Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-10-22
LETTER FROM JOSIAH QUINCY, se.

QUlScf, O;t. Ia, lSo'
NV DEAR Sin: Having heon requested silte my views
nm fhe subject ni the fugitive slaves many o whoa have
been long domesiratcd among and who alarmed at te
supposed stn.ency Of the a% relative to 'hrhi are
preparing quit country for Eurnpe ana others
for Canada and concerning whom there - to be meeting
of citizens this evening take The liberty TO address TINS e
Ter 10 you which will embrace some OF my views on INA
topic and submit them TO iscreon TO be used Oh sup
pressed. ;
In The frat place. then il ought in my opinion to give
reasonable satisfaction 10 class Of inhabitants thai
in the State of Massachusetts, person has efer been derer
ed 10 his master under the iar Of 1888
boieve this be literally the II s however pos
sbo the lapse Of nearly 90 years cases may have occur
rcd of whic. there is neither memory nor record
there been any such they have been 80 few as to form
only exceptions at prove ;he truth OF the r"e rather hau
evidence Of lis fasy.
Persons therefore under these circumstances nngl to
rest at eas with the and in the confidence result
ing from the above uci tai IN the state I" assachusct.
the law Of 1850 will be a imperative for bO years o
come tho law of 1873 has bccn or nearly ou years past
There is indeed in tc law energy and vgor OF
proceeding somewhat beyond that obtained by the law o
l93 and ths will undoubtedly operate IN rrorem on inc
slaves in the Southern States and thus diminish their at-
temps freedom and give more quiet OF MIND 10 hclr mas
ters The greater srngency of The new Law will also ope-
ru. in favor of their matters respect Of slaves who have
token UP their residence In Staira adjoining savchodng
States among the inah,ans of which the:e no sch gen
cra repno The s1reholdng system Us exists among
the inhabitants OF assachus and wherc individuals may
easily be found wh moved b. cupidity would eady stei
the low tide of ohoGay and reproach when EXISTS IN osc
States to give aid 10 in the recovery Of their slaves
But such fear apprehension concerning the power o.
the law can, in my judgment reasonably exist within
tie State of Massac chusess. Past events are sufficient
nunruntces for The future The great OF intelligent
southern shareholders understand the unversaliy ol the
focng in Massachusetts tho subject OF this lnw and re-.
spec it, and have neither expectation nor desire that shall
be made to have retrospective retroactive e.c II Is
possible that some wonecsed indivduals running
10. luck or desons ol creating excitement may attempt 10 put
The law In force in Massachusetts, Tat The great body OIL
southern Shareholders understand their interests too well 10
desire 10 see created in Massachusetts such an excitement
as would result from attempt like that affecting The
ol,v IT ,i,N Norl.
ding ne free man In the State should be socre'iy nlZeo,
handcuiied and hurried out Of il without allowing him an
opportunity 10 apply couase for or to The laws
Of the State the sympalhcs OF the vicinity Any man
office or lnyman engaged In snch an attempt IN e G y.
OF Massachusetts if successful would appehend f,nd il
difficult afterwards long 10 remain resident IN and the
Feelings oi whose Inhabitants he had 30 universally out
ragged.
ample for lis objects and would have been etecun in
Massachusetts il elsewhere lis utter inefhclency
here resulted solely from the unanimous spirit Pervadins
The whole people the State on The subject OF maj law
md from the inwrousht sovereignty, in the minds OF The
people Of the State Of the principle oil tho constitution oi
The State which TO every human being %ln! II me
right Of trial BY jury in every case affecting MS ne oel'
he unlyersaty of this feeling within this State on this
law is attributed falsely 10 the labors OF class OF men
this day known by the nanicoi aool'lohlss la ee
np existed nn before any such cs hnd existence OF even
nanc Ii was grown in the gran II was Infused D! ma
ture a component element into ihe oooa OF 'he peop VI
this STATE. hare been intimately acqlainod wh ana
cusc observer OF The character Of that people TOR SIXTY years
and do believe there has been moment In WINCH WIN
in any popuou district this Siae the Ia" OF i!' eona
have been openly enforced And without pre,cnnh 70 '
spirit of prophecy octcl that the SAME VIII DC tho !ac VI
The law Of 1850
can speak this subject with somewhat personal cor
tanty far respects the existence of the feeling pre-
valent this subject fsr years ago. Some time nbont
the year 1894 alter he frat law this subject was
passed. sent for counseloratlnw to appear De-
fore ofou acting justices Of the peace Greeno to &C.