Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-01-09

duties under the law, with fidelity, Tor about
fifty years, until the supreme court in the
case alluded to, decided that they we're un-
DEF no obligations to dose, aud that congress
had no constitutional power TO impose that
duty upon them. From that time, many of
the officers refused to act, aud soon. alter
wards the legislature of Massachusetts, and
many other Il ties, passed laws making II
criminal fer their officers TO perform these
duties. Hence the old law, although eff
cient in its provisions, and similar In most
respects, and especially in those now object
ted to, almost identical with the new law,
became compar atvely dead letter for wan,
of officers to carry it into effect.
The circuit and district judges oithe Uni
ted States were the only officers left who
we're uncovered to execute 1t. In this state
for instance, Judge Drummond was the only
officer authorized to try fugitive case, and
resided in the extreme northwest corner OF
the state, within six miles of Wisconsin aud
three OF Iowa, and in the direction where iu-
gitives from labor we're least likely to 90.
liza fugitive was arrested at Shawneetown, or
Alton, three or four hundred miles from the
residence of the Judge, the master would
attempt TO take hun across the river to his
home in Kentucky or Missouri, without first
establishing his right TO do so. This was
calculated To excite uneasness and doubts IA
the minds Of our citizens, as TO the proprety
of permitting the negro TO be CARRIED out OF
the state without the fact Of his owing SER
vice, and having escaped, being first ptoyen,
lest il might turn ont that the negro was a
r.. - II, LtIpat,nar
Aud yet, according TO the express terms OF
the old law, the master was authorized to
seize the slave wherever he found HIM, and
to carry him back without process or trial, or
proofof any klnd whatever. Hence, 1t was
necessary to pass new law, IN order To car
ry into effect, IN a peaceable and orderly
manner, the provisions OF the law aud the
constitution on the one hand, and to protect
the free coored man from being kidnapped,
and sold into slavery, by unprnciplod men
on the other hand The purpose Of the new
law is to accomplish these two obIccts--to
appoint officers to carry the law into effect
in the place Of the magistrates relieved from
that duty by the decision of the supreme
conrt and to quart against harrassing and
kidnapping the free black, by preventing the
claimant from carrying the negro out OF the
state untllhe established his legal right TO
do so. Tie new law, therefore, is a
great mpro' ement IN this respect upon
the old one, aud is more favorable TO Justice
and freedom, aud better guarded against
abuse.
A person present asked leave to PROFOUND
another question to Mr.. Douglass, winch
was this If the new law Is more favorable
to freedom than the old one why did the
southern Shareholders vote for It and desire
Its passage
MIR. Douglass said he would answer
that question with great deal Of pleas
ure. The soulhern members voted for
ii for the reason that ii was a better law
than the old one-beiter for them-bet-
ter for us,-and better for the free
blacks. 1t places the execution of the
law IN the hands OF responsible officers
of the government, instead of leaving ey-
cry man TO take the law into his own
hands and execute it for himself. 1t af-
fords personal security TO the claimant
while arresi'ng his servant, and taking
him back, by providing him with the OPP
porunity of establishing his legal rights
by competent testimony before trlbu-
nal duly autho!izcd 10 Try the case, aud
thus allay all apprehensons and suspi-
clons on the part of our citizens thai he
is villain attempting 10 steal freeman
for the purpose Of selling him into slave
ny. The STAKEHOLDER has as strong a
desire 20 protect the rights of the free
black man as we have, and much more
interest to do so, for he we'll knows
that if outrages are perpctrated under
the law, and ireemen are seized and
carried into slavery, from that moment
the indignant outcry against il here,
and everywhere, would become so loud,
that even fugitive from labor could
not returned lest he also might happen
TO be free. The interest of the slayehol
der, therefore, requires law which
shall protect the rights of all ireemen,
black or white, from any invasion or
violation, whatever. ] ask the question,
therefore, whether this law is not better
than the old one-better for the north
and south-beiter for the peace and
quiet of the whole country? Let it be
remembered that this law is but nm a
mendment to the old one, and that the
old one still remains in force except SO
far as it is modified 10y this. Every
man who voted against this modification
thereby voted to leave the old law in
force for am not aware that any
member of either house of congress
ever had the hardihood to propose TO
repeal the law, and make no provisions
Tor carrying the constitution into effect.
But the cry of repeal as to the new law
has already gone forth. Well, suppose
it succeeds, what will those have gained
who Join in the shoutl Have | moi
shown that all the material obieclio IS
they urge against the new law apply
with equal force to the old one =: What
do they gain, therefore, unless they pro-
pose to repeal the old law also and
make no provision for carrying the con
stiiutIon into eiiecti This must be the
object of all men who take that posi-
ton. TO this II must come in the end