davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
MICHIGAN PERSONAL LIBERTY BILL.
BILL to protect the Rights and Liberties of the Inhab
ants ofthis State.
gle Pso,,le oftIc Stote of Mcbi0on enact.

The People ofhte State Of Michigan enact:
SEC. l. That it shall be the duty of the Pros
ecuting Attorneys, within their respective coun-
ties, whenever any inhabitant of this State is
arrested or claimed as fugitive slave, on being
informed thereof diligently and faithfully to
use all lawful means to protect, defend, and pro-
cure to be discharged, every such person so ar
rested or claimed as fugitive slave.
SEC. 2. All persons so arrested and claimed
as fugitive slaves shall be entitled to all the
benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and trial
by jury.
Sec. 3. If such writ of habeas corpus shall
be sued out in vacation, and if upon the hear
ing of the same, the person imprisoned, arrest
ed, or claimed as fugitive slave, shall not be
discharged, such person shall be entitled to an
appeal to the Circuit Court for the county in
which such hearing shall have been had, on
furnishing such bail, and within such time as
the officer granting the writ or hearing the case
shall judge reasonable or proper.
SEC. A. The Court to which such appeal is
taken, and any Court to which writ of habeas
corpus, in behalf of any such person claimed or
arrested as a fugitive slave is made returnable,
may, and shall, on application of either party to
such proceedings, allow and direct trial by
jury, on all questions of fact in Issue between
the parties in the matter aforesaid; and the tax
able costs of such trial shall be chargeable to
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the
officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary war,
or their widows or minor children, shall be emit
tied to the benefits Of this act.
SEC. 3. And be 1t further enacted, That the
benefits of this act shall be applied to and en-
brace those who served as volunteers at the in
vasion of Plattsburg, in September, eighteen
hundred and fourteen; also at the battle OF
Kings Mountain in the Revolutionary war, and
the battle of Nickoock against the confederated
savages of the South.
SEC. 10. And be 1t further enac'eE That the
provisions Of this act shall apply TO the chap
lains who served with the army in the several
wars Of the country.
SEC. IL. Ind be Il further endcted, That the
provisions Of this act be applied to those who
served as volunteers at the attack on Lewistown,
in Delaware, by the British fleet, in the war Of
eighteen hundred and twelve-ffteen.
Approved, March 3, 1855.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22

service you had rendered the AntiSlavery cause,
we renewed our subscription, thinking that
although YOU might not see with US in regard to
the American party, you would, after having
fully expressed your own views of it, at least see
the propriety of letting it alone. Bnt, sir, when
you undertake to insult your readers by filling
your columns with the Jesuitical lies Of an
avowed member of the Church ofRome-a part,
if not ALL of whose creed, as you know or ought
to know, is to lie to and deceive the rest Of the
woodland then say to your readers, as you did
in your last number, " We ,cere glad to see such
an array of eridence 6y dn american Catholic"
dc, what are we to think? For one, / would
ask, are you a member of that abominable and
deceitful Church? Or do you take your readers
to be so ignorant or stupid as to be imposed
upon by such testimony? If the latter, let me
say, that, so far as / am acquainted with them,
they are not only men of good common sense,
but strong Anti-Slavery men, who (notwith-
standing your insinuations) have taken no oaths
or obligations that will In the least degree con-
fict with their duties or actions as such; and
are as strongly and conseientiously anti-Papal,
and are also as fully determined to resist its
designs and encroachments.
In conclusion, let me say, that although some
of my remarks may seem severe, they are made
with the kindest of feelings towards you. But
do feel that the Anti-Slavery cause is too holy
one to be connected with or dsgraced by de-
fence of Rome. And if you feel it to be your
duty to continue its defence by publishing in
your columns the lying articles of Jesuits, in the
form of Congressional speeches, must bid you
welcome to the advance payment you have re-
ceived from me for the Era, and request you to
stop sending it, Yours, with respect,
WM. b. WILLARD.
We shall continue to do just as we always
have done. Yours, immoyably,
G BAILEY
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
NO PRESCRIPTION.

