampled on law and justice to no
compiisti ir, and that he considers it his doty to
1 i '
m.re subservient men.
i, ,,, ...
B.i t K.-pnblicnns hnyo no Puch cxetiBO. Mr.
I t .. . ..... . .
ii mju is 10 l.r soneil in vtol.tlnin nl I in nn-k in
inittitty him to prison. And it is as justly blame-
lublo in doing nothing for his release, as the U. S
government is it not opening his doors. And in
one respect far more so. For the U. S. Govern
ment is iiciing up in its professions, while Repul.li
Ci.ns are bclicinrj theirs. And every hour that he
remains in prison, xchile no strjis are tuken for his
release, is a ejiroait to the Jtepublican party of
Wisconsin.
Mr. )i .oth, we understand, h.H given up all ex
pectation uf relief, till the inauguration of u new
Pre-ident. Four mouths imprisonment may Well
have taught bun no to pt: trut in t'je'R.'publicnii
arty of mis State, for help. Wisconsin, tho first
Statu in the laii'in to rej-ct the Fogitivo Slave
Act, und jdeilgo her authority and sovei-ei nty to
protect her citizens ng ainst the inva-iion uf the
slave catchers and kidnappers ; hailed by tho lib
erty loving in her sister States ns tbe first born of
Freedom, as tho only practically free State, as (he
pirneer in a legal vindication of the Constitution
lrut:i slave holding perversions and interpretations,
which made the Decl uuiion uf Independence a re
ality, and gave assurance tbut liberty dwelt in lhe
organic law and iuspired her judges to do justice
Wisconsin, bravo and hutiored and glorious for
her fealty tu Freedom. up to the first day of March.
1800. where stands she now ? Judge Miller dre
his pen across tbe judgment of her Supreme Court
and it is annulled, lie orders a citizen imprison
ed whom the State lias released, the State yields
and acknowledge hi dictatoiehip. No serf ever
u' eyt-d his master, no slave ever submitted lu his
uwucr, with more quietness, docility und readi
ness, than tho great State of Wisconsin has sub-
uiitied to tlin auihoriio ,,f In.l.ri. M,ll..s I.. ,.,,.
its authority, its sovereignty, its liberties have all
sovereignty
been 'whistled down tho wind,' as the playthings
ol a Despot, nnd it tins usurpation is permitted to
stand, the Slave Row r is henceforth the supreme
authority, and the will of Juu'go Miller the su
premo law in Wisconsin. Well may Senator Dor
kee ask, iu surprio, 'Is there not virtue enough in
the pe .pie to maintain their own honor, and
in-t
believe there is, and that ull the people need is to
have the way pointed out to them in which they
can act. Wo Bhall bass something furiher to sug
gest hereafter.
i
, ,
A BIT OF SATIRE.
Pl'HLic Honors to Colored People. The col
ored people aro now in high honor in this c'ty.
Tho prejudice nguinst a dark complexion seems to
be vanishing nwny. The city authorities. m,d the
citizens themselves, have just been lavishing pro
fuse attentions upon a few dezeu new comers with
dusky skins. The newspapers, for several days
past, have been pre announcing their movements;
the largest of the hotels have been engaged ex
pressly fot their nccommodatiop; the fleetest of
North River stenmbo ,ts was chartered to steam
them up tho bay tu the Battery; the fl igs of tli3
shipping were hoisted in honor uf their arrival; the
stole windows of tho finest marble fronts on
B Midway wero crowded with badges and banners,
printed in largo loiters, bidding them welcome;
the military were draw n up in procesfiou, seen
thousand strong, tuadd tu tho scene the honors of
the national stripes and stars; the streets were
crowded with half the inhabitants of the city, to
swell with the popular voice the general chorus uf
the day; and uU this bustlo nnd excitement, all
this gathering uf a great multitudo in hulliday
attire, all this beating of drums, and playing of
fifes, performed simply and sule'y iu honor of a
few carriage loads of colored panplo, newly arri
ved from their wurm country, across the sea, their
faces tinged with a very unpopular blackish
brown.
