The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-28
Correspssdsace between the ~ port
in Msssschasstts, and mr. Senator wsbsssr.
Letter Of he Citizens Of Nesoburypori.
NEwBURYPoRT, April s, 1850

the great topic OF the day. 4X
We admire its manly temper, the liberal and concia-
tory sentiments L expresses, and the unanswerable pow
OF analysis and exposition with which il develops and
maintains the true principles OF the constitution.
pervades IT, recalling 10 due sense Of the constitutional
obligations the North well as the South.
We therefore. beg You to accept our heartfelt thanks
Tor the pre- eminent service you have again perform
Union. 7Ts y. 5-' SaTIg.7- 1l, 4 F8e n
We have the honor 10 subscribe ourselves, with pride
and pleasure. yonr friends and constituents.
[Signed BY Edward s. Rand, w. b. Banister. John
and three hundred and sxtysix other citizens Of
NewburypoFt
! Mr.. Websisr's reply sa @
| WAsHIEGTok, May is. 1850.
GEnTLEMEE: have the honor to acknowledge the re-
cep. q your letter Ct the sh oi April. sgproyng the sen
Of March last As considerable differences OF opinion
prevail in Massachusetts, the subject OF that speech
g1as,u = u sis g especially and na
Circumstances have occurred within the last twenty
years 10 create new degree OF feeling at the North
the subject Of savery and from being consdered as
was at the adoption OF the constitutions mainly po-
cal question: il has come to be regarded with unueua
warmth, as a. question OF religion and humanity II is
obvious enough that the OF the United States
has no control over slavery i exists in the several
States I proper jurisdiction in this respect confined
to its own Territories except far as is its duty 10 see
that that part OF the constitution which respects the
render of fugitive slaves be carried fairly and honestly
nt0 execution. ssa r8 f eas
The constitution Of the United States, in the I'd section
OF the 4th article. declares: s s5
person charged in any State with treason felony.
o,hs5 c,ns @ who shall Zee from Justice and bs found IN
OF the State from which he fed be delivered up, to be
No held 10 service or labor in one State under the
laws thsreo escaping into another shalt in consequences
labor but shall be delivered up on claim the
party to whom such service or labor may be due.
This provision Of the constitution seems to have met
nj far
as know, in Massachusetts, Everybody seems to have
regarded necessary and proper The members Of the
a
might in any degree enrench on personal liberty Every
page Of their debates evinces this spirit And yet do
@ S snS
constitution OF thi: day have sharper eyes in discerning
dangers to liberty than Gen Thompson, Holder Slocum,
Hancock Samuel Adams and Others friends of the con-
siituon; and among them the very eminent who
were delegates in that convention from Newburyport
Rufus King, Benjamin Greenleaf Theophilus Parsons
and Jonathan Tilcomb.
The latter clause quoted above may be worth while
to remark, was borrowed, in substances from the cele
great man Of your own county, and contemporary Of
your fathers, Nathan Dane.
MIR. Dane had very venerable New England authority
Tor the insertion OF hs provision IN fhe ordinance which
Ia The year ie4s there was formed confederation be-
tween the four New England colonies. Massachusetts
the sh article Of that confederation il is stipulated fol-
lows, viz.
any other Of coniedsrs,ed
thar in such upon the certificate ofone magistrate
other due proof the said shall be dsversd. either
10 his MASTER or any other that pursue and brings such
n,o 1885, the New England colonies and
the delegates Of Peer nyvesanl governor Of New Meth
concerning uqyes should DO observed between the Eag
ish colonies and New Nshsaod had been established
m the article. o. confederation between the Eag'ish
On The 18th Of February 1884, under the adminis,ra-
ton Of General Washingon, Congress passed act for
lion. d is entitled An respecting Jugtives from
justice and persons escaping from the service Of their mas
tus." IL. ln@s@'ltss
The first two sections Of this law provide for
'he case OF fugitives from justice; and they de.
clare that whenever the executive authority OF
any State Territory shall demand any person as fu.
gve iron justice OF the executive authority OF any
State Territory 10 which such person shall have fed
and shall produce the copy OF an Indictment afda
vii made before magistrate charging the person 90 de-
crime certified as authentic by the governor or chief
magistrate OF the Stale Territory from whence the per-
son charged aed 4 shall be the duty Of the executive
authority OF the State or Territory to which such
person shall have fed TO cause him or her tn be arrested
OF secured and notice Of the arrest TO be given TO the
ecuive authority making such demand o. TO the agent Of
such authority, appointed TO receive the fugitive and 10
cause the fugitive to be delivered TO such agent when he
shall appear; but IL such agent shall appear within
SIX months. the prisoner may De decnarKed. ana All
costs or expenses incurred by anesting securing,
transmitting the fugitive, shall be paid by the State
Territory making the demand And that any agent who
shall receive such fugitive into his custody shall be
thorized to transport him TO the Stale Territory from
which he fed And any person, reecuing setng such
person at liberty, shall, conviction. BE- fined not
ceedng ve hundred dollars, and be imprisoned not
ceeding one year 49,
The last sections OF the respect persons held
labor any OF the United States Territories escaping
into any other Stale Territory, and are in these
words:
$50. O. A~d bs f~fhr s~aefsd, That when person
bed labor In Of the United Sates In either Of the
Territories the northwest south OF the Ohio
under the laws thereof shall escape into any other Of the
sid States Territories the person whom such labor
service may be due, hts agent Attorney 10 hereby I'm
scize snch fugitive from labor, and
take him OF her before any Judge Of the crcuit dissfc
State. before sny magstrse OF county. city, or town
corpoFsse wherein such seizure arrest shall be made
and proof 20 the Satisfaction Of such judge or msxs
rste, either BY oral testimony affidavit taken before ano
certified by magistrate Of any such State or Terrtoy nst
e person seized arrested DOTH under the laws o. me
Safe Territory from which he she ned owe service or
sbor the person claiming him or her, sha be the duv
such claimant his agent attorney which shall Dc sn
cent warrant of removing the aid fugitive from labor 70
the STATE or Territory from which he or she fed.
egc Asd De IL further sHacfsd, That any person who
sha knowingly and Willingly obstruct or hinder such
Claimant agent attorney In 20 ssixng or effestnf
uch usve from labor shall such might've from
such claimant, his agent attorney. when 90 arrested
or such person, aer notice that he or she
Aforesaid. shall. for either Of