uASS.J ICO AOy 1000.
l am sorry that any, protesting to be the
friends of Freedom, should withdraw their pa
tronage from you, because you dissent from the
Know Nothing movement. They should never
do so until you are false to Freedom. They can
not do so consistently until they become false
to that sacred cause. l will believe that many
who have thus struck blow at the existence
of the Era, have done the thing without calm
and deliberate judgment; for they must see
the Importance of such paper in the Federal
city; and, as much as they approve OF the new
and sudden movement, they cannot depend
upon the Organ, to fight the battles of FIRES
dom in the heart Of the nation. l deem it the
duty of every friend of Freedom to support
the Era, if he has the ability, however on other
points he may dissent from the editor. | do
not agree with you in all things, neither do
like all things in the NeaC York Tribune yet
/ must have both papers; | cannot do without
them. l must not fail to give them my pa
tronage. l must sustain them for Freedoms
sake.
You are told by your friends, that you must
suffer the fate of all reformers, and take Joy
fully the spelling of your goods" but let
them see to it that, while others withdraw sup.
port, they do not withhold it, that they hold up
your hands in this day of rebuke and blasphe-
my. Faithfully, yours,
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
THE DARKEY's LAMENT.
BY J. GOLDRICK.

lived upon the Myers banks,
When was but a child;
To the rude life the Niggars lead.
Content and reconciled.
The white man came from land afsr,
lie forced me TO the sea;
His great ship squared her snowy sails.
And west she bore away.
lie led me DER the ocean wide,
Where stormy pillows roll;
Wild were the waves thai swept his deck,
But wilder swept my soul;
He fetched me to his sunny home,
On the Mississippi
He sold me TO his Uncle Sam,
Who made a slave ofmo
I'm in the land the white folks call
Great, glorious, and FREE
The land where man like beast is sold,
And doomed TO Slavery.
Would that died in Africa,
Or hither on the wave,
Before reached America.
To be the planters slave
This SOuth's the land oftyranny,
Where hell's dread monarch reigns.
There's no Soft spot in mans proud heart,
Where grows the sugar canes.
Oh! angels, bear it TO the sky,
In heaven above proclaim,
That Liberty in these green woods
Is but an empty name!
-ofkerefeId HonD
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
A KNOW NOTHING.

IAWTUCkETj II. T., -Hu1ct D, IoJ0'
l belong to the Know Nothing organization /;
but heartily endorse nearly all that you have
written concerning them, as far as my informa-
lion is concerned Go ahead in your bold ex-
positions of the tendencies Of the organization,
and the editors of the Era and Tribune will
have occasion to know, ere long, that the seeds
of truth and freedom, thus fearlessly thrown
into their camp, have produced such fruits as
will annihilate their plans and purposes.
LOVER OF RIGHT.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
OVER CONFIDENT.
BELLEVUE, SANDUsKY Co., ONO,
Fe6rudrY %, 1853

ICWUU|D %OJ 1000
As a friend 1 write you, laying compliments
aside. | am a subscriber to the Era, which is a
welcome weekly visiter to my house and desk,
but you or me are wofully mistaken on some
political points. You say that the new organi-
cation, Know Nothings, are pro-slavery, even
up to the Wings and Democrats, or that they
passed similar resolutions to the Baltimore plat
form, at their Cincinnati Convention. But, to
be brief on the subject tell you that that is
not the fact, but the reverse. / know dele
gate to that Convention, and what he knows,
that | know concerning the Convention and
you are harming the glorious cause Of Free
dom, by peddling the trash of outsiders in your
columns For moment, view the characters
of any or all of the members elected through
their influence we hold them up to you as
spectacle. Even look to their more minor of
fees, such as Mayors, Aldermen, Justices of
the Peace, and then show me one of their num-
Der that is pro-slavery, if you can find him, in
the North or East or West, and will then own
the corn, that you are a smarter man than your
correspondent; and, while you are examining,
please keep tally and see if they are the most
temperate, iudicious, and thoroughgoing men,
that have ever been elected in the same space of
time, since you came on the stage of action !;
and if so, shape your course as it behooves
Christian republican to do. They have no
newspaper organ and any paper that processes
to be such, put him down as a falsifer
Yours, &C., JAMES +. SMITH.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
GROWING WARM.

