Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-09-13
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PRESENT CENTURY
A EEGI1IEE STA re BILL.

T. o, ,,, h.. uen.raIly remembered that bill of this
character discussed with much culnness ~ congress a.
far back az the year 1918. entitled "a bill 10 PROVIDE
for the recovery Of fugitive slaves and other persons he' "
labor" -, ,,,.,o /, S.,
Mr. Holmes of Massachusetts,, afterwards "cnaot ron
Man.l Mr. Mason of Massachusetts, and Mr. Stntrs OF n
York us well by eminent members rom Tue SCUM
| and West. - -, $50. 1,
smopv those in opposition the measure the names OF
Mr. innhnm and Mr. Anderson of Pennsylvania are found
ON IN. Both Of January ISIS, there debate upon The
hill pucsliy in regard The danger suggested by North
en men OF Infringing The rights o me ifet people oil color
in tina, region The otce al the constitutional provision
which .rrucd rights Of shareholders seemtd 10 he ad-
mtted by all.
10 change the Of the bill, by making Judges OF Inc
State whri the apprentices, slaves St are s''z1u ti'
| tribunal Ia decide the lact oi slavery
| Mr. KEN Adams O Massachusetts,, ind Mr.. LIvernoru
m HAMPSHIRE objected the feature that the slaves were
not 10 r unidentified proven until they reached the State
in which persons sezng them rrsdrd lhis would expose
m. t,. ,us of other parts danger being dragged
from ON, rxcme OF r country 10 The other-ihough ls
fear Mr. $ said from any want ol respect Tor The
wisdom nn, Justice Of the Southern IiIcIacs. Tor which
| he entertained the highest respect
Mr. Mason Of Massachusetts, said lhe Constitution form
ed in The .,t compromise had guaranteed tins KIND pi
proery IL the Southern STATES; and as II appeared from
the inscrncy al the existing laws. that the proposed OH
was nee ssury 10 secure this right he willing 10 adopt
the measure The Judicial tribunals OF the South he had n"
doubt would decide on The cases as correctly Us hoSe I" inc
North.
Mr. Holmes Of Massachusetts gave icws some what SIM
lar and sad his course based his duty Representa-
sure necessary secure the constitutional fSh's l
arae poon States, lie did not believe IT. the lice
dom of sinsle in The North would be ENDANGERED "
The provisions Of the bill The habeas corpus "od prevent
il The bin he deemed eyrdicnt and tree from The evils up
| prrlitndei.
was not with the udum III introducing tis sp
ces of property II evil entaed on u.s. and Tue hih
was in conformity the principles vi the Constitute"
which guaranteed This property To ITS holders he always
felt main in ring distinctions made bel ~ecn The sllvchuu
Ing and nearly all 0 the ORIGINAL OLD thten hhn
held slaves; and if circumstances had enabled some OF hrh
TO get evil, the only feeling they ought 10 enter
tain Others is compassion that tey are NOT 80
| fortunate. 4,
words of The Constitution shoe thai the bill was conso
mani TO provisions and did not exceed the limits within
which Congress authorized 10 egisate. lie express
ed his pleasure the lbcaity which had been manifested
BY some in the discussion, but should like TO see little
mere displayed by gentlemen from the North, as an cy
dence that they willing 10 sacrifice some OF their ola
preludices the spirit u harmony and mutual benefit
| Mr. Whitman of Massachusetts said that, although hi
did no, wish In interfere slave and his MASTER yet
argued that The right ought TO be tried IN The state III "hch
the fugitive should be arrested.
| The bill YVES then passed by vote OF 81 10 o.
In The Scnac discussed Tor some days in like Il.
bersl spirit Mr. Lacock of Pennsylvania moved section
limiting the duration "i the uct 10 ,our years LUIS was
carried by the casting vote OF the Vice President, D. D
Tompkins. The bill was then passed as amended on INC
l2,h OF March, by of II TO l3 and returned 10 the
House. N, ;, b mn, :,
Anr; when Mir pndali in the House of Representatives
moved 10 90 Into the consideration Of the amendments OF
nm, senate which motion was lost Ayes 65, noes s.
On tho 18Th April Mr. Anderson OF Kentucky fna"c an
Intellectual motion call up the bill.
On The 2Olh Mr. pinda ludc further effort TO gel up The
bill bu. the House refused TO 90 into liz consideration
The two soon after closed their session. and adjourn
ed. 80, 700 :; -
The subject umcd at the session o ls2l-, 10 t
House uf Representatives
On The lst Of April 1922 Mr.. r. Johnson I" Kentucky
select committee TO whom the subject has been re-
fcrcd reported back, with amendments the bill 10 provide
for delivering mp persons held to labor service in any o
the States or Territories who shall escape into my other
State or Territory.
Thu, suffice, u debated in temperate manner
direction being made the principles nj ihr bl. bu
Ia it's DETAILS on the ground that the rights !" free people o
color might be- inIringcd.
During the session Mr. Wrig, OF Maryland made two IN
etiecnal attempts have the bill further considered, ana
the session closed without further action upon It,
| National intciiigencer