New-York daily tribune., 1854-05-31
TIE FUGITIVE LAW AND TRIAL BY JURY.

U L
inc to the alleged fugitive the right Of rla tg JHry
+, the n1sce where be is arrested. No smaller con-
ce,sop than this will prevent in several OF the North
erp States. the most serious consequences IN the
future 1t can hardly be doubted that systematic,
Organized revolutionary resistance 10 the business OF
tidpsrpipg men from the soil of the Free States viii
sooner or later be resorted TO- unless this concession
/. Granted: and We call upon Congress to give their
earnest attention to the pressing necessity OF moin-
cation OF the law to the extent we have indicated
The theory OF this Government Is taat the People
shall make their own laws and be their own gov
eruor. And the universal respect and obedience 70
law which characterzes the people Of the Free >'stes
rests upon their conviction that the majority ought U
govern. Buthe Fugitiye Slave aw OF an anomalous
character and reposes upon DO such basis 1t not
law made or concurred in By a majority OF the
people of those States wherein lies the sole thea'er
OF it, Application 1t il thus totally distinct from all
hch the people ofthe Free States are called
upon TO obey Instead Of its being law enacted by
the peoples representatives to operate upon those
who enacted IT, il is law made by sn outside interest
by those who 90 not feel It's burdens and "ho are not
subject to It's penates and who framed II and rem
deIed il harsh and odious for the sake OF imposing
obedience and humiliation at the same time upon
those who were 70 be subjected TO its operation
In word il Il law made by the slaveaoders to
operate, not upon themselves but upon the people OF
the Free States Il is just es much law OF extreme
hardship imposed Is foreign ruler upon distant
and UNIV Wiling people 90 was the stamp Act Of reyo-
lutionary memory Obedience 10 it receives 40 sane
on fr,m our theory of government, and its present
form refusing as it does tie trial by jury it law
finding no SANCTION in tie Constitution.
II s for these reasons that the law is resisted and
will be resisted unless its repeal or some such mod-
fcston a. We have suggested. shall follow We call
uron the members OF Congress from the free States
70 pay heed to the signs Of the times and to take early
st.ps to compose and tranquilize the public mind on
TIL, ouestiou If they fail do Il. fearful response
biity will rest upon their heads. We appeal 70 them
with the more readiness since the ma Orty OF both
branches have 20 lately been full of protesations in
favor OF submitting the question Of Slavery 10 the
people Of the States where the slave or slaves are
We do not profess to ask popular verdict in each
fugitive slave case, but We do ash that the ordinary
course of Justice and the uniform proceedings at
common law shall not be subverted and dehed in the
Free States and that in all cases where il shall be
demsnded, a Jury of twelve men shall be allowed to
decide the question of mans right TO his freedom
n
the right OF trial by jury denied and it is time that
that exception should cease TO exist In the great
cycle of events upon which now entering it
will assuredly come this and the sooner therefore
it is done the better We must have the trial by Jury
for ersry man IN the Free States
There can be spectacle more insulting to the spirit
of free people or more humliating 10 their pride
than the appearance of kidnspper on their soil.
There can b. no more OdiOus form of despotsm and
oppression presented to their contemplation than the
! existence. in their midst OF Slave Commissioner,
clothed with the power OF consgning an innocent
human being TO hopeless and perpetual bondage. The
time not distant when these two classes Of men can-
rot breathe the ar of the Free States The fires of
] pubic Indignation will consume the and out
ragged people will not endure the existence Of the other
Resistance othe Fugitive slave Law has never yet taken
its practical form. IL has never been organized,
ard never moved in the most effective direction; bu; 1t
has risen spontaneously out OF the ground and acted
without method and without concert. To be sure, Il
has often accomplished its objects but so has it
often failed IL tie future II will act differently
There is folly in opposing unarmed men TO men with
their pockets full Of reyOlyers and their belts glean-
ing with s4bers. IL equally inexpedent 20 oppose
artillery with pistols. al such opposition savors of
I the reckless and absurd Two hundred men. armed
snd organized. keep ten thousand az bay who are
ursrmed and unorganized Th. is illustrated in BOs-
ton az this moment We learn from that city tha, the
Administration teegraphed NJ. suttle not to sell his
slave ior the Sl2lO for which be had promised 10
convey him The meaning Of this is plain 1t is the
desire Of the slaveholders to bring OIL conflict be-
tween the military and the people. 1t is the old
tactics. These men are simply tyrsnnca and blood
thirsty II has been thus from tie beginning of time.
Pierce, Cushing Davis, Toombs, Stephens, and their
eonfederates, ready TO sacrifice Freedom to sa-
very. All they seek is opportunity The slaveholding
sristocracy Of Virginia Georgia. South CarOlina, and
other slave States, would be glad OF chance TO
NOW down the citizens of the North with bull
lets, in order to que the rising spirit Of the Free
States. Ii they be permitted this privilege in
eafeof black runaway they will embrace IT, The plan
Of Mr.. Toombs is blOodshed" in order 10 reduce
the people Of the free States subsection 10 the slave
drivers. Now il il this diabolcal purpose which
should be bsfied. The friends Of freedom must move
slowly and systematically to their work Does any
body suppose that fugitive slave coul6be taken out
Of Massachusetts, if the hostility to the act that ex-
Its in that Commonwealth, organized Certainly
lot. Unorgsnized revolt against despotic power
backed by bsyonets, upon which the fugitive law is
now upheld infBoston. never accomplished anything
and never will. Behold how the few keep their iron
heel upon the many in Europe. So do few mer-
eenary troops garrisoned in the Court House at Bos-
ten, keep the swsying sad fiery multitude that sur.