The colored peop'e sat in their carriages, nnd
politely bowed to the whites, wliugulheied nround
ihem on every side. They gave evident tokens,
by repeated smiles and by graceful gestures of the
hand, that they were immensely plcused with their
honorable reception. After this, who will ever
again accuse thl colored peoplo of ingratitude f
They appear tu be in very good condition, with
out fault or flaw; or, as they say in Richmond,
'warranted suund und healthy right and title
good.' We should think though not claiming
be the best judge of such articles that Simuii
B'iijsen-uo Kami, first Ambassador, being now u
littlo old ami care worn, nnd probaoly having seen
his be-t days, might not bring in the market more
than $8U0, Mooragnki Awajsi-no Kami, wh ) is
slightly injured in persunul upneuruuee by heavy
lips un i protruding front teeth, might be knocked
duwa nt the same price. Meorata Okatoroh, who,
is said, has learned to read English, might on
that account be considered a littlo dangerous tu
uur feeuliur institutions, aud would hardly be a
desirable article uf purchase. But 'Tummy,' who
a gonoral favorite, would undoubtedly command ,
j-'dgmont
it
w
on
ul
ft high e i.h price b.-eau e of the extreme livelincsf
of his dispoiiiion tttid hi, remaikablo ability U
aiiiufi.
These adored people, however, notwithstanding
the general actiuty of the colored people's market,
have not jet been offered for salo a any price.
In fac-, they have S'inio very unmarketable bad
naoits, tlic most striking of which is a cluim to
natual nnd social (quality wiih the rest of man
kind. Thus, although colored people, they do
not only make a visit lo Washington, but, to tho
gteat discredit of our institutions, succeeded in
I'elting into the best circles of society thore. Al
though only colored people.they were nevertheless
invito"d into the White House by the white man
who lives in it, and iho white, pretty young wo
man, who sits nt Iho head of the table. The Old
Public Functionary, who writes himself as the
Gray Haired, made a profound buw to these col
ored people, who, in bowing in return, a was
plainly noticed, showed lbemsclva like that wcll
knuvin colored person. Uncle Ned
"Without any hair on the top of his hoa 1."
lhe colored people then proceeded to B.iltimoro,
and although they had no free papers to show,
and so fir as wo aro informed, nu vouchers nccor
dinft to !aiv, were permitted to pass through the
city after only a brief detention on tho part of the
authorities. On Sa urday afternoon tlicy unived
in this city, and although their comine created
greit excitement, wo have not learned that Capt.
Kynders or his deputy marshal, mndo any at
tempt nt arrest. On the contrary, the chief mag
istrate, Mayor Wool, who stood so very bigh up
on bis dignity during his recent visit to the col-
ored people at Charleston, kindly condescended to
give a cordial greeting to these colored people on
their visit to him at tho City Hall.
The Mayer's brother, ton, sent to too colored
people a handsome boqott, though this instanco
has iiutuiilesu striking an im nressiun ah t!m
other, inasmuch as iic i himself one of the colored
people, of the nil. o uf Wood's Minstrels. Gov.
Morgan, from whom we had a right to expect
........ i.:...i ii t ...
HH-. iv Moooi-ss, io an coioreu people, aid nu more
than wc anticipated in his polite attentions. But
we confess to grateful surprise bt tho generous
invitation nl Mr. ami Mrs Jamos Gordon Bennett,
soliciting the pleasure of the company ol the col
ored people in their spacious parlors ut Washing
ton Heights, on Tuesday, at 1 o'clock. It is,
huwiicr, but just to Mr. Bennett to say that his
invitations were issued privately, mil not through
the columns nf tho Herald so that no npprehe
sion need be felt for the Union of the States.
It is tu be hoped that so many and so flattering
demonstrations of good will toward the colored
paople may LlTllie burbinger of an era of better
feeling. Wo are glud tu learn that, during their
stay iu this city, they will be handsomely enter
tained at the Metropolitan Hotel, und will be per.
milled lu sit ut tho fume table with tho whites.
