Washington sentinel., 1854-06-30
NulIiacation in Connecticut.
New HAVEN, CoNN., June 26, rs

To the Editor of the Neic York Herald:
The following infamous notification law has
been reported by the Judiciary committee to
the general assembly, and has passed the
senate, (every democrat voting against it, how
ever and will undoubtedly pass the house. 1t
is openly avowed by Mr.. Harrison, (senator
fourth district who drafted it, that its object
is to render the fugitive slave law "null and
void " in Connecticut. Willth people of Con-
necticut sustain such legislation? throw not.
AN ACT FOR THE DEFENCE OF LIBERTY IN THIS
STATE.
SEC. l. Be ii endcted By the Senate and House
of Representatives IN General assembly con-
vened, Every person who shall falsely and MAJ
liciously claim, declare, represent, or orpretend,
in presence of any Judge, commissioner, mar
shal, or other officer of the United States, that
any other person is q slave, or owes service or
labor to any person or persons, with intent to
procure, or to aid or assist in procuring the for
cible removal Of such other person from this
State, shall pay fine of five thousand dollars,
and be imprisoned Eve years in the Connecti-
cut State prison.
SEC. 2. Every claim, declaration, pretense,
or representation, that any person being or
having been in this State, is or was a slave, or
owes or did owe service or labor to any other
person or persons, shall be deemed, in all cases
arising under this act, to be prima .tacie false
and malicious; and the truth of any such claim
declaration, pretense, or representation, shall
not be deemed proved except by the testimony
of at least two credible Witnesses testifying to
facts directly tending to establish the truth of
such claim, declaration, pretense, or represen-
tation, or by testimony equivalent thereto.
SEC. 3. II, upon the trial of any prosecution
arising under this act, the prosecuting officer
shall claim that such false claim, declaration,
representation, or pretense, was made wholly
or in part by means of any affidavit, record, or
other writing, parol evidence of the substance
Of such affidavit, record, or other writing, shall
be admissible as primary evidence of its con-
tents,
SEC. 4. 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. 5. II, upon the trial of any prosecution
arising under this act, any witness shall, in be-
half OF the party accused, and with intent to
aid him in bis defence, falsely and wilfully, in
testifying, represent or pretend, that any per-
son is or ever was q slave, or does or did owe
service or labor to any person or persons, such
witness shall pay fine of five thousand dol
laroJ duu uc impiisonSu hNO JSaro III tnc Non-
necticut 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 warrant
shall have been duly issued for the arrest of
such person, any person who snail hinder or
obstruct sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable,
in the service of such warrant or shall aid
auch accuapd nersnn in esca ming from the mr.
suit of such officer, shall be imprisoned one
year in the Connecticut State prison.
SEC. Z. No claim, declaration, pretense, or
representation that any person is or was an
apprentice for fixed term Of years, or owes
or did owe service merely as such an appren-
tice Tor such fixed term, shall be deemed pro-
hibited by this act, and no such claim, decla-
ration, prctense, or representation that any
person is or was such an apprentice for such
fxed term, or owes or did owe service merely
~ such an apprentice for such fixed term, shall
render any person liable to any penalty under
this act.