Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-08-03
MONTPELIER:
HEAVY BLOW AT THE FUGITIVE
SLAVE LAW.

A serious and telling blow has at length been
struck at the Fugitive Slave Law, which we
fondly hope is the precursor OF its entire over
throw.
Judge Smith, one of the judges Of the Su-
preme Court Of Wisconsin, before whom MIR.
Booth was brought, under arrest for assistingin
the escape of fugitive slave, decided a few
months since, it will be recollected, on the re-
lease of the latter on the ground that the Fugi-
two Slave Law is unconstitutional and void. An
appeal was taken from this decision to the full
Bench, the appellants not doubling, it appears,
that the whole Court, like the other tribunals Of
the country that have been awed and warped
into the interests Of the Slave Power, would dare
to do no otherwise than revers, the decision
But, thank Heaven, the Slaveocrats have been,
for once disappointed. The full Court, consist
ing of six Judges, at their recent session, at Mad
ison, took up, and deliberately passed upon the
whole case, and on the 18th Of July, ChiefJns-
tice Edward V. Wilton, delivered the opinion
of the Court, one judge only dissenting, fully
SUSTAINING the UcclSlOu Vi Chiiph, ''ii" Ao'
affirming the order discharging Mr.. Booth
Thus has one State at length taken a firm and
independent stand against the usnrpatlons OF
Congress in assuming powers which the Consti-
tuition never gave them, in passing that dis
graceful and abhorrent act And from various
indications, it may now reasonably be predicted
that Wisconsin will not now long be alone in
the noble stand she has taken. Judge Hoar Of
Massachusetts, in a recent charge to the Grand
Jury, on the Burns riot cases, )" clearly indica-
ted his opinion Of the unconstitptionality of the
act" Other eminent jurists, in several other
States, like ex-chiefjustice IIornblower of New
Jersey, whose opinions cannot but have great
influence in the different tribunals of the Free
States, have repeatedly been spoken to the same
effect. And now, that Wisconsin has broken the
ice, and shown that she fears not to do her duty
to the Constitution and SO many able men, both
jursts and statesmen, stand ready to sustain her,
it seems impossible but that the other Northern
States will not only strengthen her in her posi-
ton, but soon, through their courts, initiate her
example. If they will do this, whatever the
subverted Supreme Court of the United States
may decide, the infamous Fugitive Slave Law is
dead forever.
For ourself we have never had but one feel
ing, and one opinion, about that so-called law,
and those were Il strong sense of duty to resist
its execution in every instance where an oppor-
tanity of so doing might be afforded US. And
we should feel too that we were doing this under
our oath to support the Constitution. a law
which violates the Constitution is treason against
the Constitution and in obeying such an enact
ment, we should feel wo were abettting and aid
ing that treason and that the only way that
we could show our fealty to the Constitution,
and discharge the duties imposed by our oath
to support it, that is, obey it and preserve it
from violations, would be to resist the law, and
trample it under foot.