The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-31

lewis, JAMES o. LEWIS, and SAMUEL ID. LEWIS
Receipts from either of the above VIII De
good.
Massachusetts and the Fugitive Slave Law.
We called attention some time since 10 the
renewed efforts made in the Legislature OF inns
"loyal" commonwealth, to obtain formal repu-
diation of the fugitive slave law, and to make
"a finality" even of that phantom there Our
amiabIe contemporaries of the partisan press
here, do not condescend to notice there move
ments, because both parties these are equally
stained with Abolitionism. So far as they are
concerned the Southern people are kept in bliss
full Inconsistencies of all these enthusiastic pro-
ceedngs at the North, where no party capital
can be made out of it. Nay more, they have the
unblushing effrontery occasionally to twt US
with desiring to keep up "agitation," because
we will not suppress the truth, and go on in
bullying the South into fatal security. The
significance Of such facts, as the obstinate re-.
fusal of the Massachusetts legislators to acqui-
esce even in the armistice which the partisan
leaders here are striving TO establish, cannot be
nored. Every days additional experience con-
firms the truth of the indignant aspiration OF the
Columbus Times when smartng under the
sense of Southern desertion and betrayal some
tire since: Poor South! fercely attacked
feebly defended-basely betrayed!"
Here are the latest tidngs from the State so
well beloved and admired" by President FILL
MORE and his Secretary of State. The Boston
Courier says:
In the senate, on Saturday, the committee on
the compromise resolutions, which were trans
mitted from other States, reported bill to null
lify the fugitive slave law. This is designed as
a firebrand of discord by the Abolitionists,-
but one would suppose the experience of the
last session would have taught them that its
only fate must be to go out with hiss Of con-
tempt The folly was gross enough the first
time but to repeat it is folly in its extreme wretch
edness.
A pertinent reminiscence-the nullying bill of
the last session (Which did not pass) was drawn
up,-so it was understood at the time, by Mr..
Charles Sumner. That gentleman has now
been almost four months in the United States
Senate, whittier he was sent to procure the Gin
slant and unconditional appeal - of the fugitive
slave law. The subject has been again and
again agitated in that body, but Mr.. Sumner has
not opened his mouth nor lifted his finger in
the matter! Brutus, thou sleepest! Thou art
not Brutus!
From the proceedings we extract the resolu-
tons referred to
MASSACHUSETTS, LEGISLATURE.
- SATURDAY, March 81, 1852.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Burton House papers
referred in concurrence.
REPORTS OF CoMMITTEEs-By Mr. Sewall,
frem the special committees on the resolutions
of Delaware, &C.. bill for the further protec-
ton Of personal liberty, giving jury trial to flu
stive slaves, as follows:
An Act further TO protect personal liberty:
SEC. l. The governor, by and with the advice
and consent of the council, shall appoint in every
county, one or more commissioners learned in
the law, whose duty it shall be in their respec-
tive counties, when any person in this State is
arrested seized or in danger of being arrested,
or seized as fugitive slave, on being informed
thereof, diligently and faithfully to use all law
full means to protect, defend and procure the
discharge of every such person.
SEC 2. 1t shall be the duty of the clerks Ct
courts in their respective counties and of any
Justice of the peace in any county in which any
person may be arrested or imprisoned as fug:-
tive slave, on the petition of any such commits
sioners or any other person setting forth that
he is informed and believes that any person,
whose name, if known. shall be given in 4
petition, is arrested or imprisoned in any pln
within the county as fugitive slave, by any
person, whose name if known shall be given,
which petition shall be verified by the oath of
the petitioner, it shall thereupon be the duty of
the clerk or justice to issue a writ Of habeas
corpus in favor of the person claimed as fugitive
slave, under the seal of the Supreme Judicial
court, or the seal of the said justice in the same
form and manner, as nearly as may be, as is d.
rected in the lllth chapter of the revised sta
tutes, and said writ shall be returnabe forthwith
to the Supreme Judicial court, if in session. in
the county in which the person claimed as a flu
pitive slave may be when the writ is issued. and
II not so in session, before any justice of the
said court.
SEC. 8. It shall be the duty Of all judicial and
executive officers in this commonwealth in their
respective counties, who shall know or have
good reason to believe that any person in the
commonwealth is about to be arrested as a flu
gitive, forthwith to give notice thereof to some
commissioner of the county in which the 8. d
person resides or may be found.
SEC. A. If when the hearing before any Judge
in vacation of any writ Of habeas corpus, issued
in favor Of any person claimed as fugitive
slave, he shall not be discharged by the Judge;
he may appeal from such decision, and claim
trial by jury which shall be had at the next term
of the court in the same county, or ut any ad-
journed session of said court before the next
term-and the person 80 claimed az a Fugitive
may give bail to the claimant for his appearance
in such sum as the judge shall deem sufficient.
not exceeding ore thousa I'D dollars with ono ~
moro securities to the "a sfacton of the Judge
and in default of such bail, he shall be commit.
ted to the common Jail to await the trial.
SEC. 6. The court to which such appeal i.
taken and any court to which writ of habeas
corpus is returnable in any case under this act
may be and shall on application of either party
grant trial by jury on all questions of fact in
issue between the parties
SEC. 7. The commissioners shall defray all
expenses OF witnesses, clerks fees, officers fees
and their expenses, which may be incurred in the