The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-13

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TIE ADMINISTRATION AND STATE LAWS
AN IMPORTANT FCGITIvE SLAVE LAW CUES
TON Yesterday, the Department of the Inte-
rior is said to have received letter from Col
WynkOoR, U. s. Marshal of the eastern district
of Pennsylvania, notifying the Secretary that
three Of his deputies were on the point of being
arrested on State warrant, for seeking to ex
ecutc a warrant from Mr. Justice Grier, of the
Supreme Court of the United States command
ing him to arrest VIM. Thomas q negro claim
ed by lsham Keith Of Fauquier county, Vir-
gina as his runaway slave, who was said to
be in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, whittier they
we're sent after him, and searched for him
without avail
The State warrant charges them with incl
ting to riot, or in some form violating the State
laws, in their efforts TO arrest the fugitive.
The marshal, anticipating the necessity of en-
ploying counsel and incurring other expenses
IN defending his deputies from this prosecution,
writes for permission to do so He is said to
have been promptly answered by the Secretary
by telegraph to lose no time in consulting the
u. s. District Attorney, and taking any meas
ures, with reference to counsel &c, which that
functlonary might deem necessary; assuring
him, too, that the Department and the whole
Government here are determined at all haz-
ards and at any cost, to carry out the provi
sions Of the law of September 18th, 1850
This action is worthy of note, inasmuch as it
blows to the four winds the newspaper charge
of sympathy with AboitiOnism so often made
against Mr. Secretary McClelIand.
Washington Star.
As the Star is generally correct in its official
limitations, we presume the foregoing state
ment is true. This fresh evidence of Mr. Me-
Clellands loyalty to the Slave Power was SUI
perhuous He never was an Aboltionist and he
is consttutionaly deficient in those elements of
character out Of which the brave reformer is
made.
We are called upon to admire the prompt
and courageous acton of Mr.. McClelland, and
the Administration of which he is part, in
relation to that masterpiece Of dabosm, the
Fugitive Slave Law We recollect that Mr..
Fillmore undertook to signalize his Administra-
ton by o policy no less fearless and maguan
nous A poor fugitive escaped from q court
house in Boston, and forthwith the telegraph |
wires between Washington and the seat of the
disaster trembled and groaned with the ago |
MES Of the-Chief Executive. The war power
OF the Government was put in motion; stirring
orders were issued to the army and navy; a
proclamation was issued the Administra-
ton announced in solemn terms its inexo-
rable resolve to execute the Law-that precious |
Law-"at all hazards, and at any cost" At
another time in the excess of its zeal, it at
tempted to revive the old English law of con-
structive treason, as administered by the bloody |
Jeffrlcs, for the purpose of subjecting to the |
death penalty American citizens who had failed |
in reverence for the slave-catching statute
We are not aware that the Fillmore Admins. J
trahon won an enviable immortality by these
works OF supererogation, Or that it even secured |
the gratitude Of the South. Nor do we suppose
that the Pierce Administration will be any
more successful than its predecessor.
What is there in the Fugitive Law which ex- |
ats it in honor and sacredness above all other
laws! Is it its fragrant disregard of all safe.
guards OF personal freedom-its denial of the
tdbeds corpus and right Of trial 10y jury--its es-
adjustment of irresponsible and corrupt tribu-
nals--its aggression on State Sovereignty-its
contempt for the sentiments and usages of the
people of the free States-the encouragement
it gives to kidnapping and violence and fraud
and murder!
What is this case, in which the Admins
tration, through Mr.. McClelland, with zeal
that outstrips the mail, proclaims its pur-
pose to execute the Fugitive Law, cat all haz.
ards and Mt any cost !" The people have not
forgotten it, William Thomas was claimed as
sayc--a warrant was issued for his arrest
Marshal Wynkoop We believe, employed three
deputies to seize him. They armed themselves
with revolvers, and attempted to execute the
warrant Thomas cluded their grasp they
pursued him. he plunged into the river, and
while swimming for life and liberty, the scoun.
drels fired their revolvers at him, with the in
tention of killing or manning him. The shot
took effect but despite his wounds, the noble
fellow struggled on, and succeeded in making
his escape. And We say, the man who does not
rejoice at the disappointment of the bloodhunt-
ers, has no right to sing praises to Captain In
graham for rescuing Martin Koszta from tho
clutches Of the Austrian kidnappcrs
We asked a Southern lawyer, Docs the law
of Slavery authorize the pursuer of a fugitive
slave to kill him in his flight when he is offer
ing no resistance - No, SIR was the an
swer "and our courts would hang the mscre.
ant who should commit such deed
Thomas was not known to be save-the
question whether he was a fugitive could only
be ascertained by examination. The warrant
was Issued for the purpose of settling that ques.
ton Lately in Indiana man had another
arrested Us fugitive from his seryice-subiect.
cd him to ignominious OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
rated him for weeks-refused to take heavy
bail-rejected all offers to buy his freedom
should il turn out that he was fugitive. 8,
confident and 30 unrelenting was he--and
after all, by the testimony of shareholders them
selves, the supposed fugitive was proved to be
freeman, and the real fugitive was proved t
be, at the very time, living in Canada Thos