HARVARD, MASS, FEB. z, I8oo.
have been a subscriber to and reader of
your paper from its commencement to the pres
ent time, and have felt well satisfied with its
able and judicious course as an Anti-Slavery
paper, until within the last few months. And,
sir, although | and your other subscribers in
this place (all of whom are members OF the
Order which you have seen fit SO mercilessly to
attack and abuse) were surprised and grieved
at your course, yet, in view of the important
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
For the National Era,
SUBMISSION.
BY f. JESsUP EAMES.

The rapture of the Human Love has vanished
No time or change can eer that dream restore her;
The memory of the Past will not be banished,
But in its morning brightness stands before her
Clear and distinct and vain regrets sweep DER her.
Till she is fain to shed such plying tears
As Sorrow weeps through many mortal years!
But God was merciful; for she could pray
And at his feet her human weakness cast.
Albeit great grief Swallowed her alway
Her restless heart found Heavens deep peace al las
Take thus thy lot upon thee, suffering friend
Enduring patiently until the end.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
COUNTER TESTIMONY.
PoTTsTOwN. MONTGOMERY Co

PorTsTowN, MONTGOMERY Co., PA.
Your friends and patrons in this region are,
/ think, much pleased with your views on the
subject of the Know Nothing organization, and
very few, if any, of them, have countenanced
the movement.
Z If you think proper, please insert the above,
in answer to Charles T., in your paper of the
LIST of March. am well acquainted with most
of your subscribers, and know whereof l al
firm. Yours, 2.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
RATES OF ADVERTISING

Ten cents line for the .fyst insertion, fire
cents line for each SUBSEQUENT one. Ten
words constitute line. Payment in advance
is invariably required.
The following named persons are authorized
Agents for the Era ]. A Innis, Salem, Mass;
G. w. Light, Boston, Mass. c. A. Wall, Nor-
cester, Mass. John Kirman; Cincinnati, Ohio.
EI- Money may be forwarded, BY mail, at
my risk. Notes on Eastern banks preferred
Large amounts may be RENTED in drafts or
certificates of deposit.
B@~ Subscribers wishing their papers chang
ed, will give the name Of the post Office changed
from, as well as the post Office they wish 1t
hereafter se11t to.
bar All communications 10 the Era, whether
on business of the paper or for publication,
should be addressed to
G. BAILEY, Washington, d. O.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
4sopls's 9epartuant.
THE EXERCISE OF RIGHT THE BEST EDp
GATOR

E<AEnSiSE Or a The BEST EDt-
GATOR.
MADISON, L., Feb. %, 1855.
Truth needs no cloak for its PRONUNCIATION,
neither does Liberty for its advancement; for
Liberty is truth, and Slavery is lie. l agree
not with any of your contributors with respect
to men born in another cline; but contend,
that as soon as they have been here long
enough to qualify them to vote with respect to
residence, being of the full age of twenty lone
years, they be permitted to take the oath of
citizenship, and vote, and thus be soon pre-
pared to WELD the elective franchise under
standingly. For / have yet to learn that the
foreigner, who collects together the little that
he may possess, and comes to our shores by
choice, on the account of our institutions, viii
not be as likely to make q good citizen as one
born here, without his consent. 1t is true,
they may both vote wrong in the commence
ment, but if let alone, will soon vote right !;
and the foreigner as soon as the other-for the
love of Liberty is implanted in the bosom of
each individual by nature, as well the foreigner
as the home born. Yours, &C.,
BRowNEL WoODMAN.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22

were it not for the man-fearing spirit, there would
be many more.
P. s. Two years ago, when we first. CON-
menced openly advocating the cause of univer-
sal Freedom, we were threatened with violence,
and it was almost at the risk of our lives we did
it; but, thanks be to God, the scene is changed;
all and every person talk and discuss the sub
iect openly and everywhere.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
A CLEAR FIELD AND FAIR FIGHT.
HARMON. WASHINGTON Co. ONO.

