The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-06

4
they will appeal to the People.
10 maintain the Wing organization, is Il
maintain the Democratic-to keep mp both, il
to keep down the free States under the heel O.
the Slave Power Keep up such organizations
and you leave Independent Democrats no al
tentative but to stand by theirs.
Tomorrow, we intend to take survey O
the Administration Party, and that portion O
Democrats who still cling to it.
AN ACT FOB THE DKFKNCR OF LIBERTY IN
TIE STATE OF c0HNEcTICUT
great clamor has been raised about a null
LITIGATION act said to have been passed within
few days by the Legislature of Connecticut
We find this act with report Of the proceed.
ings thereon, in the New Haven Journal and
Courier. 1t is entitled "An act for the De.
fence of Liberty in this State, and is as follows
An Act for the Defence of Liberty In this State.
BE 1T enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentdt'uss, IN General Assembly convened:
SEC. l. Every person who shall falsely and
mallciously declare, represent or pretend, that
any free person is slave, or owes service OF
~SDvA W Guy pCASon w pctoOub, Win intent &c
procure, or to aid, or assist in procuring. the
forcible removal of such free person from this
State as q slave, shall pay a fine of five thou.
sand dollars, and be imprisoned five wears in
the Connecticut State prison.
SEC. 2. In all cases arising under this act.
the truth of any declaration, pretence or rep.
resentation, that any person being or having
been In this State is or was q slave. or owes or
did owe service or labor to any other person or
persons, shall not be deemed proved except bv
the testimony of at least two credible witness.
es testifying to facts directly tending to estab-
lish the truth of such declaration, pretence or
representation, or by legal evidence equivalent
thereto
SEC. 3. Every person who shall wrongfully
and maliciously seize, or procure to be seized,
any free person entitled to freedom, with in
tent to have such free person held in slavery,
shall pay fine of five thousand dollars, and
be imprisoned five years in the Connecticut
State prison.
SEC. a. Upon the trial of any prosecution
arising under this act, no deposition shall be
admitted as evidence of the truth of any state
ment in such deposition contained.
SEC. S. II, upon the trial of any prosecution
arising under this act, any witness shall, in
behalf of the party accused, and with intent
to aid him in his defence, falsely and wilfully,
In testifying, represent or pretend that any
person is or ever was q slave, or does or ever
did owe service or labor to any person or per-
sons, such witness shall pay fine of five thou
sand dollars, and be imprisoned five years in
the Connecticut State prison.
SEC. 6. Whenever complaint or information
shall be made against any person for any Of
fence described in any section of this act, and
upon such complaint or information, a.warrant
shall have been duly issued for the arrest of
such person, any person who shall hinder or
obstruct q sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable,
in the service of such warrant, or shall aid
suit of such officer, shall be imprisoned one
year in the Connecticut State Prison.
SEC. 7. No declaration, pretenee, or repre-
sentation, that any person is or was an appren-
tice for term Of years, or owes or did owe SER
vice merely as such an apprentice for such
fixed term, shall be deemed prohibited by this
act; and no such declaration, pretence, or rep
resentation, that any person is or was such an
apprentice for such fixed term, or owes or did
owe service merely as such an apprentice for
such fixed term, shall render any person liable
to any penalty under this act.
While the bill was under discussion in the
House, June 28th, Mr.. Hyde remarked that it
would nullify the provisions of the Constitution
and the laws of the land. Mr.. Brandagee de-
MED this-if he thought the bill in conflict
with the United States Constitution, he would
vote against it, Mr.. Oakley merely contended
for the defence Of liberty and the protection Of
freemen. South Carolina can take Northern
freeman and imprison him; and shall we not
protect the rights of men in this State? Mr.
| I,oI ~ +ha Asotxxy
that part of the Fugitive Slave Law, relating
to evidence? Mr.. Brandagee answered, that
the Commissioner is merely ministerial off,
cer-he has nothing to do with judicial evil
dence-this law is designed to bring the matter
where evidence can be presented.
Motions to amend, and to indefinitely post
pone, were severally rejected, and the Bill ther
passed-yeas 112, nays So.
THE PEOPLES PARTY IN MASSACHUSETTS.
We rejoice to see that the first step towards
the organization of Peoples Party has beer
taken in Massachusetts. A correspondent
writing from Boston, says: =
"You will see that the right movement fol
the new Freedom Party in this State has com
menced at old Concord, a most fitting place, fol
here commenced the old fight for freedom, and
here begins the new one. The public mind ii
all ripe for the formation of the new party"
Representatives of all parties attended TIT
meeting at Concord, which was held on th'
22d. John S. Reyes, Sheriff of Middlese,
county, presided. Nathan Brooks DR.. Reyn
olds, and S. G. Wheeler, Wings; w. E. Rob
inson and Ralph Waldo Emerson, Independent
Democrats; c. G. Hazewell and Simon Brown
Democrats, were present and took an ACTIVE
part. The following gentlemen were appoint
ed committee, to address the friends of free
dom throughout the State: Samuel Hoar, c
C. Hazewell, D. Shattuck, Addison G. Fay, 81
mon Brown, and r. w. Emerson. In its circu
lar, the committee says:
9The inhabitants of Concord, influenced b,
the feelings which seem to pervade the Com
monwealth, anxiously inquire what the ire
States will do, or should do, In relation to tn
Nebraska law. They think that no section o
this State should adopt any practical measur
which may conflict with the views and purpo
ses of other parts of the Commonwealth. The.
desire to confer with some of their fellow-citi
zens in different parts of the State, on the sub
iect of calling State Convention, to conside
and determine what measures the exigency o
the time demand of Massachusetts,"
A Call for State Convention is now in Gil
culation. The People are moving, and we hop
the old political leaders and their organization
will have the good sense rather to aid than OF
struct the popular movement.