The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-04
volume S7.HINuEnber 81.

ready shown that this would be entirely
contrary TO practice and uniform usage in
all similar cases. Under the name Of a pop
ular aud cherished institution-ah institu-
ton, however, never applied in cases Of
preliminary proceeding, and only in cases Of
final trial--there would be complete mock.
cry of justice, SO far as the owner of the fn-
gisive is concerned. II the trial by jury be
admitted, il would draw after il its usual
consequences of continuance, from time 10
time, to bring evidence from distant places;
of second or new trials, in cases where the
J. Jury is hung, or the verdict is set aside aud
of revisas OF the verdict and conduct Of the
lluries by competent tribunals. During the
\ progress Of all tlfese distory and expensive
proceedings, what security is there as u the
custody and forthcoming Of the fugitive up
on their termination! And it. finally. the
! claimant should be successful, contrary TO
what happens in ordinary litigation between
free persons, he would have to bear all the
burdens and expense of the Iiugation. with
out indemnify and would learn. by sad ex-
perience, that he had by far better have
abandoned his right in the first instance,
than to establish II at such unremunerated
cost and heavy sacrifice
But whilst the committee conceive that
a trial by jury, in state where a fugitive
from service or labor is recaptnred, would
be a virtual denial OF justice to the claimant
of such fugitive aid would be ;Sii;amesa.
10 positive refusal to execute the provis-
lon of the constitution, the same objections
do not apply 10 such a Trial in the state
| frgN,,, ,,,l,,nI, ha HaI Tn tba claualtniltnU ell
states, full justice is administered with ell.
tire fairness and impar;iali,y, in cases of all
actions for freedom. The person claiming
his freedom is allowed TO sue in foy27d pia-
periS. counsel is assigned him; time is al.
owed him 10 collect his witnesses and TO ats
tend the sessions of the court and his
claimant isplaced under bond and security.
or is divested Of the possession during the
progress OF the trial, TO ensure the enjoy.
ment of these privileges; and II there be
any leaning on the port Of courts and juries,
it is always on the side OF the claimant for
freedom.
In Difference to the feelings and prejudices
which prevail in the nol-savehod States.
the committee propose snch tial In the
State from which the fugitive fed, IN all
cases where he declares TO the officer giving
the certificate for his return that he has a
right to his freedom, Accordingly, the
committee have prepared, and report here
with, two sections, which they recommend
should be incorporated in the fugitive bill
pending in the Senate. According to these
|sseGI ions, the claimant is placed under bond,
I'D required to return the fugitive TO that
lFeounty in the State from which he fed, and
there to take him before competent tribu.
nal, and allow him to assert and establish
his freedom, if he can, afording to him for
that purpose oil needful facilities.
The committee indulge the hope that IL
the fugitive bill, with the proposed amend.
ments, shall be passed by Congress, it will be
efectnnl TO secure the recovery of all fugi.
tives from service or labor and that il will
remove all causes of complaint which have
hitherto been experienced on that irritating
subject But If in lis practical operation il
shall be found insufficient, and il no ade.
qnate remedy can he devised for the restora.
ton to their owners of fugitive slaves those
owners will have a just title to indemnity
out of the Treasury Of the United States.
IL remains to report upon the resolu.
tIons in relation TO slavery and the
slave trade in the District of Columbia.
Without discussing the power Of Con.
gress to abolish slavery within the Dis.
trlct. in regard to which diversity of
opinion exists, the committee are of
opinion that it ought not to be abolish.
ed. It could not be done without in.
dispensable conditions. which are not
likely TO be agreed to. 1t could not b.
done without exciting great apprehen-
sion and alarm in the slave States. IL
the power were exercised within the
District, they would apprehend that.
under some pretext or another, it might
be hereafter attempted TO be exercised
within the siaveholding States. It is
true that at present all such power is
almost unanimously disavowed and dis.
claimed in the free States. But expcri-
ence in public affairs has TOO often
shown that where there is a desire to
do particular thing, the power TO &C.
cotnplish it sooner or later, will bs
found or assumed
Nor does the number or slaves within
the District make the abeli ion OF slaves
ry an object of any such consequences
as appears to he attached 10 il IN some
paris ofthe Union. Since The retroces.
sio of Alexandria county to Virsinia,
on The south side of the Potomac, The
District now consists only of Washing.
ton county. on the north side of thss
. river; and the retnrne oftba Jaconra.IX
enumeration oftl,e people of the United
States show n rapidly progressive de-
crease In The number of slaves in Wash.
lngton county. According to the cen-
suS OF 1870 the nffnher ,vrs a Sns nnd