Valparaiso Practical Observer, 10 November, 1851
Constitutionality of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Many of the strongest advocates of state sovereignty, both north
and south, have taken the ground that the Fugitive Slave Law is unconstitutional,
because the states, and not Congress, are sole legislators upon this subject.
And this opinion rather seems to us to be gaining ground. We know
that it is constitutional for fugitives to be given up under some regulations,
and have supposed that it was all constitutional enough for Congress to
make the regulations. Be it as it may, we believe the thing is working
out great good. We hope to see as many fugitives as possible
hunted up and reclaimed as slaves, as we believe nothing else can operate
so strongly against slavery; not that we want to see any one returned to
slavery, but that we wish to see the good we think is growing out of it
by the excitement of anti-slavery feeling in the free states, where it
is doubling, and by the slaveholders themselves becoming weary, sick and
disgusted with the whole business by reason of their ill success in recovering
fugitives, as well as on account of the unfitness of those they do get
either to be good slaves, or to be in company with other slaves at all.
But we are wandering. We commenced this merely as an introduction
to the following article on the state right view of the subject, which
we give for the consideration of our readers:
[that article not transcribed]
Valparaiso Practical Observer, 9 August, 1852
The Chicago Democrat, in noticing a recent escape of some
fugitive slaves from their pursuers to Canada says:
"The best way to prevent the escape of slaves is to annex Canada, and
we recommend this as an addition to the compromise measures. Sooner
or later this annexation of Canada to U.S. will be brought about,
and it should now be advocated as a great southern measure, designed to
prevent forever the escape of slaves."
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