OU'j
February u, 1855.
l see that oar friend, George Orr, of Phila
delphia, feels badly about your defending the
Catholics. Now, / am Protestant enough to
let the Catholics and everybody else have fair
shake in this world. | am not willing to let
any one be prosecuted for opinions sake; ! say,
give them and all +" clear field and fair fight"
1t appears to me that some of our good friends
are doing the very thing they complain of the
Catholics for. go for "equal and exact JUS
tice to all" including the ringers.
d. PUTNAM. Jr
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
FROM KENTUCKY
ScAFFoLD CANE PosT Office,
R0ckcnstle ca. Kenfi.cL.1

R0ckcastte Co, Kentncky.
/ wish to say that have examined carefully
everything both pro and con. in your desirable
paper concerning Know Notliagism, and am
free to confess, as subscriber, that am salts
fed your position is correct. If this is free
Government let us be free-yes, let all men be
free-universal freedom is my motto. am
native-born Kentuckian, my fathers mother was
of Virginia, and he revolutionary soldier, and
fought for Freedom; and may / ever be found on
the side of Freedom, Eyes, universal Freedom
/ have procured some five or six subscribers for
the Era. 1t has done much for the Anti-Sa-
very cause in Kentucky. We are going ahead.
Revolrers and bowie knices fall before a pure
gospel, like snow before the sun. The free
church in Kentucky is strengthened daily; and
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
MUM.


LIMA, ALLEN Co., o., Feb. %, 1856.
Know Nothingism is now going up here, but
had the people light upon the subject, it would
soon come dOicn. We have two Republican
papers in the county, but they are mum upon
the subject, except to occasionally praise the
Know Nothings, or rather give favorable ex-
tracts from other papers. A. Il. w.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
KRIEEIY PORTRAYED

President Blanchard, of Galesburgh College,
Illinois, writes to us:
The Know Nothing movement is a medley
of absurdity, contradiction, and SIM 1t is alb
surd to give to grave political and proscript-
i've party title, such as would be selected for
merriment by court fool or buffoon. 1t is
contradiction of ideas. at least, to pretend pro-
lection of American institutions by sacrifice
of American principles, and secrecy in matters
of common concernment is not an American
principle. 1t is an original element of Jesuit
ism but the men who founded our institutions
commenced by an open appeal to the world. 1t
is sin, also; for concealing their counsels from
their fellow-citizens, while they are seeking to
possess and exercise the civil administration
over us, and thus govern our persons and tax
our property, is fraud upon us. 1t is prac-
ticing the policy of war in time of peace, and
treating their fellow-citizens who are not in
their secrets, as one opposing army treats an
other. But these thoughts are familiar to you.
intended merely to write private note, to bid
you God speed, and to assure you that multi
tudes look on with admiration, if they do not
help you in your cool and quiet sacrifices, for
the principles which really shelter US ALL Pray
ing and hoping that this attempt to mislead
American philanthropy and patriotism from its
opposition to its chief and most dangerous an
tagonist the slave power, heartily pray God
to bless you and yours. | remain your old
friend, ]. BLANCHARD.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
HOW THE LECTURE WAS RECEIVED.

N"Ahhpooot 4hASS'1 IcV. IT, iCces
We have just had lecture from Gen. -Hous-
ton, on Slavery, and more miserable apology
or defence for Slavery has never been made by
any man of his standing, not even DR.. Adams
himself. If the General had been as suddenly
converted to the Anti-Slavery cause as he was
to the Baptist faith, (which 1 say without re-
proach,) he would have been prominent can
didate for the Presidency in the coming con-
test. If he had taken the ground of no more
slave States or Territory, and been in favor of
restoring the Missouri Compromise, with the
opposition he made last winter to its passage,
and the defence of the New England clergy,
think his chance was best las yeti to get the
nomination in '56. But I think the Presidency
will not be thrust upon him. He his anx-
ious for them, the slaves, to become religious
but not long ago, we read of woman being
sent to prison for learning the slaves to read
the Bible. | have not time to say more, only
we like to have such lectures as the Generals;
it's worth more to the Anti-Slavery cause than
half dozen from other sources.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22