They now walk up and down our streets unmoles
ted, greeted with much curious butulways respect
lul attention; and whcD, fatigued with walking,
tlyy pre er to ride, they are gratified to find as
another evii eneo of increasing public sympathy,
vehicles on ulm i.-t all tha avenues, fitted up for
their express ucecmuiod ition, wiih the generous
anti-oincenient. 'Colored Dennle allowed in ibis
car.' Thus, everything will be dono to make
theii stay agreeable, both to themselves and to us,
attd we doubt not that. when they go away they
will tuke with them not only our warm regards,
i it ... .. .. ..
oiii aisu uur ttquany wurui preiuuiccs ngatobl me
colored people.
I
From the American Presbyterian.
THE SLAVE TRADE REVIVED.
Six months ago a great deal was said about the
disposition of our lellow-t-itiiens of the South to
shield and even etimulato that traffic in human be
ings which the law of the land, expressing the
of every healthy conscience, denouuees
ii9 piracy. But lhe facts lo sustain these asser
tions wero scanty. But within a few weeks a
mass of. Bsiouuding facts have come to light,
proving beyond a doubt a must ex:ensivo partici
pation uf Americans in tho slavo trade. And
not only is tne ouutu now involved, but the Aorth
in fur at least as great a share of guilt.
Northern ns well as southern officials are guilty
uf connivance : one at the outslart, und lhe other
ut the consummation uf lhe enterprise. Northern
capital equips the vessels, und from Northern ports
the piratical fleet takes leuv of these Christian
shores, upon au errand worthy of lhe thickest
darkness uf heathenism.
The N. Y. Spectator says i
'-Went discoveries show that slavers are fitted
out in New Yurk; that they go forth on their fiend
ish uiissiun almost w ithout Interruption. The co-op.
erution of various parties is necessary to lhe fitting
up of a vessel for the slave frade. The preparing
ofa slaver for sea, necessarily implies the com
plicity of many parties besides the owners or char
ters. The provisions fur u slavor are peculiar, und
is a moral impossibility that the firm or ugeut
ho furnishes these supplies can be ignorant ol the
true character of a vessel requiring ihem. Tho fix
tures, including the slave deck, the water-casks
and the cuppers, to say nothing of the shackles,
etc., cuine under a similar category, and the con
tractor for such fixtures must know why they are
wanted; and it is not creditable to our city, any
more than it is to the federal officers, that vessels
engaged in this inhuman, nefarious and piratical
trade are habitually fitted up in, and take their
unmolested departure from our shores and
ducks.'
Dispatches have been received at the Navy
Department fruiu the Alricaa squadron, stating
mere was not only nu abatement in the slave tral
tiu.but it was greatly on the increase. Notwiih
standing the vigilance of lhe various squadrons
lhe coast, the persons engaged in this inhuman
woik uiaoagi in some way to elude the vigilance
uur ships and crews, wbo are cunatantly on tbe
ulert, and they ufrcu escape with full cargues of
live Alricaus.
Tho New York Observer, a paper whose large
Southern subscription list is certainly a strung
temptatioo to touch the offences of that quarter
but tenderly, sayst
'We have evidence which is constantly accumu
lating, that tho slave trade is actively pushed by
men in this country in spite of our laws, and the
vigilance of those who ore act to prevent it. It is
supported by it pirty at tho South who believe it
to be right and expedient; it is can ied on by men
at the North whoso god
i, g'.ld, and who' would
plunder heaven itself, as they defy hell to make
money. i e must concentrate a public sentiment
against the men, South and North, wh) are in fa
vor of Ibis accursed traffic, and especially we must
be on our guard against the counsel ol those who
tell us thero is no danger of tbe trado being re
opened.' These are w liolesome words of the Observer. It
is indeed high timo th it good men were thorough
ly aruused to tho strength nnd significance of theso
disgraceful retrograde movements. Public scnti
meut be set right, and must be brought to bear
strongly, not against these violators of the plainest
laws of Gol and man, for they can be reached
only by the severest measures, but upon tlose
whuse rose-colored viewe of slavery, ns a philan
thropic institution, under whose humanizing and
Christianizing influcricea it would be a good deed
to fling by force as many Africans as the couu
try could hold, have emboldened, these Northern
pirutes to greater activity, and encournged the
Southern judiciary to throw aruund ihcui the pro
tection of their ermine.
