The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-09-11
NUMBER 632.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.

/ THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.
| We present below summary of the bill which has
passed the Senate, providing 70. the exclamation Of
fugitive slaves. This bill passed that body BY large
majority, only l2 Senators voting against it; but it
! ought to have passed unanimolsly.
The provisions Of this b1 arc stringent, and it 10
to be hoped it will prove efficient in carrying the
guarantees of the Constitution, and protecting the
Southern people against great practical evil It
will Of course pass the House. J
SECTION l. Makes it the duty Of the Judges Of the
United States District Courts, in each State to
mission not exceeding three persons in each County,
who shall exercise cocurrng jurisdiction with Circuit
and District Judges, and shall be empowered to ad-
minister oaths, examine witnesses, and hear and de-
termine all cases arising under the Sd clause Cd Soc
ton, Of the 4th article Of the Constitution Of the Uni
fngitlves, upon satisfactory proof, anthorizing them
to take and remove inch fugitive to the State ter
ritory from which they escaped.
SEC. Q. Makes it the duty Of Marshalls and Depp-
ty Marshalls, and any persons authorized by Com
missioners in writing. to execute warrants and other
process, and to call upon the posse comitatus Of
Counties to assist them, and said warrants shall bs
State warrants.
SEo. 3. Fugitive may be arrested by owner, agent,
or attorney, obtaining warrant from Judge or Cem-
missioner. or by apprehending him where it can b
So zone without M legal process, when hs shall 20 .ksn
and determine the case in a summary manner, and
upon satisfactory evidence duly certified taken by
some Court. magistrate, justice of the peace, other
legal officer authorized to administer oaths and take
depositons under the laws of the State or territory
from which the fugitive has escaped the owner il 70
receive certificate authorizing him to remove fugitive
to the State whence he escaped. And in no such
trial shall such fugitive's testimony be received.
This certificate shall be conclusive, and shall pre-
vent moestation by any process issued any other
Court, Judge, or magistrate.
SEC. 4. Provides that any person obstructing tho
recapture of fugitive, attempting to rescue him.
or who shall aid and abet his escape, shall harbor
him, shall be subject to Indictment, in Circuit or
District Court, and on conviction shall be fined not
exceeding 81 900, and may be imprisoned not ex-
ceeding six months, and shall moreover pay. by way
of civil damages to the injured party 900 recover
able by action of debt.
SEC. 5. Regulates the fees of MARSHALL deputies
allows them $40 in cases where claimant establishes
his claim, and $5 where he fails, and the fees for
maintenance &C.. customary in the State or County
provides that the Marshall shall be fined, in case he
negects his duty, thousand dollars; and it, after
arrest the fugitive should escape his hands, he shall
be liable to be prosecuted his bond by the MASTER
for the full value of the slave SO escaped.
Sec. 6. Upon affidavit by claimant of fugitive, that
he is apprehenslve that an attempt will be made to
him, the officer making the arrest is authorized
to employ sufficient number of persons to prevent
it, who shall be paid such by law are allow
ed tor transportation of criminals to be certified BY
the Judge of the District where the arrest is made
which shall be paid out of the Treasury of the United
States: Provided, That before such charges are in
cured the claimant shall secure to such officer such
charges. and if actual force be opposed he shall
pay them.
SEC. 7. Provides that on the production of the
transcript of the testimony before any Court of record
duly authenticated, of oral evidence and affidavit if
II Sy4 fh4 I.,l~,
sioner shall issue certificate to the claimant, author
izing him to arrest the fugitive; and should such az
rest be made, and by force ensue, then upon
satisfactory proof of such and rescue and that
it without cousion, it shall be the duty of the
Judge to grant'to said claimant certificate of the
facts proved, and of the value of the services or
labor in the State territory whence fugitive fed;
which certificate when produced by claimant, shall
be paid the Treasury of the United States and shall
be by the Secretary of the Treasury reported Con-
gress at the next session after its payment and shall
be filed as evidence of so much money doe the United
States by the State territory where the rescue was
effected: Provided, That no more than 8 in case
of male, or s in case of female fugitive, shall
be allowed or paid.
The Political SIN. For the past twelve months,
we have, with all our ability, advocated the South
against the aggressons and onsets Of any and all par
ties: very frequently against the misrepresentation
of the whg press in this State.
opposed positions have battled for and siriven to
sustain the only for the South how could it
be expected that we could vote for him /! We could
not have done so without giving the lie to nearly all
we have said and written upon the question. This
we were not prepared to do and we willingly voted
for Reid much less objectionable, farmo sound
If by this we have snned, willing to meet all
the just punishment that awaits If by this we
have sinned. we are willing to sin more by following
up the course twice as strong. If this be sin there is
political virtue at the South. 1t is gone.
We have advocated the Southern course, and had
to vote in accordance with that advocacy and the sim
cerity with which we have been interested in the
subject. To have voted otherwise would have been
Inconsistent. .... 30
Again, if Manly had been elected, the fiat was to
have gone forth that North Carolina had by the sol
of his election, gone against every action of
opposed to the Nashville Convention opposed TO the
Missouri Compromise as basis for the present, op.
posed to the chivarous conduct of her sisters aud in
favor Of anything you might bring forward so that
you called it compromise. We did not want it to be-
believed that could add by even the fracron-ou,
uote-to any such understanding Of the position Of
this State. 5ai 5sa
Our determined stand alienated the wings from 90,
and their opposition through their presses and else
where aienated from them, that we did not care
where voting for David s. Reid placed os we were
Indifferent whether on the fence or with the demo.
Gratis who on these, the only important issues, agree
with and consistently with what we have pro-
fessed and now advocate, we voted for him.
1t may njure Us in pocket, but not at all in con.
science. So if the rest of mankind are satisfied,
we are. Horners Nest. d,
WHAT He HAS BEEN. 1t is of no consequence
If he has been of the abandoned of men. He
is not SO now. We what evil man has done,
provided he has heartily repented and strives to
live an upright consistent le Instead of looking back
a tn knnv xuh a -
you should enquire IS What is he now What 10
his present chaacter If you iad that his rsforma-