Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-11-02

ffum him, or from any one, anything more
upon the subject of prosecution. THIS fact,
and the universal qualification which the re-
suit appeared to give to the public, satisfied
my mind that unless by accident, or stealth,
or in some very thiny settled parts of the
country, the law of 1893 would forever he
imperative, as the event has proved, in
Massachusetts. And the same will, in my
opinion, be the case, us have already said,
with the law Of 1850.
The feeling, aud the origin of its univer-
salty, on this subject, in Massachusetts, is,
apprehcnd, not well understood. 1t had its
origin ia no general disposition to interfere
with the rights of Southern shareholders, hut
fron the surprise aud utter disgust OF the
law OF l793, which, from the first, pervaded
every class of citizens III Massachusetts,
They regarded that law as violating tie prin.
ciplo of the compact, rs they understood IT,
when they Hcceded TO the Constitution of the
United States. In accepting that clause OF
that Constitution, which provides that per-
sons held to service or labor" in any other
| Stnte, and escaping into Massachusetts
should "not be discharged from such SER
vice or labor, in consequence of any law"
| pissed by her, and that she would deliver up
on claim such persons TO the party to whom
sachtsetts, understood that such claim
should he iniorced, ia conformity to, and in
coincidence with, the known and establish
ed principles Of the Constitution of Massa-
cbnsetts.
That pledge, the people Of Massachusetts
by accepting that clause in the Constitution
of tue United States, solelnnly gave and that
pledge The people Of Massachusetts hare neuer
viOtdted; aud will Fdd, they ,ciH never violate
Il. The law Of 1893 undertook TO modify
the terms Of that pledge, availiug itself of
certain general constructive powers of the
Constitution of the United States, and by
wrestling them TO purposes 10 which they
were never supposed to he applicable. Had
il been anticipated by the Convention of
Massachusetts which adopted the ConstiuI-
ton of the United States, that the general
powers ii conveyed would have been so con-
strtIed as to authorize the passing of law
of Congress, riding over and trainpling down
the great principles Of the Constitution of
Massachusetts, which secures 10 every hu-
man being within the State the right of trial
by jury, rannOt question for moment that
the objections which such an anticipation
would have raised would have been insur-
mountable, and the Constitution of the U. S.
would never have received the sdhcton of
that Convention. Could il have been antici-
pated by the people that a law would be
passed supersedlng that great principle of
human freedom, and that in this State, in
which the claimant of ownership for COW,
an OK, or n horse, or an acre of land, could
not be diyested of his right without trial by
Jury, yet that, by the operation of such law,
n citizen might he seized, perhaps, secretly,
carried before a single magistrate, without
the right of proving before jury his title 10
himself be sent out of the Stnie, on the Ger
ticate of such single magistrate, into hope
less anil perpetual bondage, il is impossible,
in my Judgment, that the Constitution of the
United Suites could have received tho sanr-
ton of one-tenh part OF the people of Massa-
cbusetts.
The law of 1893 unqucstionably excited
in the people OF this State an universal sur
prise and disgust; and a willingness to coun-
teract the provisions of that law became a
settled feeling aud policy of the people of
the State, aud this feeling became SO gene
rul thnt the attempt TO enforce the law with
IN the State became hopeless from the first I;
and this, as have already stated nrose from
no general disposition in that people to in
teriere with the rights OF Southern slave
holders, but from the general opinion prcva-
lent in the State that Southern rights, when
prosecuted in Massachusetts, should be pur-
sued under the principles of the laws and
Constitution OF this State. This was the
nature of the pledge given by the people in
accepting the clause in the Constitution of
the United states, relative to "persons bound
10 service in other States and escaping into
this" This pledge the people of Massa-
chuseits neper hare piO!aied, and as | believe,
neUer ioiH UiOldie.
Let the laws upon this subject he so mod
flied as TO give to every person, whose scrv-
ice is thus claimed, the right of trial by jury,
before being sent out of the land, and tho
universal dissatisfaction would he almost
wholly alayed. Aud the Southern owner,
under the law SO modified will have no more
obstacle 10 his success, than what is inherent
in the nature Of such trial.
Let il not he said that this would be keep
ing the promise 10 the sense and breaking il
TO the hope, because no twelve men could bc
found In the State who would do Justice TO
the slave owner OF such trinl. Without adj
hitting, for moment, that there is any truth
IN such a suggestion, will only say--if IL be
true, and no NV elve men in the State could
he found who would not violate their oath,
rather than he concerned in returning n slave
to his master, can any fact be imagined more
conclusive to show the folly of attempting to
enforce such law within the limits of
SIute in which such principles and feelings
so universally predominant? /?
But have extended my remarks beyond
my original intention. My great obiect has
been TO give such opinions and views as
ought, IN my judgment, TO give p0ace of
mind TO the cluss of persons, agitnted by |
their apprehensous from the recent Con- !
gressional law--and tending TO assure them
they may abide safely MS they have already
done under the protection of the laws Of
Massachusetts and the sympathies of her
citizens. And IN addition, | would express
hope, that nothing should be done, IN this
meeting, giving the subject party or polit
cal Inspect, which am assured was not the
intention Of those who Originated the call of
it.
ann, Sir, very respectfully, your friend and
servanb JOSIAH QUINCY