Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-08-08
Agents.
Fugitive Slaves again.

Ellis, Of the Goshen Democrat, is out with another
article on the fugitive slave bill. We clip the fol-
lowing from his paper, to show that he is either
grossly ignorant or is guilty of willful misrepresen
tatiOD:
" And yet, not content with the existing compro
misses Of the Constitution all Of which, far they
relate slavery made not for the oppressed, but
Tor the Oppressornot encourage freedom but to grind
he face of Gods poor, the South mpudenty asks laws
70 De passed, compelling every Post Master and mail
carrier and every other petty officer under the General
Government, turn kdnappers and barbarians,-
the bleeding slave from his secluded den of security
brand his quiverng flesh with the heated steel-rvet
again upon his lacerated limbs the clankng chains OF the
elondever him over to his oppressors, drag him back
again TO the rice swamps Of Forida-and ensave him
forever bondage more Expressing than are the laws
IF TIVE Autocrat of Russia. And there Northern
in ConGress-(for tic reputation of Indiana,
nay heaven forbid that Bill Brown should be of
temO who not only favor, bt urge the adoption, by
Congress, Of just such laws"
No such bill is before Congress, and if it were,
vote. But this is TIE unfair mode adopted by the
abolition party to produce prejudice against the
So1th. His idea of branding the quivering flesh
with red hot iron, he got from George w. Roor-
back, who in 1914 charged Mr.. Polk with branding
his slaves; so that the idea is not new.
We do not think any legislation the subject alb
solutely necessary. The Supreme Court have de-
cided that the Constitution is selfacting machine,
and that the owner may recaptre his slave wherever
he finds him. The law of 1898 authorized and en-
powered State Judges, Magistrates, and Mayors of
cities hearing of the ease, grant certificates of
ownership, Sc. Under this law of Congress most
of the States have passed laws regulating the mode
Of proceeding in such cases. The Supreme Court
have decided all such laws void, and that the jurs-
dictiOn over this question is in Congress- and that
State officers are not bound TO act To remedy this,
a bill is now before the United States Senate, re-
curing the owner of fugitive slave, TO procure a
warrant from United States Judge or Commits
soner for the arrest of such fugitive, and before
such warrant issues, the must produce evil
dence of the identity of such slave, and that he or
she service; and upon the arrest, by the Mar
shall or his deputy of such fugitive and if upon
animation, he or she is found TO be slave, such
Judge or Commissioner shall remand the slave 10 the
custody of his or her owner; and such fugitive is
entitled TO jury trial. in the State where il is alleged
such service is owing and where all the evidence is
at hand.
Now, this bill, instead of being an injury, is a
protection to free of color and makes kidnapping
almost impossible. The present law imposes pen
atty of five hundred dollars, for the obstruction Of
process, in such cases. The proposed amendment
does not increase the penalty. So that all the mat
ter about compelling post masters and mail car
rers 10 turn kdnappers all the matter about
branding the quivering flesh % riveting the clanl
ing chains ''-and indeed the whole article, is a
high-wrought fabrication, originating in the crazy
brain of the editor, and published for mschieyous
purposes. The time was when the democracy Of
EIkhart county was united They are now broken
into fragments, and the reason is to be found in the
columns of the Goshen Democrat.