Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-28


trict of Columbia, reassert the doctrine of
the resolution of 1888, that by an implied
obligation on the part of Congress, slavery
ought not to be abolished within the Dis
trict of Columbia, so long as it remains in
the State of Northumberland the prlnci-
pie of that resolution, and adopt the other
measures proposed in these resolutions, or
some other similar measures-for | am not
attached to anything as the production of
my own mind, and am quite willing to a.
dept instead the better Suggestions of any,
body else-adopt these or similar measures,
and venture to predict that, instead of the
distractions and anxie:es which now pre-
vail, we shall have peace and quie, for thr-
ty years hereafter, such as followed the dis
position of the same exciting and unhappy
subject after the Missouri compromise.
The next resolution, sir, is as follows
7th. RcS0tred. That more effectual pro-
vision ought to be made by law, according to
the requirement of the constitution, for the
restitution and delivery of persons bound
to service or labor IN any State, who may
escape into any other State or Territory of
this Union.
Well, Mr.. President upon this subject
90 with him who goes farihest IN the inter-
probation of that clause in the constitution
which relates TO this subject. In my hum
bic opinion, sir, that is a req nrement by the
constitution of the United States which is
not limited IN It's operation 10 the Congress
al the United States, but which extends to
every state IN the Union, and to the officers
of every state in the Union. And 20 one
step further. 1t extends To every nan in
the Union, and devolves upon him the obi
CATION to assist IN the recovery of fugitive
slave from labor, who takes refuge in or es-
capes INTO one OF the free States And
sir. maintain all this by = far interprela-
ton of the Constitution. The clause is as
follows
No person held to service or labor in
one state, under the laws thereof, escaping
into another, shall, in consequence of any
law or regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor, but shall be de-
lWered up Oh claim Of the party to whom
sach service or labor may be due"
Ii Wili be observed, Mr.. President, that
tins clause IN the constitution Is not amongst
the enumerated powers granted to Congress
where, If 1t had been placed, it might
have been argued that Congress- alone can
legIslate aud carry 1t into eiieci-but it Is
one of the general powers, or one of the
general rights secured by tins constitution
or instrument, aud it addresses Itself To all
who are bound By the constitution of the
United States. Now, SIR, The officers of the
general goyernmant are bound to take an
oath 10 support the constitution of the Uni
ted States. All State officers are required
by the constitution to take an oath TO sup
port II, and all men who love their country,
and are obedient 10 its laws. bound to
assist ia tho execution OF these laws, wheth-
er fundamental or derIyaiive. do not say.
sir, that private individual Is Obliged to
make the tour of his whole State, in order
to assist the owner of a slave To recover his
property; but do say, If he is present
when the owner of slave is about to assert
his rights and regain possession of his prop
eriy that he, that every mln present, wheth-
er officer or agent of tine State governments,
OF private individual, Is bound to assist IN
the execution Of the laws Of Their country
" nat - The provision, II is that such fu-
giliye " shall be delivered 10 on the claim
of the parry TO whom such service or labor
may be due" | have already remarked, in
the coGr>e of debate upon the bill which is
now pending upon this subject, that the
terms used in regard Ia lugItyes from Grim
nal offences aud lugillycS from labor are
precisely the same The fugitive from las-
ice i, 10 b. delivered up and removed to
The STATE having jurisdiction. The fugitive
from labor Is to be delivered up on claim of
the party TO whom such service is due
Wei, sir, has 1t ever been contended by
any State fiat she is not b jnnd To surrender
fugitive from Justice upon the demand of
the State from which he has lied ! ! think
there have been some exceptions 10 the per
formance of tins duty enj ,ned in the con-
sIitutIon, bat they have not denied the gen
eral right; and # they have refused in any
instance to give up iAe persons demanded,
it has been upon some technical or legal
ground, not Al all as questioning the gener-
al right to have the fugitive surrendered on
the application To deliver HIM up, as enIoin-
ed by the constitution.
thlak, Mr.. President, that with regard
TO the object of tins provision there eau be
no doubt. |, imposes an obligation upon
the States-iree or sIaveholdIng-it impo-
ses an obligation upon the officers of gov
eminent, State or federal-and | add upon
the people of the United States, under par
ticular cIrcumstances-to assist In the re-
covery and surrender of fugitive slaves from
their masters There has been some con-
fusion, and | think misconception, upon
this subject, in consequence of recent de-
clslon Of the Supreme Coutt of the United
States | think that decision has been en-
tirely misapprehended. There is vast dii-
ference between imposing Impediments, and
affording facilities In the way of recovering
the fugitive slave. The Supreme Court of
the United States have only decided that
the laws of impeachment are unconstitution-
al. know, sir, there are some general
expressions in the opinion TO which | have
relerred-the case Of Maryland aud Penn
sylyania-that would seem to import other |
wise; but think that when you come to
attentively read the whole opinions pronoun-
ced by the judges, and take the trouble that
| have taken to converse with the Judges |
themselves, you will find that the whole ex-
tent of the authority that they intended to
adopt vas, that any laws of impeachment en-