Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1850-10-26

L. u.
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The FUG1rIvE SLAVE LAW. We have al
ready spoken of the efforts which are made by Ger
tain interested parties to make the fgi i've slave
law much worse than il IS, creating an unnecessary
agitation, and alarming the colored population with
cruel fears. The opinion Of the Attorney General
that the law can in no manner operate as suspen-
sion of the habeas corpus act and that II not more
stringent than the old law in this respect viii re-
llave many of then fears and prevent the apprehen-
sion that coOred men, not fugtiyes, are liable 10 be
arrested under color of the law.
So says the Providence Journal and, in similar style
the Wing press, generally is attempting to caioe the
people, and make them believe that the Fugitive Slave
Law is less atrocious than it appears on its face But
how the fact? Is there any thing in the opinion of
the Attorney Geieral calculated to relieve any one of
his fears in relation to its operation? Quite the re-
verse. II wanted conGrmatory evidence of the in
iernal character Of the law, would go that very
document for it.
This absolute notification of the law, under the pre-
tence of not interfering with it. and of not violating the
provision Of the constitution which forbds its suspen
sion, is the bareaced specimen of what is vulgar
y called ''eppng the dei round the stnmp that could
well be imagined, and the complacency with which the
Wing press swallows down the special pie aiding of At
torney Crenden in It's Justicaton shows the axtont
Of their seryility,
The opinion sets forth clearly that all United States
Commissioners under this created judicial trb
nails for the adjudication Of all eases coming under it
that they above and all other judicial tribunal.
in the land, even the Supreme Court Of the Unitec
States itsel-that appeal be taken from them To
any other court, and other cam in any possible
manner, interfere with their decisions And these de
csions, be it remembered are made without the inter
Yentian Of IIIpv, - e,le.solo and on the sol
responsibility of the commissioner alone. This is tn
tribunal in whose hands the rights and personal lber
ties of every man, woman, and child in the Union ar
placed.
But, is said, that the writ of ha5eqs corpus is No
suspended. Oh no, it is not suspended it is onl
NULL1FIED. Aye, nullfed-absoutely unqualified
y nullfed Take the language of the 'sopinion''
s'The condition of one in custody as a fugitiv
slave, under this law, far as respects the writ
hdbeas corpus. is precisely the same as that of al
other prisoners under the laws of the United States
The privilege of that writ remains alike TO all O
them, but to be judged of-granted or refused, dis
charged or enorced-by the proper tribunal, accord
ing to the circumstances of each case, and as tn,
commitment and detention may appear to be legal O.
illegal.
The whole effect of the law NAV be thus brief,
stated: Congress has constituted a tribunal, witt
exclusive Jurisdiction, determine summariiv an(
WITHOUT APPEAL, who are fugitves from service
or labor under the second section of the fourth art
Gle of the Constitution, and to whom such service O.
labor is due. The judgment Of every tribunal of ex
elusive jurisdiction, where appeal lies, is of ne
cesstty CONCLUSIVE upon every other tribunal anC
therefore the judgment of the tribunal created h,
Is NM
NAILS. Whenever this judgment is made to appear
II Is conclusive of the right of the owner to retain
his custody the fugitive from his service, and to re-
move him back to the place or State from which h,
escaped If it is shown upon the application Of thu
fugitive for writ ofhabeas corpus, it PREVENTS
the ISSUING of the WRIT upon the return
IT DISCHARGES THE WRIT, and restores O.
maintains the custody
There il is, in its whole length and breadth. TIL,
prsoner-the free white man if YOU choose. who. b,
perjury Of witnesses by collision of the commission
er, has been consigned hopeless slavery, we are told
has the right in relation to this writ as any othe
prisoner-BUT then, as the jurisdiction of the com
missioner is exclusive, If his judgment is made to an
pear on the application for the writ it PREVENTS
ITS ISSUE, and if not shown till the return of the
writ, it then DISCHARGES 1T, and restores IN,
custody Of the pretended owner. Thus the pretence
that the right to the writ remains is perfect and most
cruel mockery. No hearing can be had under il, and
there mode Of legal redress remains to those WIN
may unjusty suffer from the operations Of the law
The annals Of civilization do not present so wicked
so cruel an enactment this either in despoc or pro-
fessedly free goyernments-one in which the rights OF
the citizen or subject absolutely set at naught
and we are surprised at the comparative apathy which
is manifested in relation it, We are surprised that
the PEOPLE do not declare to a man, that il shall be
NO Law to them, that the first attempt to enforce it
shall be the signal of REVOLUTION, if revolution