The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-12-26
The Fugitive .slaye Question.

AT the Danville Union meeting the follow
ing was among the resolutions adopted.
"Resolced, That the Sd, 4th, 5th and 9Th
sections OF the act of Assembly ofthis Com
monwealth, passed Sd March, 1sa7, relative
OF Pennsylvania, and unjust to the people of
the slaye-holding States, and should bs re-
pealed by the next Legislature"
To1his resolution Mr.. Comfy objected,
and we COPY The fellowihg note Of his argu-
ment from the last Danpipe Democrat. Gle
said, that he objected, because by the decis-
ion of the Supreme Cour. of the u s. in
the case of Priggs u.s. the Commonwealth of
Penna., Congress had exclusive jurisdiction
over the subject of Fugitives from labor !;
and Penna. had the exclusive right to ascer.
tain and limi. the duties of officers of her
own appointment. She appointed them for
particular purposes of her own, and had an
uaquestionable right to restrain their offic ial
action 10 the accomplishment of those pur-
poses, because by the act Of 1850, Congress
had taken upon itself to carry into effect the
Constitutional requirement for the surrender
OF these fugitives without requiring the aid
OF State Legislation or the assistance ofState
officers, but had it directed the appointment
of officers by the Executive of the United
States, whose numbers and power wero
deemed all sufficient for the purposes of the
act. If experience should show the contra.
ry, further action should be had by Congress
and noD6y the State Legislature, because in
his (Mr. Comly's) opinion, the people of
Pennsylvania were satisfied with the act of
1917, and the provisions recommended by
the resolution for repeal were not odious in
the estimation of any bu: a very small num-
Der of the people, and that it was beyond
his comprehension, how these condemned
sections could be unjust TO The South, who
certainly had no legal or equitable claim to
the services of officers appointed by the
State solely TO perform State duties, and paid
exclusively out of her Treasury.
They were Pennsylvania's servants and
| he could not see the injustice in her direct
ing and compelling them TO devote their
time and attention exclusively to her busi.
ness. Her jails were her own, or rather be-
lonsed to the several counties of the State,
snd were intended for the safe-keeping of
the criminals, and the South had no more
right, by the constitution or In justice, TO the
use of this description OF property OF the
citizens of The State. The assertion OF
right in the South to convert our prisons into
depo.s of runaway slaves, was not less abb
surd than would be the claim to use our sta.
bles for their horses, while resting from pur.
suit of these unfortunate fugitives Besides
he ethought there had already been more
than sufficient agitation of this unpleasant
snbject, and that the proposition to repeal
the sections enumerated, would transfer to
the Halls of the Legislation of Pennsylvania
the intense excitement lately exhibited il.
those of Congress, TO the detrimeut of the
bu siness of the people of the State, without
answering any good purpose whatever. But
the meeting had adopted the resolution, and
he was willing to abide by their decis.
ion.D