Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-08-13
JEFFERSON, Aug. 7, l.

w oi hi9hih ~ NiIh 81 W w.
JEFFERSON, Aug. 7, 1917.
To the Editors Of the Bugb:
In your upon my remarks made
in New Hampshire, you say
1t is often found necessary to resort to a
writ to capture the fugitive from Carolina
that writ is issued and executed by United
States authority. Here then, is an actire par
ticipation Of the people of the North, mani
Testing itself by and through their agents,
and ii resistance is made to the execution of
the writ, they are called upon to sustain it in
person. Take for Illustration the case of a
fugitive slave in Ohio whose arrest has been
determined upon by the proper authorities
He gathers his friends about him, and defes
''the powers that be-" The law of '93 mus.
be sustained, the Constitution must be up
held, for when a government is unable to en-
force its own mandate, it is no longer a sove-
reign power. TO raise a force sufficient to
compel submission levy after levy is made,
first on the civil power, next on the military.
Ii these do not suffice, citizen after citizen is
called upon by virtue of his allegiance TO the
U. S. Constitution, and his obligation to
maintain the supremacy Of the law, to aid the
constituted authorities in compelling the de-
livering up Of the fugitive slave. This is a
matter simple in itself and readily under
stood. Whatever authority the master or his
agent may have to retake the escaping slave,
either in person or by aid of a u. S. officer,
that power is derived from the people, and in
a case of extreme need, the people who gave
it. must make it available by their personal
efforts.
am unwilling that our people should be
made to believe that a law of the United
States exists by which any writ is issued
and executed by United States authority
'to capture the fugitive from Carolina,'' or
any other slave state. No such statute has
ever existed. OF the argument in regard to
enforcing such imaginary lar, | do not pro-
pose to speak | merely write to correct an
important error of fact.
Your friend,
]. r. GIDDINGS.
We are always glad to have an error of
fact, as well as Of argument corrected. We
had heard of writs being issued for the arrest
of fugitive slaves, and of certificates of own
ership being granted TO the claimants, but
never saw a document Of either kind. If we
were misled by common report, we regret it,
for we wish to be correct even in trihes. AL
though the opinion expressed by ]. r. Gid
'dings has great weight with US, we are not
entirely satisfied that such writs have never
been issued, and shall refer 10 this subject
again after further inquiry.
BE the fact however as it may, it matters
not SO far as our argument as stated in the
above extract is concerned, whether a special
writ is issued, or whether a Constitutional
provision and a Legislative enactment do
away the necessity for any speciality in the
case. 1t continues to be true, that the pow
Ter that is necessary for the arrest and return
of fugitive slaves, and which is used for this
purpose emanates from the people of the L.
nited States, or rather from the members of
the Federal government and they who au-
thorize the arrest and return, if they act in
good faith, are bound to lend their assistance
to enforce their own laws when that assist
ance is needed, and demanded in a c~onstitu-
tional way. So that our argument is good
whether the fugitive is arrested by special
writ, or by a general one and the response
bility and guilt Of the supporters of the gov
eminent is as great in the latter as the former
casc-perhaps greater,