Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-11-02
The Fugitive Slave Law.
arrrrn rhoM mon. JOSIAH ouISor, SEA,
y b,gersou BotSditch ESQ.

My DEAR SIN: Having been requested 10
state my views on the subject of the fugitive
slaves, many of whom have been long do
mssdcated among us, aud who, alarmed ut
1lie supposed siringency of the new law rela-
tive TO them, are preparing, some to quit our
country for Europe, and others for Canada,
and concerning whom there is TO be meet
ing Of citizens this evening, ] tuke the lbcr-
~ TO address this letter TO you, which VIII
embrace some of my views on that topic, aud
submit them to your discretion TO be used or
suppressed. ,. a..
opinion, to give reasonable satisfaction 10
tliot class of our inhabitants, that in The Slate
qf Mdssdchilseiis, no person has evT been de-
trered 10 his master ttrder the laio of 1893.
believe this TO he literally the case. it
is, however, possible, IN the lapse of nearly
sixty yenrs, eases may have occurred, of
which there is now neither memory nor
record. II there have been any such, they
hnve been 80 few as TO form only exceptions
TINT prove the truth of the rule rather than
evidence of its falsity.
Persons, therefore, under these circum-
stances, ought 10 rest at euse, with the as
surhnce and in the confidence resulting from
the above fact, that, IN the State of Mussa-
ShhoNiAo3 uib INV VI ICbO WIZ Jilst ub III
operative for sixty yenrs to come, ns the law
Of 1I93 has been for nearly sixty years past.
There is, indeed, in the new Law. an ell
6rgy and yigor of proceeding somewhat be-
Sond that Obtained by the law of I7y3 and
this will undoubtedly operuie, ~ feTorcm. on
The slaves In the Southern States, and thus
diminish their attempts at freedom and give
more quiet of mind TO their masters. The
grehter stringency of tho new law will also
operate IN favor of their masters In respect
10 slntes who have taken up their residence
In States adjoining Slave holding States,
among the Inhabitants Of which there is no
such general repugnancc to the Slave-hold-
ing system as exists among the inhabitants
of Massachusetts, and where individuals
nnay easily he found, who moved by rupidi-
~, would readily stem the low tide of oblo-
guy and reproach which exists in those
States, TO give aid TO masters in the recovery
Of their slaves. Bat no such fear, or appre-
hension concerning the power of the new
law, can, in my judgement, reasonably exist,
within the State Of Massachusetts,. Past |
events are sufficient guarantees for the fiI- |
ture. The great mass of intelligent South |
ern Shareholders understanding the univer- |
salty Of the feeling in Massachusetts, on the |
subject Of this law, and respect 1t, and have
neither expectation or desire that il shall be
nude to have a retrospective effect II is
possible, that some one or two interested in
divdnuls, running for luck, or desirous uf
creating excitement, may atIetnpt to put the
law in force in Massachusetts. But the great
body OF Southern shareholders understand
their interests too well to desire 10 see Great
ed in Massachusetts such an excitement as
would result from an attempt like that az
fectihg the slave Hamlet in New-York
whereby person long residing, as freeman
10 the State, should be secretly seized, hand
tuffed and hurried out of il, without allow
Ing him an opportunity to apply to counsel
for protection, or 10 the law OF the State, or
tho sympathies of the vicinity. Any man,
officer or laymnn engaged in such attempt,
~ tho Statc Of Massachusetts, Il successful,
would, l apprehcnd, find it difficult after
wards, long to remain resident in land the
feelings OF whose inhabitants he had so uni
voisaliy ohtfaged
Tie law of 1893 was not deficient in
strength. II was ample for its objects, and
would have been ms effectuul in Alassachu-
tetfa as it was elsewhere. Its utter inefli-
cheney here, resulted solely from the unnni-
hlous spirit pervading the whole people of
The Slate on the subject of that Law, and
Ifoin the inwrought sovereignty In the minds
OF the people OF this State, Of the principle
of the Constitution of the States, which Sc
cures to every human being, within il, the
right Of trial by jury in every case affecting
bis life, liberty, or property.
The universally of this feeling, within
this State, on this law, is attributed, most
falsely, 10 the labors OF class of men, at
ihis day known by the name of " Abolition
ists." That feeling existed long before any
tQIa hal A..
was grown III the grain, it was infused by
mature as component elemen: into the
blood Of the people OF this State. | have
been Intimately acquainted with, and close
observer OF the character Of that people for
sixty years, and do not believe there has
been moment in which, within any popu-
ious district OF this Stnte, the law of 1898
could have been openly iniorced and with
out any pretenson 10 the spirit OF prophesy,
foreteli that the saine will be the fate of the
law of 1850.
can speak on this subject with a some
what personal certainty, so far as il respects
The existence of the feeling prevalent oil this
subject Gty-sir years ago. Sometime about
the year IVA, soon after the first law ON this
tuhect was passed, was sent for us Coun-
TO appear before one of our ac-
tihe Justices of the Peace--( Greenleaf Ito
tieienh person then on Trial, under the
charge OF being a slave, OH the claim of his
inaslen for delivery TO him. On appearing
oefore the Justice found the room filled |
win crowd of persons, not one of whom |
knew, but who were atlending the Court,
sppafently from interest or curiosity. Among
Them wero the cnnstables, and the agent OF
Tie master, but who the other persons were,
2r VIVA, wos the object of their assembling,
I Was igiioraht. l conferred, Of course, on |
my duties, as advocate, chilled for the eVi-
tfelfce OF the agents authority, and denied
,lie authority OF the law of Congress, aud OF
the magistrate under IL, 10 deliver an inlmhi-
tait of Massachusetts into the custody of an
ssther unless after trial by jury, according to
thp Copstitulion of that State.
While ocenpied with my argument, I was
fuddenly Interrupted by loud noise be-
..hpd me- qnd on, turning round, found TO
ncf nialt al. a