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Show 18 THE GOLDEN IIOUR. have observed that, when Slavery wants new territory or a f ug1·'t '-1,:,r c 11cob To , it is always a national in, titution; when it wants discussion throttled, or, in the pathetic words of J off., "to be let alone," it i · always a State r· ns t1't u t1' on. Accor·dinrbr to the States-Rights interprcta-tion, our fathers put it together in the hasty way in which the n1arvellous dog spoken of in the adverti. o- 111cnts of Spalding's glue \vas put together. The dog, being cut in two, was instantly rnade whole by this wonderful preparation ; but so ha tily were the parts put together, that the hind-leg and fore-legs projected in opposite directions. So the dog went through tho remainder of his life running on his fore-legs until he got tired, then turning a sumtnerset and runnillg on his hind-legs. Slavery having gone, as its advan4 tages suggested, now on national, now on State legs, has at length thrown itself across the nation's track, and if the train corncs in " on time," will be cut in ' two once more; and, though our Border-State friends arc already offcrillg in advance Spalding's genuine, dog-cheap, let us hope that this dog has had his day. In all the States which have seceded, the gate of liberation has been opened by purl>lind oppression's own hancl. If, as this government declares, Slavery is a State institution, it must, in the eyes of this govern~ 1nent, fall when the State govennncut falls. A numlJor of " the weaker brethren" in Congress have raised a cry that this position concedes \vhat the rebels claim, that a State can be wrested from the Union ; and l\fr. IN COMMON LAW. 19 !fontgomery Blair has given a blatant assent to that cry. I will not say that these men thus prove themselves unfit to legislate for a nation whose institutions they thus csti1nate; but if the following statements shall lead any mind to that inference, I shall not complain of being misunderstood. Where is the court or power iu any seceded State which this government can recognize ? Suppose the Governor of any seceded State should claim from Governor .Andrc'v of Massacllusetts the return of a cri1ninal to that State. Would the Governor, ·who is bound to return persons accused of cri1nc to the States in which the crimes were committed, return a cri1ninal to Governor Pickens ? Suppose even a loyal Carolinian to claim a negro within our lines at Port Royal, in what court is the case to be decided ? There is no court, large or small, in that State, which could be recognized without surrendering the whole case of the United States. Even if the United States had a Commissioner there for the purpose, he cannot even try the case except the · claimant bring a certificate of ownership from a loyal court in that State; but where will such a court be found ? This principle would be at once seen if it referred to white-faced minors and apprentices. If a few thousand of these should desert the South for our lines, and the parents and 'prentice-masters, loyal or rebel, should seek to have them returned, as " owing service " under the la\vs of their States, would our government t:rcat |
