Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-05-17

and ceremonies of final trial. And when that trial does
take place. is in the State country from which the party
the express language of the constitutions whether the fug
tive held labor to be determined bv
It is most proper hat the tribunals Of that State Should
pound and administer its laws there have been any
service labor the committee have obtained knowledge
of them They believe that such have occurred and
against the possibility of their the committee
have prepared and herewith report nared b. section
ats According to this section, the fugitive
service or labor is when practicable carry with him to
petcnt tribunal adudcatng the facts of eopement and
slavery, with general description of the fugitive This
the court being taken to the State where the person owing
service or labor found is to be held competent and su
will leave nothing more to be done than to identify the g
tive.
Numerous petitions have been presented praying for
by jury in the Of arrest of gtves from service or
labor In the nonslavehong States 1t has been already
uniform usage in all similar cases. Under the name of
popular and cherished Dstitution-an institution however,
of final tral-here would be complete mockery of
justice so far the of the fugitive is concerned If
the trial by jury be admitted it would draw after its usual
consequences of continuance from time to time to bring
evidence from distant places of second trials in
Of revsas of the verdict and conduct of the ures by
tent tribunals During the all these datory and
and forthcoming of the fugitive upon their termination ?!
And it, finally the claimant should be successful contrary
he would bear the burdens and expense ohe ti
cation without indemnity and would earn by sad expert
ence that he had far better have abandoned his right
the first instance than to establish at such unremunerated
cost and heavy sacrifice
But whilst committee that trial by jury in
State where fugitive from service labor is recapure
would be virtual denial of justice to the claimant Of such
execute the provision of the constitution the objections
do not apply to such trial in the State from which he fed
entire fairness and mpartiay of all actions for
freedom The person claiming his freedom is allowed to
his witnesses to attend the sessions
of the court and his claimant is placed under bond and
the trial. the enjoyment of these privileges
there be leaning the part of courts and uries
always on the side of the caiment for freedom
In Difference to the feelings and preudces which prevail in
the States the committee propose such
where he dccars to the officer giving the certificate for his
return that he has right his freedom Accordingly the
two sections which they should be incorporated
in the fugitive bill pending in the Senate According to
ed the fugitive that county the State from
which he fed and there take him before competent tr
buna and allow him assert and establish his freedom if
he aordng to him for that purpose all needul fac
ties
with the proposed amendments shall be passed by Congress-
will be eectual to the recovery of all ugtves from
service labor and that will all causes of complaint
which have hitherto been experienced that irritating SUBJ
ec But if in this practical operation it shall be found in
sufficient and adequate remedy be devised for the
restoration to their of fugitive slaves those
will have just title to indemnity out of the Treasury of the
United States.
1t report upon the resolutions in relation
slavery and the slave trade in the District of
within the District in regard to which diversity of opinion
exists the committee of opinion that ought not to be
dtions, which not likely to be agreed to. 1t could not
be done without exciting great apprehension and alarm the
ct they would apprehend under pretext another
might be hereafter attempted to be exercised within the
savehodng States 1t is that at present all such power
is almost unanimously dsayowed and dscaimed in the free
States But experience public affairs has often shown
do
to accomplish it, LATER will be found assumed
Nor does the number of slaves within the District, make
the abolition Of slavery such consequence
to be attached to it in parts of the Union
Since the retrocesson of Alexandria county Virginia.
the south side of the Potomac the District only
of Washington county, the north side of that river and
the decennary enumeration people
number Of slaves Washngton county. According the
of 1880 the number 45O5 and in 1910
duced to showing reduction in ten years OF nearly
onethrd. If it should continue in the ratio the
e aeG4 t TO the % o to be
But majority of the committee think differently in regard
the slave within the District By that trade is
the introduction of slaves from adjacent States into
District for ae be placed in depot for the
of subsequent sale transportation to other and distant
markets. That trade majority of the committee are of
opinion ought be abolished Complaints have always
from the South than part members from tie North
1t trade sometimes exhibiting revolving septacle and
in which the people the District have Interest but
contrary believed be DESTROYS that it should be
discontinued Most, if not all, of the slavehoding States
have either in their constitutions by penal enactmens
prohibited slaves merchandise within their
pective jurisdictions Congress standing in regard to the
people this subject a relation similar to
that of the State Legislature to the people of the States
may safely follow the examples of the States The commit
prepared and herewith report bill for the abol
trade (marked d. the passage of which they
recommend to the Senate. The bill has been framed after
the model of what the law of Maryland when the ener
al Government was removed to Washington
The views and recommendations contained in this report
may be recapitulated in few words:
The admission of any State States formed out OF
Texas postponed until they shall hereafter present
themselves into the Union, when it will be the
duty Congress fairly and faithfully to execute the compact
with Texas by admitting such new State or States.
2 The admission forthwith of California into the Union
with the boundaries which she has proposed go
g. The establishment of Territorial Governments without
the Wlmot provso for New Mexico and Utah, embracing
all the territory recently acquired by the United States from
Mexico not contained in the boundaries of California
The combination of these two aforementioned measures
in the same bill.
The establishment of the western and northern bounda
ry of Texas and the exclusion from her jurisdiction of al
New Mexico with the grant Texas of pecuniay equiv
the section that purpose to be Incorporated
the bill admitting California and establishing Territorial
Governments for Utah and New Mexico.
More cectual enactments of law to the prompt
delivery of bound to service or labor III one State
under the laws thereof who into another State
And T. Abstaning from aboshing slavery but, under
heavy penalty prohibiting the slave trade in the District
Columbia.
If such of require Legislation
should be carried by suitable acts of Congress- all contro
which late territorial acquisitions have given
e and all existing questions connected with the institution
of slavery whether resulting from those acquisitions or from
its in the States and the District Of Columbia, viii
be amieaby settled and adjusted in manner It Is conn
IDENTIFY believed to give general satisfaction to overwheE
ming majority the people of the United States Congress
will have fulfilled its whole duty in regard to the vast
try which having been coded by to the United
has fallen under their dominion. 1t will have extended to
protection provided for its several parts the nestmabe
blessing of free and regular adapted to their
rOus wants. and place the whole under the banner and flag
of the United States Meeting eourageOusy its clear
entire duty, Congress will the unmerted reprOach
having from considerations doubtful policy tt
undeserved fate territories of boundess EXTENT with