The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-26
THE FUGITIVE BILL.

Next week we shall publish this bill, as 1t
finally passed Congress and received the sanction
Of the Executive. 1t disregards all the ordinary
securities of personal liberty. 1t increases the
facilities for the apprehension and surrender OF
fugitive slaves, by authorizing the appointment OF
as mapv commissioners as the Circuit Courts OF
the United States may choose to appoint, to de-
eide in cases of claims for fugitives No provi-
sion is made for jury trial, hd6eaS corpus or ap-
peal; none for redress of injuries to the freeman
who may be arrested and imprisoned, through
carelessness wantonness, or sinister pur-
pose. Whether man shall be consigned to per-
petual bondage or not is to be left to the sole de-
cision of any person who may be designated as
acting without responsibility. In
the free States, the office of a commissioner ap-
pointed solely for the purpose OF securing the
recapture and delivery Of runaway slaves, viii
be auS0dous one so odious, that 1t will be almost
impossible to find any person of respectaoility to
discharge its functions. The consequence will be,
that men of disreputable character Will be ap-
pointed, to whom the difference between FIVE dol
lars-the fee allowed when the claim is decided
aeaiusl, y Pr a. H' ~-'s'~'>-' $50
the claim is adjudged goodwill be an important
-.-----..-,.~s. 49,. ------.
to aid il necessary, in the apprehension and de-
livery Of fugitives and the punishment for and
ing in their escape, or for hsrboring them, is one
thousand dollars, with Imprisonment not exceed
ing six months, besides one thousand dollars, to
be recovered in suit for civil damages for each
fugitive thus aided or harbored. We shall have
more to say of it hereafter.
This bill having undergone discussion in the
Senate, was finally passed and sent to the House,
where, September IL, it was taken up and forced
through without discussion, consideration, or any
opportunity for amendment.
The bill coming up, James Thompson of Penn
sylvania was recognised by the Speaker, who, we
suppose, understood the views of that gent eman
He addressed the House in support of the bill,
and closed by moving the previous question. Mr.
Stevens Of Pennsylvania appealed to his colleague
to withdraw the motion, as he desired to reply to
him. Mr.. Thompson would consent only on con-
dition that Mr. Stevens would renew it, and this
he refused to do. Other appeals were no more
successful Mr. Crowell moved q call Of the
House Refused. The demand for the previous
question was sustained-yeas 81, nays Co. Mr..
Stevens moved to lay the bill on the table. Lost
yeas 81, nays 49, The main question was or
dered to be put, snd>th bill was ordered to
third reading-yeas l05, nays 70. The bill was
read third time by its title, and the question
being, Shall it pass Mr. Thompson moved
call of the House, which was decided in the mega
tive-yeas 70, nays 100. The question: Shall this
bill pass was then decided in the Affirmative
yeas 100, nays IS. The vote we find classified in
the Mem York Epenug Post, as follows:
YEAS.
Democrats -Maine-Fuller, Gerry, Littlefeld.
N. Hampshire-Hibbard, Peaslee. New York
Walden. New Jersey-Wildrick Pennsylva-
Mann, McLanahan, Robbins,
Ross, Thompson Virginia-Averett, Bay, Bayly,
Beale, Mcdonald, McMullen, Holiday, Meade,
Millson, Parker, Powell, Seldom. N. Carolina
she, Caldwell, Vensble South Carolina-Burt,
Colcock, McQ ueen, Orr Wallace, Holmes Wood
ward. Georgia-HaralsOn, Jackson. Alabama
Bowdon, Cobb Hubbard, Inge. Louisiana-La
Sere. Tennessee-Ewing, Harris, Johnson, Saw
age, Stanton, Thomas Wellborn. Texas-How-
ard, Kaufman. Mississippi-Brown, Feather
ston, Melville, Thompson. Arkansas-John
son, Jones, Missouri-Bay, Bown, Green, Hall,
Phelps Kentucky-Boyd, Caldwell,
Mason, Stanton Ohio-Hoaglsnd, Miller Mich
igan-Buel. Naturalization, Brown, Dun
ham, Gorham. Illinois Bissell Harris, McCler-
nand, Richardson, Young. lowa-Lefier. Cali
fornia--Gilbert
Whigs-New Hampshire-Hibbard. Massa-
ohioTaylSrG yrganlaswafssy
Houston. North Carolina-Cl ingman, Deberry,
Stanly. South Carolina-Outlaw. Georgia
Owen, Toombs Authorization, billiard
II ennessee-Anderson, Gentry, Watkins, Will
liams. Kentucky-Breck, Johnson, Marshall
Mclean, Thompson. Indiana-McGaughey
Democrats aine-Sawtelle, Stetson Con-
necticut-Booth, Waldo. Ohio-Cable, Carter,
Disney, Morris, Whittlesey, Wood Michigan
Bingham Indiana--Fitch, Harlan, Robinson.
California Wright
Whigs.-Maine - Otis Vermont - Hebard
Henry, Meacham assachusetts-Duncan Fow-
Ter, Mann. Rhode Island-Dixon, King. Con-
New York-Alexander Bur-
nett, Briggs, Burrows, Gott Gould, Holloway,
Jackson, John A. King, Matteson, McKissock,
Nelson, Putnam, Rumsey, Sackett Schermerhorn,
Schoolcraft, Thurman, Underhill New Jersey
Hay, King, Sylvester Pennsylvania-Calvin
Chandler, Dickey, Freddy, Hampton, Moore,
Pitman, Reed, Stevens. Ohio-Corwin, Evans,
Vinton. Michigan-Sprsgue. Illinos-Baker
Fyee.SoilerS-New pshire-Tuck. Mas
New York-Preston King
Ohio-Campbell Crowell,
Giddings Hunter, Root. lndiana-Julan. Wis
consin, Durkee.
Yeas 100, nays Is.
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING.
Northern Whigs-Andrews Ashmun, Bokee,
Brooks, Butler, Casey, Clarke, Conger, Duer,
Goodenow, Grinnell, Levin, Mes, Newell, Ogle,
Phoenix, Reynolds, Risley, Rockwell Rose,
Schenck, Spauldng, Van Dyke White-24
Free-SoIers-Wimot
Northern Observation-Disclosures Gilmore, Odds,
Peck, Potter, Strong, Sweetser, Thompson of
Iowa-S.
Southern WhgS.--Cabell, Evans of Maryland,
Southern Democrats.-Ashe, Averett, Bay, Bayly,
Beale, Bocock, Hackett, Harmanson, Hammond,
Mcdowell, McLane, Morse-l2.
Total absent or not voting-50.
Northern Democrats voting for the bill-27.
Northern Wings voting for the bill Hib-
bard of New Hampshire, Eliot of Massachusetts,
Taylor Of Ohio, McGaughey of Indiana.
The members who Intentionally absented them
selves when this bill was about to be voted on,
are less to be respected than those who boldly
recorded their names in the affirmative. MIR
Stevens of Pennsylvania, after the passage Of the
bill, gravely rose, and suggested to the Chair the
propriety of despatching one of the pages, to in
form his Wing friends who had gone out, that
they now could return in safety, as the slavery
matter was disposed of!
THE SLAVE TRADE BILL.
Ia In "a s,,nnrass Tho slaxa irala In Ito