devised. Yours, truly, WIN. GoODELL.
2 CONFIDENCE IN FREE-sOILERs IMPAIRED.
STEwARTsvILLE, WEsTMoRELAND Co., Pa,
March l, 1855.
The gentleman known as "Sam has a
large number of friends in this county, who
nearly spoiled the calculations of the Democ-
racy last October. Antecedent to that cleo
ton, the Old Line Democracy usually had from
1890 to ., 100 majority; but, after hard fight
ing on the part Of his friends, Bigler had the
tremendous majority of thirty UoteS while the
county Know Nothing ticket was only from 100
10 500 of being elected. Anti-Slavery men in
this country have always been like CANCELS
visits" | believe we gave Hale 100 votes
and, to the best of my knowledge large num-
Der of these are now Know Nothings. But Of
one thing | am certain: they did not ledUe their
Anti- SLaoery principles behind 1chen Mey en-
tered tile lodge; and whenever they are called
upon to vote for a Slavery Propaganda they
will decline doing any such damnable thing.
Indeed, think by the time they read few
more numbers of the Organ and the Crusader,
they viii turn their backs upon the thing.
/ am no Know Nothing / do not believe in
them. The seem to like Satan reforming sin.
Their organization is no better than the Jesu-
its and l am sorry that AntiSlavery men,
who profess to believe that " all men are created
free and equal" will uphold an organization
that is avowedly designed to deprive an honest,
well-mcanng class of men of the privilege of
equality. An energetic old party man re-
marked in my hearing, the other day, that he
had less confidence than ever in the Free-Soil-
ers they would deprive honest white men of
the right of suffrage, and place them upon an
equality with blacks-for whom he thought
they have not as much good feeling as they
pretend. And | thought he was near about
correct-believing, as l do, that the genuine
Anti-Slavery man pays no regard to color,
Cline or birth
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
AN OLD SOLDIERS OPINION.
New YORK, Feb. Is, Is

NEW 7 DIRK, FEB. Il, I835.
l cannot but repeat my qualification with
your exposures, from time to time, of the prin-
ciples and measures Of the Know Nothings. A
more thoroughly Anti-Protestant, Anti-Repub
lican, Anti-American, Anti Christian, and Anti
Abolition movement, could hardly have been
devised. Yours, truly, WIN. GoODELL.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22

The intention OF the instrument must prevail THIS
inlenuon inast be collected from the wontsU. s Sap.
CoHrf, IL Wharton, 3S2
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22

STATE OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS or EX-
POSrrION-u) "STRICT CONSTRUCTION ,
Esprit AND INTENTr-(3l RULE OF THE 81
PREAIE COURT ,-.,'::;:.s, Ur These FATAL To
SLAVERY -ConcInhed
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
[copYR1sHr SECURED BY THE AUTHOR
THE LEGAL tenure OF SLAVERY.
LETTER XVI.

For the National Era.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22

Dix What, Is Antonio here
An Ready, so please your grace -
I..- / am sorry for thee Thou ART come 10 answer
a -.,al adversary, an inhuInsn wretch.
-''s Merchant Of Venice.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-10
Independent J ournals.

So far as the following article from the
". Y. Tribune refers to the Piusburg Ga.
ze.te we heartily endorse it. We do not
receive "a more manly, or un,rammecd" jour
nal than this same Pit,bsrg Ga;ette. Bold
fearless, and Incorporating when battling
for the right, VIC sometimes fancy that when
he drew the sword against slavery and kim
dred abominations he threw away the scab-
bard, and he can not sheathe his trencha I
blade even If he desired,
1--WE think our readers will agree with us
that the past few years have witnessed the
growth in this country Of a moro manly and
untrammeled journalism than we possessed
before. We now have newspapers which
are worthy Of the name; which are so truly
the organs of the best public opinion that
they con deal with parties and party leaders
on terms of absolute indeper dence; ;and which
entertain so just a sense Of their real dignity
that they would perish rather than compromise
a principle or prostitute a truth for the sake
Of office or other personal commodity. In spea-
! king of this kind Of journalism the names of
/ the National Era, The PiisJurg Gdzetie,a a nd
I The Buffalo Democracy spsnta neously sug.
gest themselves; there are others worthy
: to be mentioned, buy our object is 81 mply tc
! illustrate our proposilion; and as no membe
Of the profession can be in doubt to which
category he belongs, it is hardly necessary
! to extend the list"