Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-08


The anti,slavery sentiment in Massachusetts,
(says the New York San) has been showing
itself recently in very decided forms. Since
the Burns case and the passage Of the Ne
braska. Kansas act by Congress, the opposition
to the Fugitiye,slave Law has become so in
tense that it amounts almost to mania among
a large proportion of the people. In the Mas
sachusetts Legislature, too, we find the popu-
lar sentiment strongly reflected, and the over
whelming majority in favor Of the removal of
Judge Loring, shows how deeply fixed and
general is the determination to prevent the
execution of the law in Massachusetts, in future.
But holder step than the removal of Judge
Loring is about TO be taken. An act, with the
title, " An act TO project lie rights and liberties
Of the people Of Massachusetts" has been re-
ported to the Senate, which, according to the
Traveller, proposes the raIkest notification"
From that paper we copy an outline of the bill:
1t provides that every alleged fugitive from
service shall be entitled to the benefit of the
writ OF hd6eds corpus, which may be issued by
the Supreme Court Court of Common Pleas,
any Justices Court or Police Court of any city
or town, by any Court Of Record, or by any
| Justice of either such courts or by any Judges
of Probate, or even by any Justice of the Peace,
| if none OF the before-named magistrates are
known to be within five miles Of the place
where the party is imprisoned ANY court be-
fore which this writ shall be made returnable,
shall be authorized to order a trial by jury in
relation to the facts or to admit the party to
bail in sum not exceeding $4,000. Any
claimant of the person for whose benefit said
writ is sued out, shall state in writing the facts
on which he relies, and neither the claimant of
the alleged fugitive, nor any person interested
in his service or labor, nor the alleged fugitive,
shall be permitted to testify at the trial and
no confessions, admissions, or declarations OF
the alleged fugitive against himself shall be
given in evidence.
"No person holding State office is allowed
to issue any warrant or grant any certificate
under the Fugitiveslave Act of the United
States, or any capacity to serve any such war
rant under penalty of forfeiting his Office, and
being forever ineligible to any Office of trust
or emolument under the laws OF the Common
wealth. In the case of judges, such administra-
| ton of the law OF Congress shall be deemed
sufficient ground for Impeachment or removal
| by address Any person who shall act as coun
1 sci or attorney for any claimant for an alleged
fugitive from service or labor, under or by vir-
tue of the acts of Congress, shall be deemed
to have resigned any commission from the
Commonwealth that he may possess, and shall
be thereafter ncapaciated from appearing as
counsel or attorney in the courts of this Com
monwealth.
Sherifis, deputies, coroners, constables, police
officers, and the volunteer militia are all for.
hidden TO aid in any way in the arrest or rem
dition of fugitive slave, under penalty Of
81 900 or $4,000 fine, each and every one Of
them, and imprisonment in the State prison fol
one or two years. The Governor is to be au.
thorized to appoint public commissioner in
every county Of the State to defend the alleged
fugitive, and to defray all necessary expenses
in doing this. No jail or other place Of con,
fnement in the Commonwealth can be used as
a place Of detention for any alleged fugitive.