The land is beginning to groan under the bur
den of this intolerable Iniquity. The enemy is
coining in liko a fl iud. Even conservative juur
nu s can not hold their peace. Ic is a crisis in
which neutrality is impossible, and silence on the
part ol those who ought to speaH, criminal. In
the nnme of the gospel, in the name of the latter
half of lhe nineteenth centuiy, in the name ol the
hourly-expected advout of the oiillenniom, in the
name of hum icity, we protest ngainst indifference,
ur slackness on the part uf any calling themselves
Christians, in their opposition to this rclorning
shuluwof heathenism, falling right athwart our
mid-day of liberty and our religion.
'
DR. CHEEVER S VISIT TO EUROPE.
6Uflpeuded upon the question, Shall they be sus
comes ltlllieil J Iu none of our creat central cities, bv
Dr. Cheover is to sail for Eotope, this day, June
14, iu the steamer Adriatic. The best w ishes aud
prayers uf tne l'ticuds uf 'freedom iu this country
will utteud him. Ou Sunday Evening ho deliver
ed his lust sermon t J his Cnuicti and Cuugrega
tiuu ; previous tu his departure. His text was
'For Hie weupuus ot utrf warfare aro not cainul,
Put mighty, through God, tu tLe pulling down if
slruug holds.' The carnal wcupma disclaimed by
the apuslie, tho preucher understood to include
the carnal policy so much iu use ut the present
day. And slavery was emphatically tho strung
bold of Satau iu this country.
Iu Dr. Chccver, the British public will find an
American abolitionist, and Miuister uf the Gospel,
uf the genuine stump nut ono of tho counterfeit
description, by whom they have so often been im
posed upon, lu the statements ho may make con
cerning the uii'airs uf bis church, tbe position of
tho pruiiiiuiiil churches iu this city, and uf this
country, in general, they may place the must un
wavering Cuith lcnee. They may accredit lit m as
an Amencau ubulitiutiiot whose theological ortho
doxy is uniinpeaclied, aud whoso evangelical piety
und coriespoiidntg example Inivo never been ques
tioned. Whatever aid they may find it iu their
hearts, and within their ability to extend to him
aud to lhe 'Church of the Puritans,' they may re
g ird as contributed, nut tu him, and to that panic
ular Church alone, not tu the iutercsts of pure re
ligion, christian freedom, and u free pulpit in this
city and vicinity uluue.but, instruuientally, through
them, and under the divine blessing, to the puri.
fication of tbe American churches, the iudepend
euca of the American ministry, tbe free utterance
uf Bible- truth, in its fullness, ugainst the sin cl
slaveholditig, and thus, for the wicluing of 'the
sword uf the Spirit, which is the word of God,'
for the liberation ot the enslaved. Under lhe
providence of God, Dr. Cheover and his church, ut
a must interesting ciisis, havo been enabled to
place themselves in the gap, and tho turning point
of the controversy, for aogbt we can tell, may be
any prominent preacher, has such a standard in
America, been laised, us by the Church of the
Puritans' and its pastor. Iu no utber wuy,wa ure
persuaded, could the funds, mure or lets, that
may be neccssury to sustain them, be more judic
iously applied, by tbe British Christians fur the
benefit ol the Americau slave. We say this, de
liberately, spontaneously, and unsolicited, alter
having watched tbe cause, aud after having, ac
cording to our best ability, labored in it, for thirty
years, and having nu personal connexion with, nor
pecuuiaiy interest iu the Church ol the Puriiuns.
