Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-12-19
For the freeman.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.

FOR the Freeman.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.
When person of any color is enjoying the
privileges of freeman, in State where there
ia, and can be no slavery, and ne is arrested up
On the charge of being fugitive from slavery in
some slave State, his right to deny those charg-
es, and have the issues tried by a jury, is no
consistent with reason, and so confOrmable 10
the spirit ofthe Constitution Of the United States.
aud of the several States in the Union, that the
exclusion of such trial by jury, under the uris-
dicton where he is arrested. shows the act ty
rannical, unconstitutional and void. But. 10
cast vail over this iniquity, it is said, in Con
gress and out OF Congress, that person so ar
rested may have a jury trial, but he must have
it in the land of his former bondage, after he is
carried back a doomed slave. This is such
clear, sheer mOcRery ofany sembl5nce of rem
edy, and so readily meets the deserved contempt
OF those who understand its character, and Its
total ineffciency, as a remedy, that the Difficult
ties are not presented before ne public as thew
ought to be; at least, not so universally as they
ought to be.
All will see, Of course, that the person so ar.
rested while in free State, stands on equal
ground; equally free as the person claiming
him free to object to Jurors, to procure wit
nesses in his behalf and the assistance of such
counsel as he deems proper to employ. In all
these matters he is his own free agent, having a
right to own property, and to use it in making
his defence on such trial, while he can enjoy no
trait of such privileges in the slave State of his
claimant When he has forced upon him, The
character OF slave in the slave State of this
claimant, there is but ole process allowed him
by law; and that Is petition for his freedom.-
He must draw, OF procure to be dawn, pei-
tion, setting forth his being holden in slavery by
such person, and that Tor such and such reas-
ons he ought to be SET at liberty, and cite his
claimant or owner to appear and show cause
why the prayer of his petition should not be
granted. But how can he procure counsel or
witnesses to support this petition? How can he
procure bonds to prosecute: His antagonist
owns all his property, and controls all his earn
ings. On what security or credit can he be
supposed to obtain any assistance whatever?
That right of pettionlng for freedom is regu-
lBted by the Statutes Of the several States
have read several ofthpse Statutes They are
not exactly alike; but they agree pretty well in
one thing that is, in acquisitions, compliance
with which is Usually out OF the power of any
person. holden in slavery. The Statute of Ma.
ryland, passed in the year 1896, which is adopt
ed by Congress, and is in force in the Dist let of
Columbia, makes particular provision. regulat
ing such petitions allowing a trial by jury Of
the facts contained in the petition; and, among
other regulation, enacts the following, to witt
And in all cases Of petitions for freedom, in
stltuted in any court of law in this State, where
the petition shall be dismissed, or, upon trial
the Judgment shall be against the petition. the
attorney prosecuting or appearing in the same
shall pay all legal costs arising therein, unless
tie Court, before whom the same may be brot
shall be of opinion under all circumstances thai
there was probable ground % suppose that said
petitioner had right to freedom and, if apy
petition for freedom shall be fled in any Cour
of law in this State, and be dismissed and ,
second petition be filed at the suit of the same
party, the Court in which such second petition
shall BE- filed, shall order stay of all proceed
ings, unit The costs of the former petition, ant
all reasonable damages and expenses sustained
and incurred by the defendant therein, to be as
certalnrG by the Court shall have been paid o
secured to be paid"
What slave in slave State, without money
without credit, without time which he can cal
his own, without even himself, can find a law
yer to undertake the responsibility of appearing
for sucn a petitioner in court to advocate hi
petition, and also risk the obtaining pay for hi
services3 Surely, thus to deny a man a tria
by jury in the land of his freedom, and wher
his freedom is presumed till disprovcd, upon St
important an issue as whether he is a lreen,a,
or slave, and whether he shall 81 continue dn
ring life, and tell him he mus first be CARRIE
back into slave State, where he will be pre
sumed to be slave till he has proved the con
trary and proved the contrary too in contro
versy between him and the owner, who, IN sue
slave State, has the whole control Of his perso
and property, is virtually denying him all re
dress of his grievance. and tauntng him wit
his being ill such pitiIess condition.
TITUS HUTCHINSON