Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-14
PHE PERSONAL LIBERTY BILL OF MAS
.. SACHUSETTS.

. .. . .+.r. SACHUSETTS.
. Tho Personal Liberty Bill, which was passed
by the Legislature of Massachusetts, at their
recent session, is clearly the boldest and most
decided step yet taken by any of the Free-State
Sovereignties, in their legislative capacities,
against the aggressions of the Slave Power. Con-
necticut and Vermont, in their similar enact
usmts, did well but Massachusetts has done
better. Nearly every one of the fourteen sec
tions Of; the Bill in question, embedies a stern
protest against tho legatand moral enormities
of this black Fugitive Slave Act. Besides Sc
curing, Like the Kindred laws of Connecticut and
and Vermont, by the most clear and ample pro-
visions, the full exercise of the right of Hdbeas
Corpus and trial by jury the verdict of which
is made conclusive, it provides:
LIST. That the claimant of the Fugitive shall
make clear and certain statement, in writing,
of the facts on which he relies, but neither he,
nor any one interested in the reclamation, shall
be permitted to testify at the trial of the issue
nor shall the admissions of the Fugitive himself
be allowed in evidence while the claimant must
establish his claim by the testimony of at least
two credible witnesses and no ep-paH testi-
mony in any case to be admitted.
I'd. Claimants Of Fugives removing, or as
sisting to remove, the latter, without proving
the alleged service due, to be subject to fine OF
$4,000, and five year imprisonment in the State
Prison.
Sd. No person holding office Or trust under
the State, shall act as U. s. Commissioner, OF
ip any other capacity issue warrants against
fngitives; and if he, while holding State Office
shall so issue such warrants, his Office shall be
deemed vacant, and he forever be made inelligi-
BILE to any office of trust, honor or emolument
under the Commonwealth and any one holding
State office and acting as counsel for such claim
ants, are TO be taken as reslgning their Offices
and to be forever incapaciated from appearing
as counsel or attorney in any of the Courts Of
the Commonwealth.
4th, All sherifs Deputies, Jailors, Consta
bles, &C., acting under the laws of the State
are farbidden 10 arrest, imprson, or detain such
claimed Or alleged Fugitives, under penalty Of
$1,000 fine, and two years Imprisonment in the
States Prison
9th. Volunteer militia are forbidden to act
or assist in the arrest retention, or rendition of
Fugitiyes, under pspsltg IF 2oaQ fine and twa
years imprisonment in thesstHe Prisonx
~ 6s's ~ iaysEn11 1aRsIl 70 aRReiat
whose 81 llls5 lIl 81 dtSfsnd such I i
gitives, summon witnesses, and do everything to
sensure them fairjary trials, and all the benefits
and advantages cfthis act. t'l
Such are the substantial provisions of thi
memorable enactment Of the Free Soil Legisla
ture of noble Massachusetts--an act which will
hereafter make Slavs-hunters scarce in thai
State; for it virtually nullifes that unconstitu
tional and revolving piece of Federal legislation
that goes by the name of the Fugitive Slav
Law, and makes it, as it should make it, and a.
it is, not only nullity and no law, but thin;
whose enforcement is to be stigmatized-a dis
grace and foul blot on the American escutcheon
which that gallant State has had the imperisha
BILE honor of being the FIRST to do her part to
wards efacing
And this Is what all The Free States must ain
to accomplish. Notification by State legisla
lures is the rightful remedy for the North agains
this most clearly unconstitutional and insultin
measure of the South, to make us-what is ia
worse than their hewers of wood and drawer
Of water--a community Of Slave-catchers! An
this will not only work as our remedy, but the
punishment. Indeed, its effects are already b.
ginning to be visible in the nuttering among til
minions Of the Slave Power The leading ORC
Slavery organs of the South seem to be seize
with establishment and dsmay at the discover
that there is at length one free State with tt
sense to understand her rights, and the will an
courage to assert them. One recommends reta
iation by embargoes on importations from tt
North-another State laws to repudiate the pr
vate debts of Northern men against the Southe,
"a third the dissolution of the Union,-and a
agree that something mnst be done. Yes, pei
tlemen Of the South, something must be done O
your part, and that quickly, or something wi
be done on ours to throw upon you the respons
bility of destroying the Union, or saving.it e