I'i incipia.
iu
of
.
C.
of
iu
al
tue
TWO INTERPRETATIONS.
Iho Cincinnati platform lias leen regarded
o'jeCliouablo because susceptuble uf two very
diuerent interpretations. lao 2utiunal In-
tellijcncer in a recent article upun tbe Chicago
plailoiui, luliuiules tbut the same objection may
be there urged. We quote from the article.
Tbe seventh resolution of the series denounces
as a novel and dangerous political heresy the doc
trine tbut 'the Cuustitutiun, of its own force, car
ries slavery into any or ull ot the Tumtorits,' Tu
say that the Constitution ot tbe United States 'car
ries' any thing into the Territories is lit lie better
ibau a confusion cf terms, fur, as the Territories
ure subject to the just supremacy if Curgress, it
is ubviuus that they must receive their law from
the National Legislature, acting uoder the Cunsii.
tuiiun, arid by virtue of which it is competent
eiiher to tolerate or prohibit slavery, according to
the wise discretion of Congress, ns cxerciced iu the
earlier aud Utter dujs, when a vrise discretion
was not rendered impossible by the conflicts ol
sectional passion. If the condition for its nor
uial exorcise no longer exist, ibe power of Con
gress over iho subject of slavery In the Territories
still remains the tame as it was in 1789 aud 1798.
and 1804, at which successive dates our futbers
established a series of prtoeedeuts showing tbst,
to
it
in their judgment, the Constitution of tho United
States, 'curried,' of its own force, neither slavery
nor tho interdict Cf elutery itu the common do
main of the Union.
And this naturally leads us to consider tbt
terms of the eighth icsolution, the only one in lL
w hole s aries v. hich is peculiar to and distinctive
of the Republican purty. It is eucceived In lh
following wurds t
'That tlie nuimal condition of all the territory
uf the L'uited States is that of freedom ; that our
Republican lathers, when they bud abolished sit
vury on all our tiutiuiial territory, oiduined tbst
nu person bhoulJ be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due prucesa uf law,' it become
our duty, by legislatiuu, whenever such legislation
is necessary, tu maintain tbie provmiuo of the Coo.
stitutiun against all attempts to violate it ; and
we dvny the authority ot Congress, of a Territo.
rial Legislature, or ol any individuals, to give le
gal existence lo slavery in any Territory of tbs
L'uited Slates."
In deny ii.g tu Congress, t a Territorial Lesdsl
turo, or upy individuals the authority lo give legal
existence to slavery in uny Teriiiu.-y uf Ibe United
Siutes, the Republicans deciaro 'the normal condi
tion' ul a Tcrniory tu be men that by virtue of the
relatin it beurs to the General Uuverumeut, un
der the Const. tutiun, it must be considered 'free'
that is, non-slaveliolding a proposition as iods
leusiule in point ut logiu us it is unsustuined by
history. We have discussed these puiuts at such
great length ou luimer occasions that we need do
nu mure than refer our readers tu the facts and
urguuients picviuusly adduced iu relation tu this
sui ject. Tu show, however, the little impurtauoe
attached tu dogmatic definitions of luilH eted bf
tbo very panics wbo subs ribe to them as tests of
politicul orthodoxy, we cannot omit to cite tbs
lact that a large nnd rest-enable burtiun of tha
Chicago Conveuliun, immediately alter propound
ing tins high doctrine on the subject uf slavery in
the Territories, proceeded tu vute fur an eminent
citizen as their cbuseu Cujjida.e fur tbe Presiden
cy, while well knowing that he repudiated any
such ductrine iu the breadth and geuarAlity tbut
assigned lu it. We allude to tbe Hon. Edward
Bates of Missouri, w ho, having beeu interrogat
a few weeks befuro the meeting uf tbe Chicago
Convention with regard tu his opinions on this
soljeet, hud respuuded as fulluwe :
'Slavery is a eo ial relation, a dotocsiio institu
tion. Within the States it exists by the lucal lavr(
and the Federal Government hus nu control ovei it
there. The Territories, whether acquired by con
quest ur peuueable purchase, are subject and sub-
uruiuute, nut suvereigu I ke the States. The na,
lion is supreme veer them, ai.d the JS'utiondl Gov
eminent haj the power to l'EKUlT or roMiiD slavery
within litem.
