Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01

whether from those VINO IoWard the
back or those who stand back and have the moral
or physical courage to show their own faces.
Mr. MASON. The duty of sursndering fugitives from
labor as they are called by the constitution when they
from The places where they held 10 services and found
in another State, federal obligation entered into by the
States of the Confederation with each other II is federal
obligation which they entered into when they became parties
to the constitutional compact The inquiry now Is not
raised by the resolution which called for the papers COM
municaed by the President but has been raised before
all the States under the law Of the last session OF Congress
has that federal obligation been fulfilled has it not
take issue with the Senator from Kentucky declaring in
my place here far am informed that the law OF the last
session intended require the fu6lment OF this obgaon
not dead letter. has answered the ends for which was
designed Sir sgree with the honorable Senator that SO
far been able comprehend the message OF the RE-
sdent bis purpose il be in his power to have that law
executed That is duty devolved upon him by his hgn
Office and one that perfectly willing to believe ne Will
execute if he can But think the experience of the country
so far under this law shows he cannot Sir, if may venture
to say So with the respect which becomes me IN my place
here with the relation bear to that unconay ne did not
begin Alright in the first instance which occurred in the city
Of case of the Crafts. My recollection Of that
case is that the claimant found that although the law was
then to be resisted force was to be resisted uson
delays and prevscaon and when that was brought TO MS
knowledge by communication from agent then prosecute
ing his claim he applied the President who informed him.
the public press announced that ne could not act upon
newspaper reports that something like evidence OF ne
gct the part of the officers should be brought home before
tive slaves the Crafts escaped from their master in that in
stance by the delays and Of those to whom the
administration Of this law had been entrusted It was the
duty of the President if sufficient evidence was not furnished
him. have called upon the officers OF the law at once 10
furnish that evidence and have dismissed the marshal when
he found that these delays had taken place. But he did not
do H. do not to say he conscious of neglect
of duty in doing it. but do to say that that law
can eectuay enforced for the preservation of this
property when gets abroad must be enforced with alacry
with zeal, with cordially, they would enforce law OF
their It must be enforced in accordance with the de-
sire of the people, where the law to be administered to
carry it into execution They must aid and assist, and
counnance and encourage those who there to recover
their property, and not throw all sorts Of resistance, diff
fcul,ies, and obstacles in their way.
Sir in the of the Cafs they escaped through preya-
caons delays and evasons of the officers who were charged
with the execution Of the laws and the master lost his
pery How is it in the present instance, which has called
for the message just read The fugitive was arrested lime
given him, and believe properly given to him. to
make his CASE and there place where they could
confne him. The officers who had him ia custody as the
papers show had place where he could be confined but IN
court room and they undertook to dean him there some
three or four days. from Saturday, believe until Tuesday,
when he again to be heard In the mean time band OF
lawess negroes who always assemble around courthouse
such occasions entered and rescued him. That done
in the State of Massachusetts, State upon whose statute
book there are laws alluded by the President in his
only prohibiting the of the as for the detention
of such fugves but making penal for any officer OF the
commonwealth aid either in their arrest detention
| q
tolerate the people Of Boston did tolerate, this outrage
the laws, when their laws only tolerate but demand
at their hands and these laws yet existing in full force
unrepealed.
90 one step further. The Legislature of Massachusetts,
has been in the law Of the last session
ed They informed Of the existence and demands Of
that law, and their statute yet remains unrepealed Now,
put to the of the county, need not put
to the intelligence of this Senae-to whether, In
effect when such laws exist under the sanction Of the law
making power there will be any body idle enough to attempt
| to suppress these instructions at homo
was grat6ed to hear the honorable Senator from Ken
lucky denounce the liberation OF this high offence in the
city of Boston But, if he will allow to say 50,
think he should have gone step further He should have
denounced the State Of Massachusetts, for being false to he
federal obligation Yes, sir, false to her federal obligation
for she party to this compact by which she agreed and
for consideration, that gves Of this character should BE-
delivered up. What is her law Her law not only refuses
give the Of the as for the detention Of the fugitive
but makes penal for any officer of the commonwealth what
arrest detan aid abet in arresng detain
ing the fugitive The Senator from Kentucky should have
gone the State Of Massachusetts, the where exists
in the awmakng power, well as to denounce this rabb
Of negroes who had it in their power to commit the outrage
tolerated by the statute An act passed by the Legislature
of Massachusetts, in ls43 declares
Sec No judge of any court of record of this Common
wealth. and Justice Of the shall hereafter take
third section Congress- passed February 12 1898
and entitled An act respecting ugves from justice ant
person who claims any other person fugitive slave within
the Jurisdiction Of the Commonwealth.
Sec. No sheriff. deputy sheriff coroner constable jalor
other officer Of this Commonwealth, shall hereafter
dean aid in the arrest detention imprisonment
any jail, other building belonging to this Commonwealth
any county, city, thereof Of any person for tn
reason that he is claimed fugitive slave
Sec. s. Any justice of the peace, sheriff, deputy sheriff
coroner constable aor who shall offend against the
of this law by any way acting directly Indirectly
under the power conferred by the third section OF 1.-THE
Congress aforementioned shall forfeit not exceeding
thousand dollars for every such offence to the of thu
county where said offence be commed shall be subject
imprisonment not exceeding year in the county jail
That is the present law of Massachusetts, the law of tn
last session the contrary Notwithstanding. Now submit
to the Senate and to the country, whether people who's
awgivers have passed this law and allowed remain
pealed the book this day, do not tolerate,
enance and encourage such nvasons of the Jaw
ced in the message which has just been read understood
the Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr DAvIs) to say whe
he up the other day. that the people of Boston would
resist this law. He said that far he informed,
odous law to the people of Boston and the people
Massachusetts, but his language that they were
aw-abding people, and would resist ask the Senate
from Massachusetts, does he to say when they reus
actually to resist the law, that they complying with tn
federal obligation which they have entered into surende
fugves from labor Does be to imply that shall
satisfied by having the word Of promise kept to the only
3 and broken whenever its ful6ment is demanded
Sir the purpose for which rose principally to avoi
any possible belief that acquiesced in what fell from the Sc
from Kentucky when he declared that this law had bee
executed every where except in the city Of Boston. If th
that has not been openly resisted any wheI
ri by successful mob except in Boston he may be right bu
II be that the slave States have had this law enforce
r for their advantage, take issue with him.
!, Mr.. CLAY. Will the honorable Senator from Vrgini
T Il ~ u L L. e - Al