Washington sentinel., 1854-06-30
CONNECTICUT NuLL1FrcAr1oN.

When Connecticut, the land of steady habits,
in her early history enacted her code so darkly,
deeply, beautifully blle, for the better prcserva
ton Of purity and virtue, she was prompted by
a sacred reverence for the principles Of the
decalogue. So ready was her obedience, and
so broad her construction. that it was not
only crime to covet your neighbors wife, but
almost misdemeanor to cove. your own. But
like most virtuosoes, descended from the Surface
family, she has failed to extract the true prin-
ciples of morality from the law; and while
virtuousy regardful of a part of the com
mandment, she fails to remember that "we
must not covet our neighbor's serrant."
A bill has recently passed the senate of Con-
necticut, and there is strong probability Of its
passage in the house of representatives, the
purport, and, indeed, avowed object of which
is notification Of the fugitive-slave law. The
absurdity of the law, and the mad raving of these
senatorial lawmakers, are almost as ridicu-
lous as the real principles of the bill are dan
gerous. Not content with nullifying one law,
it abrogates at least three. Not content with
aiming blow at the Constitution, with radical
recklessness, it overthrows established princi-
Piles of evidence and time honored proceedings
in the administration of justice. Not content
with denying justice to the suitors in our fede-
raj tribunals, it makes them criminals, and pro.
vides for the harshest punishment of those who
appeal to those tribunals for their property.
We publish, in another column, this bill as
it passed the senate. But for the benefit Of
those who do not care to wade through the
formal language of legislation, we make brief
analysis of the leading and most odious fea-
lures of the proposed law.
Every claim for the rendition of slave un-
der the fugitive slave law, and every represen-
tation in support of that claim, is declared to
be "false and malicious" unless sustained by
the testimony Of two credible witnesses. The
claimant, unless SO sustained, is punished by
heavy fine and long imprisonment The acit-
nesses themselves are liable to the same punish
ment for "false and malicious" representation,
these terms being construed as harshly towards
them mastowardsthe claimant. Ifthe claimis based
on record evidence, parol testimony is admitted
as primary evidence of the contents of such re-
cord.
The effect Of such a proceeding must be
that no claimant for slave, however strong
the evidence of his claim, will dare to approach
the tribunal Of his country in Connecticut
with such punishment held over him. Or il,
urged on by desire for his property and by a
firm demand for justice, he should be induced
to engage in so hazardous an enterprise, he
would in vain look for two disinterested per-
| sons, who would be 80 bold as to unite with
him. Even if the claim were to be prosecuted
before the courts of the Commonwealth Of Con-
necticut such harsh provisions would efectu-
ally prevent any application for justice.
The Hartford Courant informs MS, however
that the object of the law is TO punish severely
any attempt to get up q Claim that is not
proved TO be true" And this wise end is
accomplished by hanging IN te,Torem over a
witness the threat of fine and Imprisonment, il
he deposes, not what is not true, but what the
infamous provision Of the law declares prima
| facie false ard malicious
| Not only is this injustice perpetrated towards
the innocent applicant for his property, but one
Of the most sacred principles Of evidence is
swept away in the insane attempt TO deny JUS