Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-12-19

To the Eiifor Of the Wfriclman & Journal:
The ACT RELATING TO THE WRIT OF HABE-
AS CORPUS, AND TO EERsoNs CLAIMED AS Fusr-
TIVE SLAVES, AND THE RIGHT OF TRIAL Or ~
Rf," passed at the last sess on of the Vermont
Legislature, seems ~ attract the ,tice and en-
gross the attention of the Southern agitators,
and Of the untiedgej correspondents of some of
The daily pets Of the northern cities. Among
those most sturdy and loud in the cry for putting
down agitation, and whose course IL most calcu-
lated 10 infame the public temper, and continue
and aggravate excitement and agitation, is the
editor Of the Washington Republic. who has most
asiuiely discovered ;hlt the act in question is
" obviously unconstitutional" "The Legislature
of Vermont has disgraced itself"-ss,s this
modest conductor of public press. "lnstead
of he annual fire brand and usual offensive res.
olutions Of the session, Vermont mas passed all
obviously unconstitutional law" "She has com
mitted an act of notification" "Thls move.
ment OF Vermont is inexpresslbly offensive
has manifested rebelllous and revolutionary
spirit merely for the sake OF manifesling it
The law seems 10 have been passed solely for
the purposes Of mischief-and the Governor de-
graded himself and his position by asserting to
the bill" Such is the lam uage Of the leading
editorial article Of the Republic of December
| 10, 1850.
1t is not usual thus 10 dispose of the legisla-
ture and chief magistrate of one OF the States
OF the Union. Instead of this summary dispo-
sllion, il would be as well for one of these sap-
ent correspondents, or this constitutional ex-
FOUNDER VINO presides over the editorial columns
vt The RePutlac, TO point out wherein any provi-
sion OF the act question 10 opposed to The Con-
s;ltutlon. 1t is usual 10 presume, and to hold an
act OF Legislation 10 be constitutional unless It
host clearly appears to be opposed 10 the Con-
stitution.
| Ii the act is obviously unconstitutional" j,
certainly would be very harmls IS statute, and
The edllor Of The Republic need not have worked
himself INTO such furious state of nervous ex-
citement about an act which was 30 clearly Of nc
force or effect
But il 10 said to be of little or no use TO Yer
mont, if the act Is valid, and to be only ire
brand 10 stir W the feelings Of the Southern
people. Whether the ACT will ever be Of any
use to the Pesple OF Vermont, In the Preserva
ton, protection asd defence Of their rights snt
liberties, is OF very lutte Importance as IL the
to preserve, protect aud defend only one Of he
, tree people from being wrongfally seized ant
carried luto slavery, that alone would be sufh
cient reason Tor its passage. The trlends OF The
act deemed il . measure calculated ~ nllay ex
cite ent rather than to increase it, and such VII
be the probable effect of it, when righttuliy un
deistood.
The FIRST section Of the act confers upon th
Judges Of the four Judicial circuits in the Stat
{ the same right to grant the writ OF habeas cerPs
that the JUDGES OF the aupreme court have b.
the Revised statutes. This vas rendered ne
cessary BY the alteration Of our owa judiciar!
1 system, reducing the number Of the Judges q
o the supreme court from SIX 70 three, and creating
--a~ ~A.-k IRr&F