Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-12-30


always been overlooked at the North, that neither
the Constitution nor the acts of Congress, on the
subject Of lugitives from labor, recognize any dis
tinction of color in the subjects, or any peculiarly
In the tenure by which they are sheld to labor or
service" The provisions for summary process,
and at the expense of the United States, with the
so premium to the Commissioner for decreeing
the surrender, are as applicable to our own sons,
age, and our daughters too,-whenever any per-
son shall see fit to claim their services for any
purpose, as to the hapless negro slave A case
IN point has just occurred in Connecticut, before
Charles r. lngerso, Esq, s. Commissioner for
the surrender of fugitive slaves. Mr.. Russell, of
Sing Sing, N. y, having suffered stampede
among his apprentices, at length determined to
try the force of the Fillmore Act, with which ne
was completely successful. The case is described
IN the New Haven Register, Of Friday last, Dec
10.
"Three runaway apprentices from the State of
New York, were brought before him on the com
plant Of Mr.. John Russell, an extensive file man
uiacturer in Sing Sing, Westchester Co., N. Y,
alleging that under the laws of the State of New
York, sthe service or labor of the persons arrest
ed, was due 10 him., and that week or two
since, they had absconded from that Stale, into
the State OF Connecticut, where they had been
found. The arrests were made in Plymouth
The lndentures entered into by the parties ain
Sing Sing, by which they were bound Il SEGA
Hr' tepsscfi, Ipr terms varying from two 10 four
years, executed according to the laws of New
ork, were produced and proved, and the facts
OF the escape, and the identity of the persons
fully made out. John S. Beach, ESQ.,, appeared
for Mr. Russell, and C. s. Andrews, Esq, for the
apprentices.
The Commissioner said, the facts of the case
being unquestioned, that he had no doubt that an
prentlced servants, such as the indentures showed
these persons to be, by the laws Of New York,
were within the purvlew of the Constitutional
provision requiring the surrender Of persons held
In SERVICE on claim Of the person to whom such
service was due That the history Of that article
IN the Convention, showed that persons bound
In SERVICE were contemplated bv its trainers as
within its requirements, and that the legislation
and practice ofthe Colonies before, as well as the
summary powers given to the master to reclaim
his apprentices by the State laws since, showed
that the power now asked to be exercised was
neither novel IN legislation, nor arbitrary in its
character; and that in the various disoulsitions
upon this provision of the Constitution. he had
never heard it questioned, that white men as well
as black men, and servants for years as well as
servants for life, were within its objects and re-
quirements. A certificate was therefore given 10
MIR. Russell, in accordance with the Fugitive Act
of 1850, and under it, the apprentices were car
ried back TO New York;
% Mr.. Russell has caught two more Of his
runaway apprentices, since the above decision,
making six "fugitives from labor he has seized
under the Fugitive Slave Law. The two lads
caught were named Andrew Finnigin and Will
liam Westcott. They were arrested at Lawrence
on Wednesday last and sent back to their master.