Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-01
npNnsy1y,N1A KIDNAPPING LAW.

the repea Of the third fourth fifth and sixth SECTIONS u '
act of ls.7 commonly called the kidnapping Law" y
Tor consideration and very interesting aeoa'' '"S. Ill.,
The following abstract Of part OF it VIC copy from ''c
Pennsy lyanian: r....., a-oso
air Guernsey the Senator from WinoIs dis'cti a'ose
and adlhat he was no uboltiqnis. n"mocra Tia, he
ighcr laws man. nor anyt thing else but l ~ all
knew no other party acted with no other par i,n
glance any other party and nene! !n t h cnnl onIy
any other party but notwithstanding tis '"' M " ,h ~
m for the rnn If so much of the as related 10 Inc use
OF the prisoners OF the Commonwealth -, NV s,,hn j.;
-. 80 .' ; onise measures Of the late Congress
required 10 be repealed, and al ic I a,,nohI -, ,h
was as rnan and po!ctl 10 nun ;.o ~
ons,i,tcn ri The country with ak IT'S COMPROMISES any
nnd no hut be thought that none OF the exigcnclcs OF
the present. nor The prospects Oh lhe u.use .i' any
more change in this law nj 'i'e 'G VI ,,' l ."' =
La obrr, of This epcaI give to justices OF the peace
and cons,abIcs final udsmeno n"i ,e d y Of such a
mr,s,rp niDht belong those who could vote ~ H. out that
he could not, and would ''o'. :. r ,L.,., ~ a.
He was willing 10 open our prisons Tor the use OF the
South in d.tainins their ugvcs until they could have
trial and thus take away every ground for recnce on The
puf of Southern gentlemen mat tunus r'd fios were IN
ent ~ our laws and unavoidable in the prosecution OF
their legal rights under The operations OF them. but That Ec
could go further ;. =, IAN -, 49,,
| Democratic partv with yielding the diciaon OF the
Souh and acting against the Of liberty and made an
effort to carry the Wings with him in body against the bI
Mr. Buckaew then obtained the floor and mace Hohs
and powerful speech in favor Of the b Astounding in pas
sages Of The most moving and patriotic e!oqucncs
He said that the speech Of the Senator from Erie, had re-
minded him of that truthful line:
.oh, Liberty. committed Thy name
That he had often thought that public coad be en-
gagged in anything more injurious and destructive 70 a wei
fare OF the nalion than in this excIiecnt OF dscord ana
enmy between the different States which should be bound
to each other in spirit at kind regard and o; tlendsp-
that the Senators who acted in favor Of the bill aeo:e tc
were not induced driven do br AIRY dlctJn i"m
any quarte,hat he knew the feeling n his constituents y"
Be in Of the repeal Of tue od!ous act which never was
| &c pio hrrir
which had been Imported from massachusetts,, dnc paced
upon books insult 10 The southern portion
OF he Union and which ought 10 &c swept iro;n our
code and blced out from the statute booEs as matter
which had already too long been disgrace l." ms he st
that the people Of his district of both political parties, were
in favor If this repeal ind had Instructed their Senator ana
their members o.: tire other House. vote for it-that they
German population. bat Intelligent upon this SUBJECT
and that il part OF their nature or their Democracy
be driven dictated to ty any interest or any power eAep
what empiacaIr their They were opposed 10 i
policy which drew The slave States their paperSi ana
scattered around the commonwealth Ut pennsylvania III M
every and within i'and the pc:icy when
swell the catalogue OF crlnc committed Us
population and ill its prisons win negro c"nHclS' ni'
thew were also anxious live with their Southern neigh
bors on terms OF iraernal relationship ana discharge 10
them and the Constitution which binds US all together in
glorious Union all their obligations in good fifth and fdei-
~ That the friends of the BILL Ike their fathers in he days
OF FRANKLIN actuaed and mper in he. Efforts, by
spirit of wisdom and justice and that charges Of tcndng
the supple knee Of snbsrrvercy 10 the South could drive
them from their positions. That they did net ask Senators
he influenced in am such way; nor 10 bow 10 the dark
spirit which unfortunately broodcd over part OF our land
that they could only ask them 10 go back and drink al
those constitutional ouns which familiar 10 our fore
fathers and which, in their lne gave to the legislation OF
PENNSYLVANIA very different character from of that
which the records Of later dates contained Thai =" oT Is
he should occupy sea; in the Legislature and as long as he
could lift his voice in lis Halls elsewhere he desired that
Pennsylvania should mainain loyal attitude and occupy
that POSITION which her greatness her location End the 10y
atty and patriotism OF her population justly deserve IN our
great and glorious contederacy.
