Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-07-14
Fugitive Slaves.

Previous TO the formation OF the Federal
Union all the Colonies endured the curse
Of Slavery, which British avarice had in6ict-
ed upon them. In several OF them, however,
the Institution had grown unpopular, and
steps had been taken towards its abolition.
When the constitution was formed, It was
apprehended that Slaves would escape from
Slave States into the Free States and that
in such cases they would be released from
servitude by the operation and effect Of the
local law, and that the owners would thus
be prevented from reclaiming them. 1t was
foreseen case of conflict Of local laws =
and it became important to fix the principle
BY which all such cases should be decided.
Accordingly, when the Constitution was
framed, provision was inserted, declaring
that
"No person held to service or labor in one
State under the laws thereof escaping into
another, shall, in consequence Of any idio or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, but shall be delivered up on
claim OF the party to whom such service or
labor may be due"
/ The intent and scope of this provision are
/ perfectly clear. If no controversy had ever
arisen on the subject, every man on reading
1t would say at once that its object was sim
/ ply to prereni an apprehended evil, namely
/ the reimbursement, by the laws Of one
State of those whom the laws of another
held to be slaves. The clause is strictly
and exclusively prohibitory. It, forbids GER
tain State Legisatlon,--or to speak still
more accurately, 1t declares that such legis-
lation snail not, in certain specified cases.
produce a certain peclfed effect. Fugitive
slaves shall not be freed by the laws of
States into which they may escape. They
shall no., in consequence of any suh law or
regulation, be discharged from service so as
| to be kept, by operation of law, from those to
whom It may be due but on the contrary,
they shall be delivered up on claim, that is
to say, on proper legal proof that the service
alleged is actually due.
This would be the plain simple, unsophis
ticated Interpretation which any intelligent
person, who had no poltlca! purposes to car
ry out, would put upon the clause. But
how different is the provision as it now
stands. under the Incessant action of Con
gress, Courts of Law. political demagogues
and the Slaveholdng oligarchy which has
used all these for the attainment Of It's ends ?
Instead Of being prohibitory in its character
and scope, 1t is now made to enloin upon The
Federal Government the labor ana expense of
hunting, seiziDg and delivering up slaves
who may escape from one State INTO another.
1t Is treated as giving new powers to Con.
gress,-as clothing the General Government
with functions utterly alien to its ordinary
character. And more than this il is held to
Impose upon every individual citizen the du-
| ty OF taken part personally in the seizure and
return of fugitive slaves --and two gray
headed Senators from South Carolina aud
/ Virginia--States which have sisnalzed their
history by their assertion Of Sta'e Rights and
/ their intense hostility to extending the pow
ers of the Federal governmebt-haye de-
nounced as a traitor to the Constitution one
Of their colleagues, who ventufed 10 rcpel
the assumption that this clause imposed up
I on him any such duty.
/ Senator Summers reply to his insolent
and unmannerly assailants, which we pub
lished, yesterday was admirable. If IL did
not make them ashamed Of the plantation
airs they are in the habit Of putting on upon
the floor Of the Senate, they are indeed im-
pervious TO such impressions Mr.. Sumner
has always been recognized as n gentleman
Of ability aud Of distinguished culture and
scholarship but this single speech more
than any other he has ever made, shows him
to be of clear practical sense, prompt in re-
setting personal injustice, and able to strike
quite as heavy blows as any Of his enemies,
and with degree of courtesy aud grace TO
which they are strangers.
The prevalent public sentiment in regard
to the Fugitive Slave law, illustrates sirik
lngly the tendency of power to steal into the
hands Of n united, bold and desperate class
interest. under cover Of constructions; so
that, ultimately, what nobody would have
dreamed of at the outset, becomes establish
ed law, and he Is branded as a traitor who
doubts 1t 1t is not easy to see whittier this
process will lead us, If it consumes to 20 on
1t has already rendered federal
legislation subservient in almost everything,
to the interest and ambition ofSlavery and
IT will not be for lack Of effort, If il does
not make every Northern man IN Congress
the crinRinR and -ob-rs,''''st tool OF me OH
garchy, which is seeking thus to establish
rs complete supremacy over all the concerns
Of the Republlc.-.N y. Times.