Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-10-31
the Fusi,iyWslave Law.

The Fugiiiy8Slaye Law.
II appears that before the President gave his
sanction TO this law he submitted u 10 ine Attor-
ney General, Hon. John J. CIittenden, and OBJ
tanned his written opinion thai il IN no particular
conflicts with the Constitution. This opinion has,
within the las, few days, been published for the
purpose of aaying, if possible, the excitement
which prevails all over the free States against the
law.
Mr.. Crittenden enjoys a high reputation as
lawyer as statesman and as humane and be-
nevolent individual His opinions on questions
of law or of public policy are entitled 10 great
weight. Nevertheless we are constrained 10 be-
lieve that on this question his relations TO slavery
have biassed his judgment and lea TO the lorna
lion of an opinion at variance with fact. 1t seems
plain to our apprehension that the law is grossly,
irreconcilably in opposition to the Constitution,
and that the reasoning of the Attorney General Is
miserably lame and unsatisfactory. If his opinion
shall be sustained by the Supreme Court we shall
thenceforward have much less respect either ior
the Constitution or for the Judges of that Court
than we now feel. -r s5e. ~ s "A
The Constitution (section 81 provides, that the
privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall not
be suspended unless when, in cases of rebellion or
invasion, the public safety may require IT," This
is the great writ for the protection ofPersonal o
erty Ii lies, where person being indicted or I'M
prsoned (and an illegal arrest is IN law an " I'M
prsonmenl'D unlawfully or unconstitutionally, ap-
plies to another tribunal for relief in the premises
Mr. Critlenden says there is nothing IN the bill
in question which conflicts with, or suspends, or
was intended to suspend the privilege of the writ
of Habeas Corpus. / thnk so, because the bill
saws not one word about that writ" Now, let US
see what the bill does say, and then we shall be
prepared to Judge of the soundness OF the Attorney
Generals opinion. The bill enacts that the GER
t6cate Of Commissioner ''shall prevent all mo-
esiation of said person or persons 1.-The claimant
and his agensl by any process issued by any Judge,
Magistrate, or other person whomsoever." The
Habeas Corpus is process issued" III behalf
of freedom. Ii is obvious, therefore, notwithstand
ing the opinion Of The Attorney General, that the
bill does declare that the writ of Haoeas corpus
shall not issue in the of person arrested as
a fugitive slave. zeE
We beg leave 10 digress few moments, in or
der to set the enormty Of this feature OF the law in
its true light.
The word slave or slaves. is not used in the act.
1t speaks only Of fugitives from service or labor
An apprentice owes service or labor to his or her
master,
rent This act, then, reverses all the laws OF this
state, and other states, regulating masters, ap-
prentces and servants" as we'll as of "paTent and
child" man thief has but 10 come among US,
demand our children as his children, claim that
they " owe him service" or demand them as ap-
prentces who lowe him service or labor" and we
are forbid the right to try the question whether the
williams claim is true or false. III a man should
claim our horse or cow as his, we could resist his
demand and compel him to substantiate his claim
here on the spot or to abandon it; but if he has
the audacity to claim another'S child as his own,
or as his apprentice, there is no appeal save to
:" the higher law" and that appeal the supporters
of This act hold TO be treasonble.
Let US cease this DEPRESSION. The Constitution
(Art. 5, of the Amendments) says that no person
shall be deprived Of life Aberzy, property, without
due process of law" Is that due process of
law which strikes down the privilege OF the writ
of HabeaS Corpus, and virtually denies the right
of Trial by Jury 1t is to insult the understand
ing of the community to call that due process.
1t is process precisely identical to that adopt
ed by the Russian Tyrant to spirit off to Siberia
those inhabitants of his empire who are SO impru-
dent as to avow liberal principles.
The Constitution declares that ANY person held
TO service or labor in one state under the laws
thereof, escaping INTO another shall be delivered
up &C. Mark the expression The meaning
clearly is another sate"-not territory A
Slaye then, escaping from territory lnlo state,
or from state into territory, cannot constitution
ally be pursued and remanded into slavery. OF
course, that portion fhe fugitive slave law which
authorizes the arrest of slave who fed, or may
flee, from the District of Columbia, or from any
territory is unconstitutional and void.
But it is said, the compromises of the Con-
stitution must be observed; these men not cit
izens, but only slaves" This is said by men who
have no rebuke for the plain and intentional vio-
lalon of the Constitution by South Carolina, Geor-
ga, and Louisiana, in imprisoning colored north
ern seamen, and selling them to pay jail fees
But fugitive slaves not the only persons dis
turbed by the law recently enacted. Every col
ored person in the free states is liable to be arrest
ed and to be carried into slavery under this bid
The affidavits Of two peJured accomplices, would
be sufficient in most cases. 1t is on this account
that this law has carried CONSERVATION into the
dwelling of almost every colored family in the free
states, and that men, women and children, born of
free pares.s, and pursuing their honest occupa-
tion, are now living by day and night in constant
dread of molestation. n.-IIonesdale Democrat.
OLD WHITEY.-This famous war charger, used
by Gen. Taylor in most of his celebrated battles
in Mexico, passed through Harrisburg in canal
boat on Sunday last, on his way to the Vest
He was visited (says the Telegraph by hundreds