The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-05-29

never applied in cases Of preliminary pro.
ceedlngs, ard only in cases Of final trial
there would be a complete mockerv Of Justice,
so lar as The owner OF the fugitive is concern.
cd. II the trial BY jury be admitted, il would
draw after II lls usual consequences uf con.
inuince from lime to time. 10 bring evidence
from dlstan, places, of second or new ,riais,
IN cases where the jury is hung, or The YER
dlct is set aside; and of reyisas Of the vsr.
die, and conduct of juries by competent tr.
tunais. During the progress Of all these d.
iatoFy and expensive proceedings, what secu.
my IS there as to the custody and for,hcom.
Ing OF the fugitive upon lhelF Termination
And II, hra!!., tie claimant should be sue
cess'ul, contrary to wha, happens in ordina.
iry litigation between free persons he would
have 10 bear all he burdens and expense of
the litigation, without indemnify, and would
learn by sad experience, that he had by far
better have ahaldoued his right in lhe first
instance, than TO establish il al such unfemu-
neraIed cost and heavy sacrifice.
But whilst the committe conceive that
trial by jury in STATE where fugitive from
service or labor is recaplured would be vir.
teal denial Of 1stice TO the claimant of such
fugitive, and would be ,antamouBt to a pesi.
tive refusal to execute the provisions of the
Constitution, the same objections do not ap.
ply to such trial IN the State from which he
fled. In the slayeholding States, full Justice
is ADMINISTERED with the fairness and impar.
tahty, IN cases of al actions for freedom.
lhe person Claiming his freedom is allow.
ed to sue in torma puuperis council 10
assigned hum; time is allowed him TO collect
bis witnesses and to attend the sessions of the
court; aud his claimant is placed under bond
and security, or is diyesed Of the possession
during the progress of the trial. to ensure
the enjoyment of these privileges; and if
there be any leaning on the part of courts
aud Inrles, 1t is always on the side Of the
claimant for freedom.
In Difference 10 he feeling and prejrdices
which prevail in the non.slayeholdng States,
the committee propose such II trial in the
State from which the fugitive fed, in all ca
ses where he declares TO The officer giving
his certificate for his return, that be has a
right to his freedom. Accordingly, the com.
mlt,ee have prepared, and report herewith,
(marked C.) TWO sections, which they re-
commend should he Incorporated in the fug.
I'VE bill pending ~ the Senate. According
to these sections, the claimant is placed un,
der bond, and required to return the fugitive
10 that county IN the State from which he
He'd, and there to take him before compe.
tent tribunal, and allow hm to assert and es.
tablish bis freedom if he can, alfordlag to him
TOR that arpGse al neediu facilities.
The committee indulge the hope that if
the fugitive bll, with the proposed amend.
mens, sha. be passed by Congress, il will be
etfectualy to secure the recovery Of all fugi-
tlves from service or labor, and that it will
remove all causes of complaint which have
hitherto been experienced on that irritating
subject. But if IN its practical operation 1t
shall be found insufficient, and if no adequate
remedy can be devised for the restoration to
their owners Of fugitive slaves, those owners
Will have just title to indemnity out Of the
Treasury of the United States.
1t remains to report upon the resolutions
IN relation TO slavery and the slave trade in
the District of Columbia. Without discuss
lng the power of Congress TO abolish slavery
within the District in regard 10 which d.
versiy of opinion exists The committee are of
opinion tina, 1t ought not to be abolished. 1t
could not be done wi,hou, indispensable con-
di)ions, which are not likely to be agreed to.
1t could not be done without exciting great
apprehension and alarm in the slave Slales.
II the power were exercised within this Dis
'trlct, they would apprehend that under some
pretext or another, II nigh be hereafter at.
tempted TO be exercised within the slave.
holding States. 1t is true that al present all
such power within those States is almost u
UNANIMOUSLY dlsavowed and discamed in The
Tree States. But experience 10 public affairs
has too often shown that where there Is de.
sire to particular thing, the power TO ac.
comPlish II sooner or later, will be found or
assumed.
Nor does the number Of slaves within the
District make the abolition Of slavery an ob
lect OF any such consequence as appears to
be attached to II in some parts of the Union.
Since the retrocession Of Alexandria couory
to Virginia, on the South side of the Poto.
mac, the District now consists only OF Wash
ington county, on the north side Of that river
aud the returns of the decennary enumera.
ton Of the people Of The United States show
a rapidly progressive decrease ia the number
of slaves in Washington county. According
to the census Of 1890, the number was 4 sos;
and in 1910 it was reduced to 1890; show.
ing reduction in ten years os nearly one
third. Ii il should continue in the same ra.
ito, the number according to the census now
about to hs taken, will be only little up.
wards Of two thousand.
But a majoriy OF the committee think
differently in regard to the slave trade with.
in the District. By that trade is meant the
introduction of slaves from adiaceu, Salesin.
to the District, for sale. or TO be placed in
depot for the purpose Of subsequent sale or
transportation to other and dis,an, markets.
| hat trade maiority of the cnmrnnn1tu a ra