Cortland County Express, Thursday, October 17, 1850.
EDITORIALS.
The Fugitive Slave Bill.
That such a law should emanate from the congregated wisdom assembled in the capital of these U. States, in the nineteenth century, is one of the most astounding things, that has ever been told. After laboring almost throughout the entire long session of the last Congress to admit California into the Union as a free state, and only as a free state; that our legislators should pass a law that brings the whole north like serfs at the feet of the south, with such stringent prohibitions, and penalties, is one of the most abominable acts that any civilized body of men was ever guilty of, in this or any other country.
The colored man may boast of freedom until he is caught by his master, but the white man cannot boast of even this freedom. He is compelled contrary to his religious belief, contrary to the dictates of his own conscience, and contrary to every feeling of humanity to aid in returning his fellow man again into that bondage which his soul hates, or he must endure the penalty of that act of our legislatures, (for we will not give it the honorable name of Law,) and one of the most humiliating acts that was ever recorded on the archives of our nation.
We have never been guilty of dabbling in political strife, as carried on between contending parties. But when our servants whom we employ to conduct our national interest, and pay them for so doing—when those servants become recreant to duty, and guilty of such flagrant crimes, and trample our liberties civil and religious in the dust, and compel us to become subservient to the interest of the slaveholding power of the south, we think it is time that those servants of the people should be made to understand that as republicans and freemen, we cannot, we will not submit tamely and silently to such misrule and anarchy. We cannot find language to express our indignation at such legislation, and we are glad to see that the press is speaking in trumpet tones, tones that will be heard, we trust, from the circumference to the centre of this republic. Under this act, if we understand it, the entire north are slaves to southern slave interest, and unless they aid that interest when called upon, they are subject not only to heavy fines, but imprisonment also. The fine imposed, to say nothing of the imprisonment, is sufficient to strip a large majority of northern freemen of every earthly comfort, so far as property is concerned. It provides that if a man refuse, when called upon to aid in returning a fugitive, he shall be subject to a fine of $1,000—more money than a large portion of northern freemen are worth—and are subject to six months imprisonment. And why all this? Merely because the man will not bow to the interest of the southern slaveocrat. We ask in all candor, is it the duty of northern freemen to submit to this? Is it our duty to silently crouch and cringe like a whipped spaniel to this abominable policy? It is said of these United States that the people make the laws. Is this a law of the people? It will be if the people sanction it. Will they do it? We shall see.
Every man, whether from the north or south, should be branded with everlasting infamy who voted for this bill. Such a monster should never be permitted again to disgrace the legislative halls of a free people. Their names should be handed down to posterity beside the name of the incendiary, the assassin and the traitor.
Call us political if you please, we shall raise our voice against a policy like this, let the consequence be what it may.
Never has a Congress brought upon the United States such disgrace and shame as has the last session of that body. The Fugitive Slave Bill is in keeping with the breaking up of that august assembly. Fighting, desecrating the Sabbath, reveling and drunkenness, were among the last acts of the session of the 31st Congress. We blush for our country’s honor, we tremble for our country’s safety, when we reflect on scenes like these. Will a just God approbate iniquity like this? Justice, mercy, humanity, and our country’s honor, call upon every freeman to arise in his strength, and wipe this foul stain from our nation’s escutcheon.
We should put a mark upon every man that voted for this bill, and we should put a mark also upon every man who was such a coward as to dodge the question, when they should meet with calmness and decision this last effort of compromise, let the consequence to the Union be what it might. No act of the south could have branded us as a nation in the eyes of the world with infamy like this!
But we were not prepared for the emanation of such a law from the halls of free government, as is the Fugitive Slave Bill. That our legislators should allow mature deliberation, be so unmindful of every principle of humanity and justice, as to add this to the already oppressive laws to a portion of our fellow men is more than we are prepared to submit to, without raising our voice against such oppression.
The law of God, the law of reason, the law of humanity, all are sacrificed upon this alter of southern intrigue. It was not enough that a portion of our fellow men were in bondage. It were not enough that man had his heel upon the neck of his brother, and was crushing him in the dust, but the strong arm of the law must grasp that portion that were free, and compel them to aid the oppressor, contrary to their wills, thereby grappling with its iron hand the very conscience of the freeman, and compelling him to aid the oppressor against the oppressed, contrary to his own convictions of duty, depriving him entirely of his liberty, and thereby making an entire nation of slaves. This law not only deprives the fugitive of his liberty, but it deprives the heretofore freeman of his liberty also to act toward his oppressed brother as he feels in duty bound to do.
