Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-11-16
8 ele1tton us.
Judge Jay on the Fugitive Law,
Brpronp. ID October, 1856


BEDFoRp, I'd October, 1850.
Geutlemen,-In pursuance of instruction
given you by meeting of colored citizens,
you ask me, in your letter of the 9th ut.,
my opinion, first, of the constitutionality
and binding force" of the late act of Con-
gress for the seizure of fugitive slaves and,
secondly, of the course most proper to be
pursued by our colored citizens in reference
to the personal jeopardy in which they are
now placed.
Many years since endeavored to prove,
in an argument published at the time, that
Congress has 10 constitutional power TO pass
any law whatever respecting fugitive slaves.
find from Mr.. Webster's speech of 9TH
of last March, that such is also his opinion.
But the Supreme Court has otherwise deter
mined, and hence Mr.. Webster advised the
Senate to exercise the power which the Con-
siitution, in his judgment, had conferred ex-
clusiyely on the States. The law in ques-
tion appears to me as palpable violation of
the Constitution, as it certainly is of the
principles of justice, the rights of humanity
and the obligations of the religion of Jesus
Christ
OF the binding force" of this law, in its
practical operation, ! entertain no Doubt
IL is said, | know, that IL is too atrOcious to
be executed, that public opinion will not en-
dure its cnormites. BE not deceived
There was indeed time when such law
would not have been thought of much less
enforced at the North. Some years since,
as Iwas directing fugitive as to the route to
Canada, he told me, to my SURPRISE that hc
wished to 20 TO Massachusetts. On asking
him why, he said he heard Mr.. Adams say
at Washington, that, if slave once got into
Massachusetts, there were not twelve men III
the State who would give him up. Little
did Mr.. Adams anticipate the recent deycl-
opment of Boston gentiliiy aud Andover di-
viniiy. 4s.Ia
The slaye-catching law is boon granted
by the North, not measure fastened upon
us by the shareholders. 1t is law passed
through Massachusetts influence, voted for
by the Representative from Boston, Z y and
approved and applauded hy very large
portion of Northern politicians. A Presi-
dental election is approaching, and the re-
suit will be decided by Southern votcs.-
Hence our politicians will seek TO pIopitute
the shareholders by zeal aud diligence in
slave-hunting. The law will be executed in
all the plenitude of its dabolism, or, 10 use
the words of Mr.. Webster, when pledging
his support to the bill then before the Sen
ate, "to the fullest extent-to the fullest cX-
tent"
If you ask my opinion Of the "binding
fcrce" of this law, in n moral sense, ans
wer, that binding force is precisely the same
as was that of the law OF NebuchadnezZar,
commanding the multitude on the plain of
Dura to fall down and worship his golden
image-of the decree of Darius, iobiddng
prayer to God for thirty dnys-of the order
of the Jewish magistrates to Peter aud Paul
"not TO speak at all, nor teach in the name
of Jesus "-of the commands of the Roman
Emperors, that Christians should cast incense
on the altars of idols--of the edicts of Lou
is XIV, requiring Huguenots TO embrace
the faith and practice the rites OF the Church
of Rome. This accursed statute requires lis
TO become actiue instruments of 'reachery'
cruelty and oppression To the prosecuted but
innocent fugitive-to set ut naught the law
of Jehovah, TO do Justice and love mercy
10 trample under foot the great commands
ment OF our blessed Redeemer, TO love ON
neighbor, and regardless of his authority, tc
do 10 others what would fill our souls will
anguish. if done TO ourselves. Let us, will
our families, enter the dungeons which
Northern politicians have prepared, rathe
than hazard our souls by rendering obedi
ence to the requirements of the wicked
law.
Most deeply do sympotise with you il
your unhappy state With your wives an'
children, you are now placed at the disposa
of any villain who is ready 10 pcrlure him
self for the price you will bring in the hu
man shamble of the South. With less Ger
emony and trouble than man can i'm
pound his neighbor's OK, you may be meta
morphosed from citizen of the State o
New York, into beast of burden ON Soulh
ern plantation. On leaving your house IN tn
morning you may be enticed mo another
where one of the newly-appointed Com'nls
sioners, after reading one athdavit, MADE
thousand miles off, and another that you ar
the person named in the first or on the nar
oath of the kidnapper himself, may lnioH
you, TO your amazement and horror that yo
are a SLAVE. The ietters previously prepal
ed are placed on your limbs, aud, IN le'
minutes, you are travelling with railroad ve
lociV 10 a Southern market. Never agal
will YOU behold your wife and children, no
will any tidngs from them ever reach you
eor. The remainder Of your life is to b
one of toll and stripes. In this war again,
human rights, "the laws delay" is ul'erl
unknown. i,
The Commist ioner is commanded to d'
spatch the afiair GIN A SUMMARY MANNE"