Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-10-31
From the Christian .4arocate.
The Fugitive Slave Bill.

In noticing the doings of Congress, some
two weeks since, we but glanced at the pro-
visions Of the Fugitive Slave bill, not having
seen the bill in detail. We have now read
it, and must record our utter establishment that
such law could have passed in any enight-
ened tribunal. As we have heretofore stated,
so we repeat, that II Is the duty of Congress
men to carry out the provisions of the Const-
tuition. If a slave escapes from bondage, and
his master captures him, he must have the
privilege of carrying him back to his place of
servitude. If any one entices slave to es-
cape, let the law enforce the appropriate PEN
atty. But while these provisions enforced
upon the one hand let the rights of the inno-
cent and the unoffending be also protected
Let no man be carried into bondage till prop
er proof is afforded before a competent tribu-
nal that he Is a slave and in arresting fugi-
tives, let not the rights of northern freemen
be violated. " e have tIUe specific objections
to this bill.
l. II denies a trial By jury. A commits
sioner appointed for that purpose by the Uni
ted States Court. has supreme jurisdiction in
the premises. On affidavit made before him
by the claimant of the slave, he is authorized
to give him al once certificate of ownership.
The commissioner, is forbidden, by the law,
to receive the testimony of the alleged fugi-
tive, and IN few minutes the case Is decided
by this officer created for that purpose. If
property is in dispute, it is tried by an i'm
partial jury. If a horse is stolen, there must
be trial by jury. But when human liberty,
and too frequently human life also, con-
cerned, then trial by jury is denied.
?. The habeas corpus IS refused. That
right for which our English ancestors strug-
ged tor hundreds of years, and which they
at last wrested from unwilling tyrants-that
right which lies at the basis Of personal lib
erty, and which is expressly secured by our
Constitution, is, by this law, refused. If, in
five minutes after a commissioner decides
man to be slave aud furnishes a certificate,
there should be presented The most unquestion-
able proof that he was born freeman, nay,
more, that not drop of African blood in
his veins, there Is no power to interfere. No
Judge, no officer, citizen, except in utter
violation of law, dare interfere. A few years
since, two kidnappers arrested poor boy in
the vicinity Of Versailles, la. An attempt
was made In that county to release him, but
the officer refused to set the boy al libertv.-
Just before the kentucky line was reached,
writ of hajeas corpus in anothe county, was
procured by some friends of humanity, and
on investigation, it was clearly proved that the
boy was born In a free state, of free parents,
and of Chite parents But he was poor and
dark-skinned. Under the new law, he would
have been sold as a slave. But what care of
fice-seekers for the poor and the oppressed,
provided they can purchase office by southern
UOtes.
3. 4 direct JriJe is offered 10 The Judge
The commissioner, who, in his own person,
combines the office of Judge and Jurors, is to
he paid tiue dollars, if he decides that the al
legged fugitive l. not slave. If he decides
that he IS a slave, he is TO be paid Ten dollars.
fee or bribe of five dollars is thus given to
urn the scales. Who would be willing to be
.ried by jurors, each of whom would receive
en- doliars to condemn. and only fire TO acquit
In what civilized land was such law ever
before passed
4. The people are to be taxed 10 return fu-
-itre,. If the slave-owner or kidnapper-as
he case may be-shzll declare by affidavit
that he fea the rescue Of the alleged slave,
lhen the commissioned must employ as many
men as he Judges necessary, who shall con-
vey the slave 10 tie state whence II is all ged
that he fled. And the expense is TO be paid
out of the United States treasury, thus COM
ing indirectly out OF the pockets of the peo-
pie. Who will not fear the rescue Of his
slave Who will not find il convenient 10 let
the government pay his expenses home =
Besides, it will furnish employment for many
'corfhy men. Are you. reader, willing to be
taxed for this purpose.
5. II commands all good citizens 10 assist in
slare-cafcking. The law reads, "All good
citizens are commanded 10 assist!a under
what penalties we are not lawyer enough to
know, but, the penalty for aiding or secre-
ting fugitive may be t,C0 thousand dollars
and sir months Imprisonment, we presume the
penalty for not aiding is sufficiently heavy
he law authorizes the employment of dePu-
~ marshals TO any amount, who may ca in
to requisition the services of every good citi-
zen. The minister may be on his way on
the holy Sabbath, to address an assembled
congregation, but at the Tequislticn Of depu-
~ marshal, the temporary creature Of these
ten dollar commissioners, he must let his con-
gregation wait, for the law commands him to
aid in the more glorious enterprise of catch
ing a runaway slave, or more likely of aiding
in kidnapping afrserna'' W hat an lndIgnIiy
to freemen And vet such yoke have oar
senators and representatives in Congress bound
upon our necks ell can we understand
the terrible arersion which they express toward
any higher lGtc." W hen. French ieeisla-
tors broke through every moral restraint, and
rushed into unbridled ijbeTtini N, they ~oted