Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-01
CONNECTICUT LEG1sLarIoN.

We adverted, on yesterday, to some Of the
prominent inconsistencies and outrages pro-
posed by the bill which had recently passed
the Senate Of Connecticut ".tor the protection
Of liberty in that State. Our limited space
prevented full exposition Of the follies and
dangers involved in the bill, which has now
assumed more importance as by the action of
the House of Representatives, it only requires
the sanction of the Governor to make it law
Of the State.
The fugitive slave law provides the course to
be pursued by a claimant in the recapture of
his slave. 1t requires the record of court of
the State, from which the slave escaped to be
furnished to the commissioner; and this, with
the affidavit of the master to his loss supported
by the testimony of one witness to the identity
Of the slave is all that is required to perfect the
case.
The Connecticut act provides that the record
less supported by ttco Witnesses. This is re-
quired to protect the master from prosecu-
ton for perjury, to be tried not in the federal
court where the alleged perjury is commit
ted, but in the State courts, which can have no
legal cognizance of the existence of the case
Thus southern Shareholder acting in lit
eral obedience to the supreme law Of the land,
complying with all of its acquisitions, is con-
victed of a grossly immoral crime by jury,
every one Of whom may be impressed with his
moral rectitude, and convinced of his truthful.
ness. Perjury is defined by able jurists TO be
a "pilfm false oath by one who being lawfully
required to depose the truth, in any judicial
proceeding, swears absolutely in q matter ma
terial to the point in question, whether he be
believed or not" Wilhl falsehood, under the
definition of the new lights of law and blue
Of the elements of perjury. Indeed, it is not
required that there, should be any falsehood.
The truth ITSELF supported by disinterested
witness, is construed to be perjury by the able
jurists and law-givers of Connecticut
Nor is this all. The witness who, at the re-
quest Of the claimant, or induced by sense Of
justice, attends in conformity with the provisions
Of the law, although subjected to the crucibls
Of cross examination, although convincing
every one OF his truth and rectitude, is, under
the construction Of law, and not even for any
alleged crime, convicted Of high crime, and
punished with harsh severity.
Nor does it avail these sapient Legislators to
plead that the fugitive slave law is unconstitu-
tional. They are estopped by their own folly.
The woodcock is taken in his own syringe"
They acquiesce readily in the enforcement of
the fugitive slave law, under the provisions Of
their bill. They provide indirectly that the law
shall be carried into effect if those provisions
are complied with. None of these provisions
can have any application to the alleged uncon-
stitutionality Of the fugitive slave bill, for sure
ly the widest fanatic would not contend that
the Constitution requires two witnesses to sup
port mere claim to property, or provides for
the conviction Of a man for perjury who tells
the truth. Hence by their own act they APP
prove the law and sanction its constitutionality,
whilst they nulify the law by declaring that
obedience to il is high crime, to be punished |
by the severest pains and penalties.
-
E6y Some creatures love hot weather, and
such creatures have no doubt been very happy
for the last four or FIVE days. 1t is ct weather
for crabs and unexceptionablc for salamanders
Thin-skinned Mexican dogs, African monkeys,
and sand ants would no doubt enjoy it. But
Polar bears, New Foundand dogs, and well |