As uubody supposes that this distinguished
cilizeu would huve modulated his views un this
puiui iu order tu meet the wishes ot tbe Chlciigd
Cuuventlun, it lulluws that if he had received the
uumiuution ut its buuds ho wuuld have Leen likely
regard the resuluiicu iu quesiiun as no mure
iucuuiuent ou him in accepting, than it obviously
would have beeu on the delegates themselves ia
coulerrruig the bonur of such a nomination.
The twellih resulutiuu is expressed iu the fol
low n g lei uis :
"That, while providiug revenue for tbe support
tho General Goven.uiuut by duties upuu im
ports, sound policy tequiressuch an adjustment of
tbuse imposts as to encourage the dovelupment ol
the iudustriul interests uf the whole country; and
wecuuiuiend tho policy uf national exchanges, w hich
secures lo the working meu liberal wages, tu agri
culture remunerating prices, to mechauics and
luuiiulactururs un adequate rewatd fur their skill,
iabur, and enterprise, uud tu the nutiun commer
cial prosperity and independence.'
Tins resulutiuu is differently interpreted bj
leading Republicans, in occorduuee with their con
flicting opinions upon tho subject uf public econo
my. No two expounders of lbs Republican creed
are mure capable ihan such publicise as Henry
Curey, ol Philadelphia, and Wm. C. Bryant.
Njw York. Yet they are at direct antipodes ia
their construction ol this language. Mr. Carey
a receat puluicul tract under ibe title of 'Pro
tection ol Home Labur and Home l'roducliuns '
holds the following language i
By thtir recent tottv uu the tariff question ia
Congress, as well as by iheir uciiou in Couvemion
Chicago, lhe Republicans have demonstrated t
pcuple of the Uuitttd States and to the world
mat while lb t its is the puny ol lieedum, true
cuuservaiism, uud prugiess, iu it and in it alone
the hupe uf Auieiiuuu agriculture.'
Ou the other baud, Mr. Br sunt, iu the New
Yurk Evtuiug Pusi, denies that this resolution.
uuutuius a siuglu wold lu lavor ol the protection uf
Uouio lubur ur home productions. To this t fleet
ihui jouruul re-innika as follows t
'The twellih ol these resolutions is called ia
suuie uf iLe journals an approval ul a higher tariff
duties. The 'Tribune seems tu have fallen ibid
ihe same mistake wbeu it culls it a resolution ia
lovur ot a protective tariff. We have read lhe res
ulutiuu several times over, and cuuoot bud io it a
single word iu favor oi r'uimg ibe duties on im
ported goojs, bur li e eJifebtist meutiuu of tbe deo
iriue ol protection. Favutititm to tbe manufaclur
ers is no pail uf ibe policy it recumuienJs lo the
udupliun of lbs Government.
"This is tho interpretation we put upon Ibe reio
lutiuu adopted at Chicago, aud it is as lair a oou'
oiructiou aa any other. If any oilier Construction
a lairer or a truer one, theu we do not belong
the party by which the resolution is adopted. If
was intended to udopt a resolution which should
mean nothing distinct or positive, but should bear
two constructions, then the Convention has duo
what was uuwurthy of tbe party whom it profea
ses to represent, and we are asbauud of it. It
would have leceme it bolter lo Le silent on that
topic altogether.
'The construction ws have plsoed upon tbie rvs
ulution we shall hold tu firmly. If the Republican
paity should elect its candidate bs must aut on
that construction, or be will soon 6od himself en
countered ty au opiositiuo by wbiebbe wii) ba
overwhelmed."
Io tbe fac of such di durances it is txrtrWua t
