Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-01-09
VOL. XIV, NO. 7---WHOLE NO. 23O7.

ing OF the guilt or Innocence of slavery -
am speaking of our obligations under the
constitution of the United States. That
sacred instrument says tina, a fugitive from
labor shall be dciioercd up," upon the claim
of the owner. The same clause of the
same instrument provides that mritives
from justice shall be delivered up We are
bound by our oalhs 10 our God to see that
clause OF the constitution as well as any 9TH
er provision carried into effect. The NOR
al, religions and constitutional obligations
resting upon US here aud hereafter are the
same IN the one case as IN the other. As
citizens owing allegiance to the govern
ment aud duties tosociety, we have no right
to interpose our individual opinions and
scruples as our reasons for violating the SUI
preme law Of the land as oar fathers made il,
and we have sworn to support II. The OBJ
legation is Just as sacred under that supreme
law to surrender fugitlyes from labor as
fugiiiyes from justice. Aud the Congress
ofihe United States are as fmperatwely com
manded to provide the necessary legislation
for the one as for the other The act of
1893, to which | have had occasion TO refer
so frequently, and which has been read To
you, provided for these two cases in the
same bill The first half of that act, relat-
ing to fugltives from justice, applies, from
the nature aud necessity of the case, prInci-
pally to white men, aud the last half TOT the
same reasons, applies exclusively to the
blacks. | have shown you by reading aud
comparing the two laws III your presence,
that there is no constitutional guaranty, or
common law right, or legal or judicial priv
ilege for the protection OF the wbIe man
against oppression or injustice under the
law passed III 1883, and now Ia force for
the surrender Of lugltives from justice, that
does not apply IN all its force IN behalf OF
the negro. when arrested as a fugitive from
labor, under the new law What more can
the friends Of the negro ask than, in all his
civil aud legal rights under the constitution,
he should be placed on an equal footing
with the white man 1t Is SAID that the
law Is susceptible of beng abused By PERU
~ aud false witness In what human en-
actment does not the same objection lac
You or ar any other man who WAS never
ia California la his life are liable, under the
constitution, TO be sent there Ia chains for
trial as tugitives from justice, 10y means OF
perjury But does that prove that the con-
siitutlon aud the laws for carrying II into
effect are wrong and should be resisted, as
we were told last night, TO the dungeon, the
glbbet and the grave 1t only demonstrates
to Us the necessity of providing all the safe
guards that the wIpof man can devise for the
protection of the innocent aud the free, at the
same time that We religiously enforce, ac.
curding to the letter aud spirit. every pro
vision ofthe constitution vii not say that
the act recently passed for the Surrender oi
isgitives from labor accosar.saes oil this
but Will thank any gentleman to point out
any one safeguard against abuse IN the old
law or IN the law for the surrender of fugi.
tiyes from Justice that is not secured to the
negro under the new law. pause in order
10 give any gentleman an opportunity to
point out the provision. invite inquiry aud
examination My object is to arrive at truth
to repel error and prejudces-andt to avoid
violence and bloodshed VIII any gentle.
man polnt out the provision in the old law for
the protection of the free man that is not sc.
cured TO HIM IA the new one
A gentleman present arose and called the
atteulion of Mr.. Douglass to the provision
for paying out Of the Treasury of the United
States the expenses ofconyeyIng the fugitive
back in case of anticipated resistance
All, said Mr. D., that is question o
dollars and cents, involving no other prlnci
pie than costs Of the proceeding wa'
discussing The question OF human rights
the mode of protecting the rights Of free
men from invasion, aud the obligation o
surrendering lugltves under the const'tu
ton Is IT possible that this momentou'
question, which was only forty-eight hourl
ago deemed OF importance enough 10 lustl
b the city council TO nul'ily an act of con
gress, aud raise the standard of rebellion
against the federal government, and which
was supposed 10 create the necessity for
report aud resolutions, by a committee o
distinguished men, m this hall last night
calling upon all good citizens to resist TIN
law, IN obedience to the higher law of God
by violence even TO the dungeon and thu
grave, has dWindled down into a mere pet
ty dispute, who shall pay the costs Of suit
| confess my utter inability on tins occa
sion 10 discuss that momentous question
Yesterday the constitution OF the ocean
bound republic had been oyerthrown, ia
privilege OF the habeas corpus had bee
suspended right of trial 10y Jury ha
been abolished-palns and penalties ha
been imposed upon every humane citize
who should feed the hungry aud cover Ga
naked-the law OF God had been outrage
by an Infamous act OF tratorous consre.
aud the standard of rebellion raised d
our city fathers WAS floating ia the breez,
calling upon all good citizens 10 rally undo
It's sacred folds aud resist with ire all
sword-whal! the payment Of the costs
suit upon the arrest OF a fugitive from i
Dor
Is there any other objection to this la
which any gentleman would like To hay
explained hope no one will lie backwar
IN propounding inquiries, for have but
few days to remain with you, aud desire
make a clean business of this matter on IN
occasion.
"A gentleman rose and desired to kno
why the bill provided for paying ten dollar
to the commissioner for his fees IN case b
decided IN favor Of the claimant, aud onl
i've dollars # he decided against han.
presume, SAID Mr. Douglass, the reaso
was that he would have more labor to pc
form. If, after hearing the testimony, b
decided ia favor of the claimant, the la
NADIA A his dutV fn uFanaTa aud ambient