The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-11

TAs E~esavs-sl.vs Law
Ia the brief sketch which we presented few DIV.
ago OF the proceedings Of the last session Of Congre
we could not give that attention TO the fugitive sa,
bill which its importance demands. That bill CONSUMES
prominent feature in the great scheme OF adjustment
and pac6caioa which was finally sancsoaed and with.
out that feature the whole scheme would have been h.
complete ana unsatisfactory TO many. IA
For years past the people OF the South have been Goa
santly annoyed BY the systematic and, in many i.
Stances successful attempts Of the aboionis,s 10 sss
away their slaves and conduct them within the borden
Of the -slaveholdng States The plain provision
the constitution nj nauxht and the law OF l7sa
which was intended to carry out that provision proved
wholly insufficient TO protect the property Of the slave
holder or enable him TO recapure any fugitive rou
service although he might be armed with the most xn
pie proof The failure fugitvss from service
and The open violence used some occasions 10 prevsp
the recapture OF slaves. by means unimcor,sp,
elements ia the OF dissatisfaction which norman
fanatcism had engendered in the South Repeaiea
wrongs called for redress and. accordingly Mr. Butler
chairman the Judiciary Committee OF the Senate
at an early day the session bill designed 10 remedy IL.
defects in the old law. and to carry out the constitutional
obligation Of Congress 10 provide the Legislation
to MAINTAIN the guarantees OF the constitution on this cub
ect Before any decisive action adoped on Mr. Bue.
proposition the Committee Of Thirteen presented ,hsirr,
port in which the constitutional obligation OF Congress
to make adequate provision for delivering up ugves roa
service distinctly recognised and that COMMITTEES rec
commended the adoption Of Mr. Buffers BILL With two
amendments, requiring the person whose slave had d
capped to obtain evidence Of the fact By going bsic,
some court Of record, and making il necessary In,
person claiming fugitive slave should enter into bond
to submit the question OF slavery and ownership 10 Ii.
decision OF jury. his return TO the place Of his s
dence Mr. Webster also, the 3D. Of June INTRODUCED
a bill amendatory of the law of 1893. Subsequenly,
Mr. Mason, Of Virginia, introduced into the Seaai
bill as substitute for the proposition Of Mr. Butler,
which was, after modification. adopted BY liz.
body--the vote being as follows:
YsAs--Messrs Atchison, Badger, sarnwsll. Hel, Be.
Iowa. Downs, Foote. Houston, Hunter. Jones' King, Man
SURGEON. Tnrney. Underwood. Wales, and ,,ser ~
NAYs-Messfs Baldwin, Bradbury. Caase, 10 pen Da.
WIS., OF Massachusetts, Dayton, Dodge oil Wisconsin, Greene
smith, Upha,n, Walker. and Win;hrop-l2.
When the bill was sent to the House q Represents.
tves fell into good hands and the wishes OF such fac
,ioniss as Messrs Giddings and Thaadens Stevens
make it subject for further agitation and excitemea
were signally defeated Judge Thompson Of Pennsylvs
MIA. chairman Of The Judiciary Committee, addressed
himself to his duty with the sagaci,y Of states
man and the spirit Of patriot. He did not A.
tempt 10 divide the responsibility BY having The
bill referred to the Judiciary Committee bu, he cane
boldly forward, and took the responsibility Of urging M
passage Of the bill without the unnecessary Formally d
reference Considering the temper Of the House. ihn
was bold and intrepid course. and Judge Thompson
services will be long remembered BY the great party
which be belongs He vindcated the principles Of IL
bill with marked ability. and was promptly passed b
decided majority The vote on the final passage WI
as follows
YxAs----Mes.rs. Alberson, A.,os. aade5.oa, Ash.
In. Boyd. Breci, Albert B. Brown. William y Blown
gas. Burt GsSsss Alfred Sslswsl Jo:spS cadwsa
FeaaSers.on, Fuller, Gentry, Gerry. Gilbert, GONNA,
a% s. hs.d.y ao%s, Hss
iaas
Letter LteGsld, ]. Mann. Marshal Mason, McCemsnd
Meade S.1 Ma. 'ss
Orr, Outlaw, Owen. Parker, Peasse Phelps: ross1
EsG RS
Thompson, Toombr, Venable, Walden, Wsllsce Wskmb
Wellbofn, Widdck, Williams, Woodward, and Young
NArs-AIsssrs Alexander, Allen, Baker, Bennett, Binr
ham, Booth, Briggs, Burrows, Thos BaileI Cable "a
CrowslI, Dickey, Disney Dixon, Doty. Daacsn Dutss'
Nathan Evans, Fitch, Fowler, Frsedey. Gidd9g, 0u'
Gould, Holloway, Hampton, Harlan. Hay, Hebard, HsaI
Howe. Hunter, VT. Jackson, Jalian,G g King ,mm
ks ssea s.s sSss Sas ka ase
Putnam. Reed Robinson, Root, Rumsey. acke Ssweus'
sstson Thnrnsn. Tuck. Undsrhii vin,on. aldo, wsnr
worth. Whitticsey, Wood. and wrisht-7s. asl9
Since the passage Of this billso necessary 70 carry os
the requirements Of the consttuhon-the abolihous'
and hisher.law men denounce il in unmeasnred terms
Stimulated by their factous natures, and urged on By
their fell purposes, they rave like madmen They uF
the fugtves to themselves and promise aid shsa,
even unto bloodshed and murder in resisting the sxss
ton Of the law We cannot. however, believe thai ne
appeals Of these madmen array the body OF the no
er people against a constitutional enactment which
necessary guard the rights Of one.half the confee
They know well that, il the northern States had given
an active support TO the constitution by delivering up
gitves from service the South would have been satisfied
with the law OF 1893 But some Of the northern essla
lures threw obstacles in the way Of the law. and ns
slaveholde has been forced TO zee his rights OF properly
violated for series Of years by organized bands Of IN
prncpled men. We trust that the law will be exscusd
for II il s rendered imperative BY violence and ooo'
shed, the elements Of discord win again sweep ovefm
land The recent tempest which shook the very oana
tons OF the Union. has not entirely subsded the eo
has not entirely disappeared from the horizon We here
Al. - a.. A.x4h An