The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-08
For the National Era.
TO ANTI.SLAVERY MEN In pennsylvania.
WASHINGTON, Pa, July q, 1850.

WASHINGTON, PA, July y, 1850.
Ma. EDITOR At the anniversary meeting oil
the Washington County Anti-Slavery Society
held on the 4th of July, admirable resolutions
were passed.
| beg leave to commend these resolutions to
the attention of Anti-Slavery men throughout
the State, many Of whom are readers of the Era
The act of lS47, here referred to- was an act
passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature in the
winter of ls47, to repeal the laws declared I'M
constitutional by the United States Supreme
Court in the Prigg case to prohibit oil State
officers from assisting in the capture Of fugitive
slaves to prevent the use Of county jails for de-
tanning captured fugitives and to repeal the act
of 1880, which authorized "sojourners" from other
States to bring their slaves into the State and
hold them rs such for six months
The act was passed unanimously in both branches
Of the Legislature was promptly approved by
Governor Skunk and men of all parties rejoiced
in its passage.
In the election of 1919, il was noticed that no
less than three Democratic ex-judges, and many
party, were elected to the lower House of our
State Legislature Indeed, it was remarked that
there were more prominent men in that body last
winter than were ever seen in it before.
A seat in such body is not considered an honor
in Pennsylvania by men who have any honorable
position at home and it has no emoluments of
any moment Hence none but very small or very
young politicians seek seat there. 1t was there
fore matter of surprise that men who usually
refuse such places should be found there at that
particular time
1t was supposed by some that they accepted
the post for the purpose of defeating the pending
amendment to the Constitution, to make judges
elective by the People But all but one of them
afterwards supported that amendment; and il
soon became apparent to those Of US who watched
their course, that they had gone into the Legisa-
ture for the purpose of effecting change in the
position Of the State on the Slavery question.
They were all warm partisans of MIR. Buchan.
an for the Presidency and AZ one Of the CHIEF
obstacles in the way Of Mr. Buchsnan's success
with the South was the position Of the Democra-
cy Of the State in favor of the Proviso, and thu
existence Of the act of lS47 on our statute book
it was deemed essential to change the one and re
peal the other
Accordingly, one of the ex-judges led off with
asking for special committee on the slave ques
tion. II was granted aud the committee made
long report, declaring both the Proviso and tn,
act Of ls47 to be unconstitutional. This was fol
lowed by the introduction, by another Of the ex.
judges, Of a bill to repeal the act of ls47, and
afterwards by the refusal, on the part Of the ma
| jority, to take up resolutions Of instruction il
favor of the Proviso.
| The bill to repeal the act Of ls47 was urged
by the men to whom ! have alluded, with grea
vehemence, The ground was ably contested with
them, and during the tendency Of the bill, Mr.
Buchanan visited Harrisburg and personally so
| licted the votes Of members for the bill. To tn,
Disgrace of the State, the bill passed the House
yeas 40, nays Al. But FIVE Democrats voted in
the negative, and two Wings in the affirmative
ln the Senate the bill was defeated, that body
being more equally divided than the House.
From the force employed to put the bill through
last winter, there can be do doubt that the at
tempt will be repeated next winter; and fear il
will be successful, unless we employ more en-
ergy against it than we did then.
Undoubtedly, the act Of ls47 is a serious OBJ
stace TO the success Of Mr.. Buchanan. Ii is q
law very obnoxious to Southern men--was passed
by q Democratic Legislature, and approved by .
Democratic Governor. When Southern mer
are asked to support Mr. Buchanan, they point
to this act, and demand its repeal as siae qua nos
to their support.
1t should be understood, then, that this whole
effort to repeal the law is made TO promote the
success Of Presidential aspirant and truckleI
to the South.
Mr. Buchanan's friends managed things very
quietly last year. They slipped their leading
men into the Legislature without making this Z
test question. They cannot do that, this year, IL
the friends OF the bill choose TO contest the ground
| with them.
The resolutions of our Society mention only
gefusons OF rtaonfrances, as means Of resistance
But If the Anti-Slavery men Of the State will
look to 1t In time they prevent the election Of
men secretly pledged 10 the repeal Of the act Of