The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-24
For, a. p.,ins,iay Fy,en.s,, Detroit.

THr Mrrrrsc on FRIpAY EyESIss.--We pub.
lish in another column, the proceedings OF the
public meeting called on Friday evening last,
to- consider the Infamous fugitive law. The
meeting was one Of the largest ever assembled IN
Detroit, and il was actuated byamore determined
spirit than we have ever Witnessed on similar
OCCASION II left no doubt in the mind Of any one
present that the feeling Of hostility to this odious
enactment was continuous 10 no one party or sect,
but was almost universal. The speeches were,
one and all ia the strongest possible terms OF con-
domination of the law--and the question frequent
ly put twill you 60 TO the polls and vote Tor
men who will repeal the law, was answered by
a loud and spontaneous /" AYEp lf that meet
ing is any evidence of the sentiment which exists
In the State generally, no man can be elected
To Congress who has voted for the law, or who
will mol pledge himself for It's repeal.
Reported for The Freeman.
PUBLIC MEETING IN DETRoIT.--A meeting Of
those opposed to therecent enactment of Congress
in relation to the recapture of persons charged
with being fugitives from slavery, without dis
tinction of party, was held in the Young Men 5
Society buildings, in Detroit, on Friday evening
last. The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Horace Hallock, and on his motion, Hon. John
Ladue, Mayor Of the city, was called 10 the
chair, Hon. Jacob M. Howard, was chosen Vice
President, (hIr. FL. being absent did not act and
w. S. Wood, Secretary. The object Of the meet
ing was briefly stated by the president.
Hon. *. s.. Bingham, being loudly called for,
came forward and in a brief manner explained the
manner Of the passage Of the fugitive law through
Congress. II had been forced through under the
gag Of the previous question, without a word of
objection being heard in opposition Northern
were told that unless they permitted its pas
sage the Union should be dissolved. Mr.. B. APP
pealed to the people to send men to Congress who
would repeal law so odious and disgraceful.
MIR. Joy was next called for and took the stand
In calm and mastery manner, he exposed the
iniquitous features of the law, and the great
wrongs and injustice which might be committed
under it upon the rights and liberties Of freemen.
He was followed by Mr.. Emmons, who for an
hour held the audience unclaimed by critical
analysis Of its provisions, and an exposure of the
means employed to effect its passage. Strongly
as Mr.. E. was opposed to the law, he could re-
commend no violation of it. lfit were enforced
against any, his advice was to submit
Mr.. Haock succeeded Mr.. Emmons. He re-
ferred to the agitation this law was exciting in
other portions of the country. In New York,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, the
strongest feelings Of hostility had manifested
themselves The law must be repealed; if itwere
not, the worst to be apprehe lded.
At the conclusion of his remarks he offered the
following resolutions which were read by Mr..
McBratney: %gt<> .H.a. @E.'
|. Resolved, That the FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW,
passed at the late session of Congress, and now
being enforced in our midst, meets with our de-
cided dsapprobation; for the reason that, by its
provisions, the safeguards which the law, in its
wisdom, has hitherto thrown around private
rights, are broken down, and men Of African
descent placed by it at the mercy Of unprinci-
pied men who may lay claim to them, and who
may be base enough to sustain that claim by
perjury. t,.
.. ResoIred, That we deem the manifest princi-
Piles of justice and humanity to have been disre-
garded in the adoption Of that feature of the law
W which cnimed ms n GluitiVa fr7nl Sla
very, is denied the right of trial by jury; Of that
provision of the law by which such person is de-
MED the right Of appeal from the decision of a
commissioner Of that provision legalizing the ea
parte character of the examination; OF that pro-
vision denying to such person the writ Of habeas
corpus, and the right of calling witnesses in his
behalf; and of that provision making discrimi-
nation of IS against the slave, in the fees Of the
commissioner; and that we hereby call upon Con-
gress to repeal and abrogate these obnoxious pro-
visions without delay. ,#
8. Resofucd That we regard that extraordinary
provision Of the law, which renders the marshal
making an arrest under it, responsible to the
claimant for the value of any slave who may es-
cape from his custody, with or without his assent,
as unprecedented, unreasonable, and unjust.
4. Resolved, That while the law remains in
force, as it now stands we deem it our duty, both
citizens and friends Of liberty, to to it, that
all claims made under il upon individual residents
Of this State, be sustained and supported by the
most undoubted and unohectionable evidence, be-
fore surrender of the fugitive is made; and that
we use our influence in every available manner,
(and especially by supporting men for Congress
who favor our views in these respects, to secure,
at the earliest day, either its absolute repeal, or
such notifications of its Objectionable provisions
as are hereinbefore disapproved of, as being sub
versve of long established rights, and at war with
the manifest dictates Of an enlightened humanity.
5. Resolred, That while the law exists, we
deem it to be duty as good citizens, to submit
to its provisions, 1.-THE time that we will de-
vote our whole energies to procure its repeal or
substantial amendment.
On motion, resolved that copy OF the proceed
ings of this meeting, together with the resolu-
tons, be furnished to each Of the city papers,
with request for their publication. -
After reading, the resolutions were referred to a
committee consisting Of Messrs. Joy, Emmons
and Hallock, who, after Il brief consultation, re-
ported them back to the meeting with a single al
teration, and they were then unanimously adopted.
On motion, the meeting adjourned
JOHN LADUE, Chairman.
w. S. WooD, Secretary.