The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-06
For the Union.
Slave Laws In Pennsylvania.

Slave Laws IN Fennsy IvAnAAs
Mr. BurLxR will tell the gentleman from Connes tcut
that his State it penal offence for constable
any officer Of the to interfere to aid master ia
claiming his slave. 1t is penal offence for any laor
other person aid in recovering his slave
know tits so in Massachusetts Rhode Island, New York.
Mr.. CAMERON. The gentleman is mistaken, too, as
IDebate in the Senate, jan. %, 1s49.
In the debate from which the above is extract il is
asserted that there is disposition in the north to prevent
the recovery Of slave property and as northern citizen
Pennsylvania is concerned believe that great majority
of the people favorable to the South although from
taking special interest in the matter the activity OF
the abotonss gives them greater prominence than their
mere numerical force would. This activity, with the
influence exerted the blacks in sections where these
numerous. renders very difficult 10 recover runa-
way slave.
At this moment there is (and has been for some
months) family of six or eight slaves in the vicinity
met their his friends in the street Yet the
runaways have not been moested probably because a
mob OF blacks can be collec in few moments These
slaves from Maryland and to facilitate their escape
they kept and fed by stealth for some weeks Cor
until active pursuit had ceased) in farm building by
citizen Of Maryland
This slate Of things is bad enough but the
dered still worse by legislation which is the counter
part OF that OF Massachusetts, the following extracts
TSs N no judge Of Of the of h. Com
monwsslh, nor any alderman or justice of the peace of
Of the Of any fugitive from labor from any Of
the United States 1rrssoriss Nor shall any
Of Congress. sc. Penalty $500 10 81 900.
Sec That any person or persons claiming any negro
muatto fugitive from servitude labor, SHALL
der any preence OF authority whatever, violently umu
tuousy seize upon and carry away place. attempt
seize, &C., and disturb endanger
the public peace with without the intention of
taking such negro muatto before any district circuit
judge, shall be sentenced, &c Fine 500 10
u Zoo, with costs OF prosecution.
Sec. s. 1t shall not be lawful to any jail or prison of
this Common wealth for the detention of any claimed
fugitive from servude labor except in where
jurisdiction may lawfully be by any judge under the
provisions Of this Penalty $780, and disability
hold the Office. no t5+
Sec. Z repeats the section which allowed slaves be
held in the State Tor six months.
The osensibe reason for passing such law prob
ably the unconstuonality OF interfering with the uris
diction of the general government But sprojectors
must have foreseen it's tendency to embarrass the owner
of slave property by throwing additional obstacles in his
way. Presuming upon majority in Congress, they could
prevent increase of United States courts and officers,
which would be necessary 10 take cognizance of slave
cases along boundary line of more than thousand
miles,
A runaway slave who eudes his master is de facto
Free although slave de jure He is free to the extent
that he acts freeman, as in committing murder, or
abductng his masters property in his person, and
under this point of view he might be demanded fu-
gitve from justice; although where there exists deter
minatioh to thwart and battle, preiex would doubt.
less be at hand to prevent the slave from being recovered
LANCASTER.