The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-16


catch Southern GU igs ons.
When papers protesting to defend Southern
rights, rejoee over the election of IN sound
Democrat" to Congress from Pennsylvania n
proof ofthe fidelity of that State To the com
promises of the Constitution, while law still
remains on her statute book unrepealed, voat-
Ing one ofits fundamcnsl provisions in relation
to the rendition of fugitive slaves and when
the forbearance of the Northern majority to re-
pei a law, pract cally dead letter, is rejoced
South cannot be too grateful--how can any one
be surprised at Northern belief in Southern gull
billy or timidity!
The Albany Aaas-the specal organ Of JOHN
VAN BUREN--ihus Introduces the bill which has
had first reading in the New York Legislature
intended TO prevent even the nomin,l execution
of the Fugitive slave law in that State. Mark
the cool .ffrontery of the language used, and
the propositions so deliberately put forth.
We are not among those who conceive il to
DO matter of much consequence, whether the
South is to be robbed aud insuIted by direct OF
indirect legislation or action on the part of the
Ncrth---and merely lay this specimen of"North
ern loyalty" before our readers, for the especial
benefit of those who ale rejoicing so Justify over
Tie ponderful change. Ell, cted in Northern sen
timent by the passage of"the Peace measures.
Not content with swallowing the oyster, i
seems, our Northern brethren are not willing
to leave their Southern allies the poor consola
ton Of keeping temporary possession Of thu
she'll
New YORK PROTECTING HER CITIzENs.-It
will have been seen that Mr.. Coffin, the "Inde
pendent representative from Olsego, has given
notice Of bill "tO prevent the arrest of free citi
zcns of the State, and their removal from the
jurisdiction thereof, except for crime"
We do not doubt that the legislatures OF all
the States OF the North, will enact suitable pro-
visions for the protection Of their free citizens,
who are menaced by the summary and iniqui-
tous provisions Of the recent bill passed by Con-
gress in regard to fugitive slaves. Vermont has
already done SO. The Governor of Pennsyl-
yania recommends immediate legislation on the
subject and ia Ohio the necessity of further
safeguards upon the rights Of free citizens, is
urged upon the legislature.
The recent case Of Hamlet, in this State, alb
Quoted without the opportunity of defence of
Long carried off upon evidence conflicting
that no jury would have dared to convict of the
slightest offence under it, and the still worse
case Of Gibson, free citizen of Pennsylvania,
kidnapped by law,--cascs which show that the
fugitive bill not only can be, but ia, abused, so
as TO ent,anger the liberties of freemen--show
the absolute necessity of adding further safe
guards to that right Of liberty which every free
citizen of the State possesses.
We do not suppose that any legislator con-
templates passing an act in conflict with the
Constitution or with the rights ofany section of
the Union. But we believe that there is firm
ness and State pride enough in the Legislature to
secure the passage OF an act protecting the lber-
ties of our free citizens, and compelling those
who interfere Herewith to do ut their peril.
(The following is copy of the bill referred to y
AN ACT 10 prevent the arrest or The rpn,oral Of
free citizens otthis STATE beyond lis Jurisdiction,
ercem for crime.
SEC. l. Any person who shall arrest or NJ
tempt to arrest, or cause to be arrested, or aid
in arrestng, attempt TO arrest any free cit-
zen of this State with intent To have -iic citizen
removed against his will beyond the Jurisdiction
Of this State, or who shall remove, or aid direct
~ or indirectly. in removing any such citizen
against his will beyond The jurisdiction of t!,ir
State, shall be deemed guilty ofkiirappinr, and
on conviction thereof shall be punished bv i'm.
prisanment in the State prison for n term no.
exceeding ten ysrs, and shall also be liable in
civil actiop To the party arrested, or attempted
TO be arrested or removed ms aforesaid, for the
damages sustained by reason Of such arrest or
removal or attempted arrest or removal as aiore-
said.
o. Any person who shall have openly and
publicly resided in this State for one year pre-
ceding such arrest or removal, or attempted ar
rest or removal as aforesaid, shall IN all courts
and places be deemed, and held to be, free
citizen OF this State, within the true intent and
| meaning of the act, until the contrary is proved
as provided in the next section.
s g. On the trial of any indictment found I'M
d, this act, or of any civil action given by this
act the defendant may prove that The person
charged to have been arrested or removed, or at
tempted to have been arrested or rem owed Ms
loresaid, was not in fact freeman entitled to
come and reside in this State; and If the jury
shall be satisfied thereof, they shall acquit the
def, ndant but no warrant, order, process or
certificate, issued or made by any court or officer
and no ex-parte affidavit deposition recordshall
be received or admitted in evidence to establish
the right to arrest or remove the person charged
to have been arrested or removed, or to prove
III II such person was not free citizen of this
State, within the true intent and meaning of
this act
"a. Indictments may be found un'er this
net in the county where the offence shall h We
been committed, or in any county into or through
which any'free citizen so arrested as aforesaid
shall have been taken or carried
s. This act shall not apply to the case OF
persons arrested or attempted to be arrested or
removed from beyond the jurisdiction of this
State, on charge Of treason, felony or other
crime, or to cases Of the arrest or removal Of
persons belonging to or employed in the Army
or Navy Of the United States.
The Resistance Party Of Georgia
We find the following just tribute 10 this
gallant body Of men, in the Charleston Mercury