Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-08-25
The defense of Liberty,

The passage Of the Fugitive Slave law of
1850, was supposed Wy many to be the end
ofall legislation ON the sui jcct. For indiri-
dualS. thrtc wne th"nceforth left simple
obedience, where they could not giyea hearty
acquicsccncc, and as for the States they had
neither rights powers, nor duties in the case
The Lrgirlaturc of crmont, however, did not
think so. They thought they had botl
powers and duties and they accordingly
paced II law for the protection Of the citizens
of their own State. The last Connecticut
Legislature followed in the same path, and
their action has been followed in some quar-
ters by the same clamor of unconstitutional
ty and factious resistance An article, un-
derstood tc be from the pen of Gov. Dutton
Of Connecticut, defending with clcarncsr and
ability the constitutionality Of the Connect
eat Act for the defence Of Liberty, and show
ibg the necessity for such legislation, recent
" appeared IN the .",u EugidHdr. We
give below th' acts of Vermont and Conner-
ticut. with q portion Of the article referred to,
which applies almost equally to both. The
,thcr free States will, We trust, do their duty
" the passage of similar acts, leaving, OF
curse. the questions which may arise from
any real on apparent conflict Of jurisdiction
rtwecn the General and State governments,
t be settled by the proper tribunals.
Euenirtsi by the Senate ami House of Representa-
ot( { Iffr,rIl 1syfrublu cutITusl .
SEC. /. Every person who shall faisiy aud NAH
cusiy declare, represent or pretend, that any Tree
rrson is slave, or owes service or labor to any
rrsun or persons, with intent to procure or to aid
& assist in procuring, the forcible removal OF such
tee person from this state, shall pay fine of five
housInd dollars, and be imprisoned five years in
he Connecticut state prison.
Src. z. In oil arising under this act, the
tuth of any declaration, pretense or represe
tat any person being or having Been in this state
or was slave, owes or did owe service or labor
t any other person or persons, shall not be deemed
rovcd except by the testimony OF at least two cred
pie witnesses, testifyins to facts directly tending
establish the truth of such declaration, pretenso
u representation, or by legal evidence equivalent
tlcrep
Sg. 8. Every person who shall wrongfully and
ma tously seize procure to be seized any free
prs ~ entitled to freedom, with intent 20 have such
fre person held in slavery. shall pay hns OF hy-
thousand dollars, ami be imprisoned in the Connec-
tut state prison.
ST.. !. Upon the trial Of uny prosecution aris-
iig under this act. deposition shall be admitted
evidence of the truth Of any statement in such
DIGESTION contained.
SEQ. }. If upon the trial Of any prosecution
arsing under this act, any witness shall, i'll beha I
otthc party accused and with intent to aid him in
hi defense falsely and wilfuly, i'll tcstiiying, rep
resent or pretend that any person Is or ever was II
save or does or ever did owe service or labor to
a,y person or persons, such witness shall pay fine
uttye thousand dollars, and be imprisoned five
yare in the Connecticut state prison.
SEC. 6. Whenever complaint or information shall
b made against any person for any offence describ-
{, in any section ol this act, and upon such com
paiut or information, warrant shall have been
div issued for the arrest of such person, any per-
..n who shall hinder or Ohs.ruct sheriff, deputy
s,eri or constable in the service Of such warrant
r shall aid sucn accused person in escaping from the
ur-uit OF such officer, shall be ulprsVned one year
II the Connecticut state prison.
SEC. /. No declaration, pictcnse or represents
ton that any person is or was an apprentice Tor
lxcd term of years or did owe service mere
= such an apprentice for such fixed term, shall bc
,eemcd prohibited by this act and no such dcca-
ration, pretrnst or representation that amy such
prlsur Is or was such an apprentice for sucn fixed
tern, did owe scrN ice merely AS such nj
apprentice for such fixed term shall render any per
on liable to any penalty under this act.