Mr. Buckcw rehcarsed of the early and pleasing his
of
which the friends of the repeal Of this obnoxious Lave were
acting the that in which the Union was estab.
shed, and that spirit in which it must be maintained
Mr. Hugus also spoke in reply to the Senator from Enc
and the Senator from 1ioga He thought their doctrines
astounding; and he would take upon himself in the
and behalf Of his constituents rcpudiate them all
He thought notwithstanding the talk OF liberty which he had
heard from these gentlemen, that such talk came from bad
sourcethat ii he spoke strongly, nc felt strongly against
Mr. Guernsey replied TO Mr. Hrgus and Mr. Walker after
wards occupied the floor 10 the hour OF adjournment
The Senate resumed the consideration OF the bill repeating
certain sections Of the kidnapping law Of March 3d. ISL
Various amendments were submitted and discussed oy
Mcssrs. Muhcnocrg, Walker, Packer BucKaiew Carson
and Guernsey The bill finally passed repeating only
the 9th section Of the Of lSl which act prohibited the
OF as Of this Commonwealth for the temporary cecn
| ton OF fugitive slaves
VERMONT AND THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
The Richmond Wing publishes u long letter from Mr.
Samuel s. Phelps late United States Senator from Vermont
Delegates explaining the circumstances under which the
Vermont law in opposition to the execution Of the Fugitive
Slave Law of the los, session OF Congress enacted The
letter is dated "Senate Chamber January 1851" The fol-
| lowing is extract:
&C" hesitate not to say In the most unequIvocal manner
(and in this have the OF my colleague IN Inc
Senate and believe that OF the entire delegation OF or
month that the referred does not 'embody the deber-
ate sense OF tic people Of Vermont. may add with trnt
that does not in my opinion embody the deliberate scn
m:o the legislative body Of the State The act was huF-
red through the legislature the close OF the session. in the
absence OF macy Of the members without discussion or eX
anuton Of its character and effect and nave reason 10
believe in utter ignorance the part OF many members WHO
were present OF it's Objectionable features. Such was HE
haste attending passage OF The act that the first lnmG
ton TO the public that such was in contemplation
was through the publication o:he law ITSELF That pubicao
produced general surprise and, among men OF rtlec"n
almost universal and very deep regret Tie act is dlsa
proved by tic almost entire press, and DOUBT o oy vast
majority of the people oI the State. IL ccrE:ny was l
her delegation in Congress VII" seHh:eilSo Vi re-
grct and deep modification inicng sian upon Inc
high character OF her people for PATRIOTISM attachment 20
the Union and submission 10 constitutional thoryi ana
classifying the professions and pcdge so boldly ana conn
IDENTIFY made during recent exciting DISCUSSIONS, ny her dee-
cation on the floors Of Congress. The law has been the
subject Of general discussion By the press OF that State and
with exceptions has received from la' source Tie
most pointed reprobaon have seen but one or two al
telnpts indicate it. Perhaps the courtesy Que 10 ne
source which those efforts supposed TO proceed forbid
the expression that they may be characterized as weak but
that they will fail to satisfy the people OF the State OF the
propcty and consutionay Of the act OF her Legislature
most confidently predict.
No attempt has been made will be made 10 sustain The
right u the State override modify, annu an net OF
Congress h. State legislation. The only attempt 10 vno
the law, which has aeniunder my observation CONSISTS
the e3r. to reconcile the law of the State "it the act 9l
Congress commonly called the Fugitive Lava task 50
hopeless in my Judgment that hoover attempts 1t WIN very
coon find it mos, convenient and agreeable TO rciiE
quish IT,
AR Phelps expires his belief that when the Legislature
meets again the will be promptly repealed. Ills enife
letter excellent and would gladly copy cGle did our
! limits permit.
| TIE CONVENTION.
Yesterday Mondayl the Convention reasscmbled pur-
Adjournment and after the journal OF Saturday was
read Mr. Smith of Gcenber presented copy OF the pro
ceedngs Of the people Of said county, in regard The White
Basis Of representation. On motion the said proceedings
were laid The table. On motion Of SIR rendeton tho
Convention resolved itself into Committee of tic Whole
the Basis question NJ. Davis OF Richmond resumed the
floor continuation OF his remarks in support Of the Mixed
! IJ, abn 10