The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-09
[See first page.I
Vermont Notification.

The Legislature of Vermont has disgraced
itself by the passage of law which we publish
with great reluctance. We had understood
that the members of this body had become mea-
surably sane upon the slavery question; and
had arrived at the conclusion that the Southern
States might as well be suffered to take care of
their own domestic interests without molesta-
tion or interference. We had understood that
it was their intention TO dispense with the san
nual firebrand" which they had been in the
habit of throwing into the halls of Congress;
and that the session would pass off without any
negro demonstration. But in this we have been
mistaken. Instead of the usual offensive reso-
lutions of the session, Vermont has passed an
obviously unconstitutional law. She has com
mtted an act Of notification.
What makes this movement of Vermont in
eXpressibly offensive, is the fact that there is not
the most remote probability that the law will
ever be acted upon. We presume that there
are no fugitive slaves in the State. She has
manifested rebellious and revolutionary spirit
merely for the sake of manifesting it. The
law seems to have been passed solely for pur-
poses of mischief, to the end of doing some
tllllg tldt HligH just cause OF OIence,
without the chance Of answering any useful
object.
We do not know that the Legislature of
Vermont were aware that they were engaged
in an attempt at notification.
1t is charitable TO suppose that they were
merely ignorant of their rights and duties. But
the Governor, who signed the bill, had no such
IL
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State.
1t is to be presumed that he has some acquaint-
ance with the Constitution of the United States;
and he has degraded himself and his position by
asserting to the passage of a law which he
knows to be In direct violation of that sacred
instrument. Governor WILLIAMS has been the
candidate of the Abolition party for the post he
now occupies; and it is evident enough that he
never ought to have been the candidate of any
other party. From Of this character, both
Wings and Democrats at the North should cut
themselves loose.
We may well use plain language. An
unprnciped and profgate coquetry with po-
litcal abolition has disgraced both the great
parties in the Northern States. 1t has been
with them cool and calculating game for
power, reckless of all the social and civil ties
which unite this great fraternity of Common
wealths. The time has come when this infa-
nous system must be arrested and when the
good and patriotic men of all parties must co
operate to put down the miserable agitation
which has SO long harassed and vexed the
country.
IN md and hiatt nf H. 4 -~,el.
ture of Vermont came with surprise upon her
entire congressional delegation, and it would be
gross injustice to them to imagine that they
could lend any countenance to law which
seeks directly to nullify the Constitution and
laws of the United States
No. l6.-An act relating to the writ of habcas cor
pus to persons claimed as fugitive slaves, and
dc right of trial by jury.
III rs hereby enacted, &c. SEc. /. The same power
is hereby given to, and the same duties imposed
upon, the circuit judges of the several judicial cir
cults of this State which given to, and imposed
upon, the judges Of the Supreme Court by the pro-
visions Of chapter thirty eight Of the revised sta
tutes, entitled " OF Habeas Corpus"
SEC. 2. IL shall be the duty OF States attorneys,
within their respective counties whenever any in
habitant of this State is arrested claimed flu
gitve slave, on being informed thereof diligently
and faithfully 10 all lawful means TO protect,
Defend and procure to be discharged, every such
SEC. 3. The application of any States attorney,
in writing, to any one Of the judges Of the supreme
court, or TO any circuit judge signed by said States
attorney in his official capacity stating in substance
the name Of the prisoner and the persons OBTAINING
him. If known, and that the per arrested claimed
orimprisoned, is arrested, claimed orimprisoned
fugitive slave, shall be sufficient authority to au-
thorze the issuing Of the writ Of habeas corpus as
provided in said chapter thirty eight of the Revised
Statutes, and said writ may be signed by any one
Of said judges or the clerk of the supreme or coun
be mn retn
able 10 the supreme county court, when in ses-
sion, in the county where such application lie made;
and in vacation said writ may be made returnable
forthwith before either Of the judges Aforesaid.
SEC. 4. IL shall be the duty of all judicial and
executive officers in this State in their respective
counties who shall know, or have good reason to
believe that any inhabtant of this State is about TO
be arrested or claimed fugitive slave, forth
with To give notice thereof to the States attorney
OF the county in which such person resides.
SEC. 3. Whenever the writ Of habeas corpus il
granted in vacation, provided in this act, or as
provided by existing laws, if upon the hearing OF
the came before any one Of the judges aforesaid,
the person Imprisoned, arrested or claimed as a
fugitive slave, shall not be discharged such per
shall be entitled to appeal to the next stated
term OF the county court in the county where such
hearing was had, on furnishing such BAIL and
within such time the judge granting the writ on
hearing the case shall sdJudge to be reasonable
and proper.
SEC. o. The court 70 which such appeal is taken
and any other court TO which writ OF habeas cor.
pus in behalf Of any such person claimed or ar
rested ~ fugitive slave il made returnable, may
and shall, on application Of either party 10 such
proceeding, allow and direct trial by Jury on all
questions Of fact in issue between the parties in the
matter aforesaid and the 1able Of such trial
shall be cbargcable to the State, whenever the sane
would be otherwise chargeabe 10 the person ar
rested or claimed fugitive slave
SEC. !. The several circuit judges shall have the
same powers now vested in the judges Of the Su-
premc Court, by virtue OF an act In amendment of
chapter ono hundred and three Of the Revised Sta
tutcs, relating to persons confined in close Jail, on
executions OF tort, approved November 10, A. D.,
l54S
SIC $. This act shall take effect from it's pas
sage
Approved November 10, 1850