Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-17

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and the enis tt Union observe profound silence many
uniformed men will suppose that thugs are going very Oh
fereny from any thing which ne .aie o. Facts WI,
little fire kindlsh.' elected spark may in the enc
consume city, or burn over million Of acres Lei US mo-
sleep Until the cry is heard The Pnisthes DC upoi
theen Forcwarrcd wise men arc forcaTined nor can
be denied that there is occasion for speaking ot al tho pre-
sent time The course oil some OF the Journals OF the cou
try the violence Of some men 10 bo sections o! our iaa
and the nons,ros code u morals by Inc aoo
iionis,s of the North demand that silence should De broken
therefore proceed observe, that when our Consti'
ton formed Twelve out OF me thirteen o,a'cs were
eoten os II tends give insight into the real state
thinps a, that time. Whatever DONE was done by
n.onl mere than nineteen twenehs OF whom resided IN
STATES where slaves were held by law. When open the
Constitution of the United States, read US follows: The
migration or importation OF such persons rs any oil the
States now existing shall think proper 10 admit shall not OF
prohibited by the Congress prior the one thousand
eight hundred and eight but tax duty may Dc Imposed on
such importation, not exceeding ten dollars tor each per
son" Every one knows that this clause refers TO The slave
trnde and nothing else Yet this trade now for long
time treated punished BY England and America MS a
cy Is actually allowed for wentyone from and hitc
the ratification Of the Constitutions nor does II require ou
only permit Congress- after that time 10 abolish H. Here
then is another pregnant fact concerning the real state
the public mind al the time Of formation OF our present gov
eminent History niaibly informs us, that the slave
trade with oil the horrors Of cruel wars thousand leagues
Of African coast md with all the wailings OF the middle
was actively prosecuted for twenty years under
the Constitution Northern vessels bore the human freight
shores. Northern capitalists pockeed me lnlqutous
gain go
Blu, the Constitution further 1t Is said, and II still
saws that No person held service labor In one State
under The laws thereof escaping into another SHALL In con-
sequence OF any law regulation therein be discharged
from such service or labor but shall be delivered up on claim
Of the party TO whom such service labor be DUE
Thus reads the Constitution, clearly, plainly ndsputably
Mr. Websles remarks this subject just they are
furcibe. He says:
rhere has been found al the North among individuals
and among legislators dsnclna,ion TO perform, fully
their constitutional duties in regard to the return OF persons
bound service who have escaped Into the States In
that respect my Judgment that the South Is right and
the North wrong Every member OF every Northern Lee
gsltu,c is bound BY oan like every other officer IN the
country support the Constitution OF the United States
and tina, article Of the Constitution which says 10 hese
States that they shall deliver up tusves from service, Is
binding in honor and conscience as any oher arcie
No ulhs his duty In Legislature VINO sets himself
find evssions, escapes from ibis constitutional
obligation.
these fgiyes delivered resides In the power OF Con-
1ress and The national udcaure and my friend the head
Of The Judiciary Committee has bill the subject be-
fore the Senate with amendments 10 II, which pro-
pose TO support with all its provisions the fues,
And desire call the attention OF all sober minded men,
Of all conscientious men, In The North of all who
not carried by any anaica idea or by any faae idea
Whatever their constitutional obligations put to all
tho sober aud sound minds The North, question Of
morals aud question of conscience What right have they,
in their legislative capacity any other capacity endeav
or to get round this Constitution ebarrass tho free
els. OF the rights secured by tho Constitution 10 persons
whose slaves escape from them None at ALL Neither in
the forum conscience before the face of the Cons
tuition they justified In my opinion vi course II Is
matter for consideration They probably, in the turmoil Of
the times nave no. stopped TO consider of his they have
followed what seemed be the OF thought and Of
motives the occasion and they neglected 10 nves
gate fully tho real question: and 10 consider their consu
tiona obligations; sure il they did consider, they
would fulfil them with aacri,v. Therefore repeat Sir that
here ~ ground of complaint against the North well founded
which ongh 10 be removed which Is now in the power of
tbs different departments Of this government; to
which calls r tho enactment of proper laws authorizing the
ndicature this government in The several States 10 do oil
that 10 necessary for the recapture Of fugitive slaves md
for the restoration of them those who clam Them Where
yer go and wherever speak the subject and when
speak here desire speak the whole North say that
the South has injured in this respect and has right to
complsin and North has been too careless Of what
think the Constitution porempory and emphacnly en-
joins upon her as DUTY"
shall not weaken these words by dwelling on hem.-
They words Of truth and soherness well weighed and
well guarded No man fairly say augk, against them.
