Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-07-13
From the Charleston Mercury.
CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE.

We copy below an act which has just passed
both branches of the Connecticut Legislature, on
the subject of the recovery of slaves. 1t provides
that an extraordinary amount of evidence shall
be necessary to make out q case of ownership
in the United States Courts, and that the clai-
mant falling to make good his right in the said
Courts, shall be subject to a fine of $4,000, and
to Imprisonment for FIVE years in the Connecti-
cut penileniary. The Legislature of State
enacting unheard of rules of evidence for the
Courts of the United Stat9s and imposing enor-
nous penalties on the party who shall fail to
establish his claim TO property under these new
rules! And yet the correspondent of the New
York Tribune writes concerning this piece OF
preprosterous insolence, thus:
"The public can rest assured that this act
does not conflict with the Fugitive Slave Law
rs passed by Congress, for the best lawyers and
judges in several States, have seen the law before
it came before either branch Of the Legislature,
and have unanimously pronounced it constitu-
tional."
Perfectly constitutional" and "does not
conflict with the Fugitive Slave Laww 1t not
only conflicts with the Constitution, which i'm
peratively requires that fugitives from service
shall be given up on demand, and with the Fugi-
tive Law Of Congress, which provides for the
Court and the manner of proceeding in making
good the claim of owner>hp but it conflicts
with every principle of law, justice and common
sense. Apply such rules of evidence coupled
with such penalties for fiilure, in making ont a
claim to property in general, and it would soon
be found out that there was not and could not
be any such thing as right of property.
Indeed, the pretence that the act is sconstitu-
tional, is simply proof Of the blind and coward
" magnity that prompted its enactment. Look
ed upon in any other light than as direct issue
with, and defiance of, the United States. the law
is one of the grossest pieces Of stupidity that
ever emanatcd from a Legislature. The United
States Courts will not admit its new rules of
evidence. lfthe claimant of slave is brought un-
der the penalties of the act, the United States
Courts will demand his release. 1t will be from
beginning to end direct contrast with the Uni
ted States, and this to destroy the operation Of
a law which they admit to BE- constitutional, and
the object Of which-the restoration Of fugitives
from service-is among tho p(ainest of the pro-
visions of the Constitution
If this Connecticut law is Constitutional. then
every law Of the United States, operating with
in the States, can be practically annnlled If
the States can determine the amount OF evidence
necessary to make ont case Of smuggling, or
counterfeiting, or robbing the mails, and attach
enormous penalties TO every failure to make
good prosecution, il is evident that the revenue
laws, &c. can be utterly destroyed for all
practical purposes, and this without ever preten-
ding that they are either unconstitutional or
unjust. But we submit this precious piece of
abolition Legislation without further comment: