Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-05


mems opinions have so changed this subject. and
propelly@i1e world has TO so much ulster Eenti.
menls-bat we hardly believe that which Is eer-
iainly true, that at the peace of Utrecht in 173 the
English government insisted compensation from The
Spanish government for having violated contract by
which the Spanish government had granted the un-
qualified and exclusive privilege to the British govern
men ofmporting slaves into her West India colonies
| That was not then repugnant 10 public sentiment
| happily it would be now.
| alude 10 it 10 show that the introduction of slavery
into the Southern States is not to be visited upon the
generation that achieved the independence of this coun-
Try On the contrary, all the eminent of that day
regretted IT, And you, my young friends OF Albany II
you will take the pains to 60 back to the debates OF the
PERIOD from the meeting OF the first Congress in l774
Il mean the Congress OF the Conederation-to the
adoption OF the present constitution and the enactment
OF the lrst law under the existing constituon-you and
anybody mat will make that necessary research. will
ind that Southern and Southern States as repre-
sened in Congress, amened the existence Of slavery
In Tar more earnest and emphatic terms than the North
ern; for though did exist in he Northern States it
was feeble taper,Jlst going out--soon to end-and
nothing was feared from it; while leading men OF the
South-of Virginia and the Carolnas-eIt and acknow-
lodged that moral and political evil; that it
weakened the arm OF the freeman, and kept back the
progress and success OF Tree labor and they said with
ruh-and all history veries the Observation-Disclosures if
the shores othe Chesapeake had been made as free to
Tree labor as the shores OF the North River New York
might have been great but Virginia would have been
great also" That was the sentiment.
Now, under this state of things gentlemen. when
the constitution framed its trainers and the peo-
pie who adopted it, 10 clear, express unques-
tonabe stipulation and compact There had been an
ancient practice Tor many years-for century, for
aught lknow-according 10 which fugtives from SER
vice, whether apprentices at the North slaves the
Soutshoud be restored. Massachusetts, had restored
fugitive slaves to Virginia long before the adoption of
the constitution; and it is we'll known that in other
States, in which slavery did did not exist-hey
restored. And it was held that any man could pursue
bis slave and taxi him wherever he could find him.
Under this state OF things twas expressly stipulated, in
the planest languageand there it stands; sophistry
cannot gloss tit cannot be erased from the page OF
the constituton-there it stands, that persons held to
service orabor in state, under the laws thereof,
escaping into another, shall not, consequence of any
law or regulation therein, be discharged from such
vice or labor, but shall be delivered up, upon claim of
the party to whom such service labor shall be due
This vas adopted without dssent--no where objected
to, North or Souti-but considered a matter Of alb
soute right and justice to the Southern sates-ctn
Cured in everywhere, by every state that adopted the
constitution; and we look in vain for any opposition
from Massachusetts 10 Georgia.
Then, this, being the case-this being the provision
of the constitution, after Congress had organised
10 General Washlngtons time. it was found necessary
to pass law to carry that provision ofhe constitution
was prepared by gentleman from Northern state.
1t is said drawn by Mr.. Cabot of Massachusetts,.
It was supported by him and Mr.. Goodhue, and Mr..
Shedgw h Of M and gsnsaay BY as
all the voes against il, it rightly remember 1t
into operation, and for me it satisfied the just rights
and expectations OF everybody. That law provided
that its enacmens should be carried into effect mainly
by state magistrates justices othe peace judges of state
courts, sherfs of Counties and other organs of
state authority. So things went without loud COM
plants from any quarter until some fifteen years ago,
when some OF the states-the free states-,hough it
proper for them to pass laws prohibiting their own
gstrates and officers from executing this law OF Con
gress under heavy penalties and refusing the Uni ed
States authorities the OF their prisons for the deten
ton oil persons arrested fugitive slaves That is to
say, these states passed acts defeating the law Of Con-
gress far in their power. Those of them to
which refer-not all but seversnullifed the law of
93 entirely. They said-"We will not execute it, No
runaway slave shall be restored" Thus the law be-
came dead etter-an entire dead letter. Buthere was
the constitutional compact, nevertheless still binding;
here was the stipulation solemn words could form
it, and which every member of Congress, every officer
OF the general government, every officer OF the state
government, from governors down to constabes, had
sworn to support. Well under this state of things, in
1850, was OF opinion thai common justice and good
faith called upon us 10 make law-fair, reasonable,
equitable, jus-that should be calculated carry this
constitutional provision into effect, and give the South
EN- states what they were entitled to- and what
intended originally they should receive-hat is, fair
right 10 their fugtves from service from the
staes into which they had fled. l was OF opinion that
It was The bounden duty ofCongfess to pass such law
The South insisted that they had right 10 it, and I
thought they properly SO insisted was concession
mo yielding OF anyhing-no giving up OF anything.
When called on TO fulfil a compact, the question is
will you fulfil And, Tor one, was ready will full
FL Thy any lair and reasonable act OF Legislation. Now,
tue VI low udc Two oUJectS, UOH OF WHICH were
accomplished by it, First, it was to make the law
favorable for the fugitive than the law OF 1893
It did so, because it called for record, under seal,
from Court 10 the state from which the fugitive might
have come, proving and aseertaaing tina. he was u
gitve, that nothing should be left when pursued into
airee state, but to produce the proof OF his Identity.
Next, it secured higher tribunal, End it placed the
power in more responsible hands. The Judges OF the
Supreme and District Courts of the United States and
learned persons appointed by them as commissioners
were TO see to the execution of the law. Therefore it
was favorable law, in all respects, to the fug-
tive, than the law passed under General Washngtons
administration in 'o3.
CONCLUSION TOMORROW