Bu il may be well at this point to state that the insertion
of this clause Ia the Constitution The history of the
times shows done the best suited Inspire
confidence Al the late Union Meeting in Philadelphia Jo-
siah Randall ESQ.,, brought up this subject and made few
remarks pertinent ho matter that insert them here
lie grid -
at has been generally supposed that the introduction OF
this clause into tie Constitution matter Of COM
promise II the term compromise should imply any equ!ya-
reference to the minutes of the Convention page 306l will
show that the 29lh Of August ISL this provision was
moved and seconded and passed unanimously in the armo
lire without amendment. The wisest AMI best men that
this country produced In the days of Its primitive pur-
w. gave II their sanction II tho product OF the joint
intellect md patriotism Of Madison Hamilton Jay, and
their ilutous cornpeers and sanctioned by The
,hory Of Franklin and Washington. Cotenporuneousy
with The adoption OF the Constitution the different Legis-
lsures proposed Hood Of amendments The Northern
States and YORK among the foremost In the varie
" and inueness of their suggesons br. not sing
mur ra. uttered BY any State against this Prouison:
Mr. Randali is right. Under the Constitution for some
years. the Of The Fugitive Slaves went end took
without lie, hndrance Things pursued this cou
for nearly elk years AT length difficulties arose and the
IMPORTANCE of law more full than the clause In the Con.
s,i:uon felt the North and The South and The West
be desirable. Accordingly, on line 18th OF tehru1ry
1888 the President General Washington signed the law
which had Just been passed by both houses OF Congress- and
which for Than ttySeven years was the law Tor the
recovery Fugitive Siavcc THAI tie ccGny by means
Of this Law declared Its understanding OF the Consi
uon and lis full intention be faithful to It's provisions
nantes, its very face The Sd and 4n sections relate
10 this subject, ana are as follows.
"Sec 3dTha when person held 10 labor in any OF the
United States any of the Territories on the Northwest
or South of the River Ohio under the laws thereof shall es
cape any other of the said States or Territories Inc
person whom such labor service may be DUE his agent
attorney hereby empowered 10 seize or arrest sc -
gye from labor and to take him or her before any Judge vi
the Circuit or Dsrc; Courts of the United Sa;ec resisting
or being within the State Before any magistrate OF
county city town corporate wherein such seizure or nr.
rest sa be made and proof TO the satisfaction OF
such Judge magistrate either by ora! estmony or aaa
yit taken and certified by magistrate OF any such
State Territory that the eraon SO seized or ] b IN
she ed service labor 10 the person claiming him OF
her shall be the duty of such Judge magistrate TO give
certificate thereof such claimant his agent attorney
which shall DO sufficient for removing the said III
ritiye from labor the State Territory from which ne or
she fed nit,
use l. Tia, my person who shall knowingly OF Wiling
" otstruc or hinder such claimant ns agent or Attorney IN
so Selling arcsng such fugitive from labor or shall res
cue such fugitive such caman When arrestod pur
susnt 10 authority herein given declared or shall mar
Dor or such person. alter notice that he or e was
urv. from labor aforesaid SHALL for either OF the aid
offences forfeit and pay the sum Of Eve hundred colar
which penalty may &c recovered BIZ ai fer inc oencht Of
such claimant, by action Of du5 In any court proper 'o Try
the same; saving moreover 10 tho person claiming such
labor or service his right of action for account OF Inc
said inluries or either Of them"
Such are the provisions of this law of 49, Its intent and
meaning are beyond the possibility OF mistake and If all
par,s OF the country had In good faith regarded the Ccrs
,nutantur ct 1os Ills. In the OF human
events cas, OF claiming 10 DO wiser than Tho fathers
Of The Republic just thar the who sked all io
their postey and asserting superiority TO the iundamen
tal laws of the land teach mankind tho knowedgt
Mr. Bum MessTs. Arthur and Lewis 1uppan, and oil SINAI
Ter men quanun, suGct, and Of wumen too, goodiy
number headed by Sister Abbey Co., who vastly en-
ohtened nanklud and the law Of 93 began be evoded-
And because luminai male ard females, spakc some
truths even some wemeaning people were led away
with them. BY and by Dir. George Thompson o
London liz is said that London Ia large place, ant
contains variety Of people, and Of wares nade M
appearence among US teach US law and government Ht
MAIDS cutie stir with some. Meantime "lewd fellows