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| Rev. Samuel R. Ward. |
COMMUNICATED.
For the Cortland Co. Express.
Mr. EDITOR:
On Thursday evening, the 10th inst., a large and highly respectable audience convened in the College building for the purpose of listening to Mr. S. R.Ward, who had been invited to address the students and citizens of McGrawville on the subject of the Fugitive Slave Bill.
He made a powerful speech. He exposed, with a master hand, the baseness and corruption of the act. He exhibited its cruelty and meanness in strong and appropriate language. He proved how contrary are its principal features, to all principles of law, human and divine. He was listened to with profound attention, and sat down amid a round of applause.
After he took his seat, Mr. Israel Palmer was called to preside over the meeting, and Prof. C. P. Grosvenor offered the following resolution. He prefaced it with a few impressive remarks, and it was immediately adopted:
Resolved, That the protection of any human being who needs our protection is an essential, unrelinquishable and practical principle and article of faith in our religion.
On motion of Mr. Gilliard, the above resolution was ordered to be forwarded for publication to the Cortland county papers, and the N. Y. Tribune.
C. PRESTON, Sec'y., N. Y. Central College, Oct. 12th, 1850.
NEWS OF THE DAY.
Anarchy in California—Fighting with Squatters—Mayor and Others Killed—Sacramento City in Ashes.
(By HOUSE'S TELEGRAPH LINE.)
New York, Sept. 20.—1 P. M.
The Steamer Philadelphia arrived at 4 1/2 o'clock this P.M., bringing news to the fifteenth of August. She brings $800,000. About $300,000 in the hands of passengers. There is much sickness on the Isthmus.
The last accounts from the mining districts continue favorable. There is not so much change in the markets. Some of the news from California is of a interesting character.
On the 14th a dreadful riot attended with loss of life occurred at Sacramento, between a body of people known as squatters, and the real estate owners. It is well known, that for time past much ill feeling has existed between those two classes, and it has found vent in open warfare. The outbreak commenced Wednesday, August 14th, when an armed body of about 60 Squatters were proceeding to the prison ship to release two of their party who were confined on board. They were confronted by Mayor Bigelow and members of the corporation. An affray took place and the city was aroused to arms. Mayor Bigelow was shot in three places, and died in 15 minutes. After, I. W. Woodland, City Assessor, was shot dead and several other citizens were killed and wounded. Dr. Robinson and a man named Malhoney, two leaders of the squatters, were shot dead, as were several others of the party.
The squatter party soon swelled from the 60 first engaged in the affray, to a body of armed men numbering between 700 and 800 men.
The keepers of gambling houses and sporting men, generally sided with the real estate owners and citizens. A tremendous force was fast assembling. Lieut. Governor McDougal returned to the city as soon as he heard of the affray and proclaimed martial law. The steamer McKim was dispatched to Benicia, and the [steamer] Senator to San Francisco for arms and men to use them. The above is the news as published in the San Francisco papers.
Just as the steamer Coroline was getting under weigh about 4 A. M., word came to the Pacific news office, stating that an express had just arrived, bringing the intelligence that Sacramento city had been reduced to ashes, and the squatters were receiving reinforcements from the mines.
The news from the mines continues to be of the most encouraging kind. We notice that several lumps weighing from 4 to 40 pounds have been found at the newly discovered places. They yield from 1 to 5 dollars to the pan full.
The steamer Northerner arrived in 16 days from Panama. This is the quickest passage made. The stoppage of Boston Lee for the heavy sum of $1,100,000 in Sacramento City has produced no little excitement both in this city and our own.
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| Jenny Lind. |
NEW YORK, September 28, 1850.
Jenny Lind in Boston.
Jenny Lind had a twenty-nine thousand dollar house in Boston last night. Notwithstanding the stormy night, the Temple was crowded to suffocation, and Jenny Lind met with a most enthusiastic reception at her first concert. The fire works, &c., in her honor, were postponed till this evening.
Case of Hamlet, the Fugitive Slave.
This man claimed and sent back to Baltimore yesterday, as a fugitive slave, has a wife and children in the city, having got married to her soon after his arrival ten years ago.
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