Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-08-18
ID isney
0 Ids
q rcen
5 harmon

lids
g rcen
S harmon
from Ohio who voted for tho Nebraska bill lie
is a di,ninutive of tho Pierce Species and just fit to
do, at second hand, the bidding of such slave pro-
pagandists as Atchison and Stringfellow. lie will
of course accept.
The only free State man in the Mock Legislature
has resigned. The last action of this body is the
following. 1t will do:
''The Committee on The Judiciary, to whom was
referred a bill entitled "A bill to punish persons
~decoying slaves from their masters respectfully
report, they have had the same Tor some time un.
adviscment, and recognizing the correctness Of the.
provisions OF the act, but one question has pceu,-
pied the attention of the Committee, and that is
the character of punishment prescribed in the bill.
At first presentation of the subject, there was an
apparent severity which seemed not to be in con-
sonance with the crime. and viewing the ofepse,
in the light Of grand larceny alone, the genius of
our institutions, and the prejudices of the day in
which we live, at once discard so extreme a pun;sI.
ment.
But when VIC view the offence in its neculior
bearings upon our Institutions at this particular
time, 1T assumes more the character of treason
against the laws than an ordinary crime which but
affects the parties Immediately interested or in tho
immediate community in which the offense NAV have.
been committed and may, in its incendiarv tenden.
cies lead to consequences Of the most fearful cbaroc-
ter as well upon our political as social Institutions.
1t is al offence, the frequent recurrence of which
we may well imagine, might light the bonfres Of
civil war, and result in bloodshed moro fearful
than a thousand murders. We are, therefore in.
view of this, prepared to sanction the penalty of
death, and most respectfully the pas.
sage Of the act.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
r. h. REEFS, Chirman.
AK ACT to punish persons Decoying Slaves from
their masters.
Be IL enacted By lie Gorernor and Legislative As.
ssm0Ly Of Kansas Territory:
SECTION l.. If an person shall entice, decoy. or
carry away out OF this Territory, any slave be-
longing to another, with intent to deprive the
owner thereof of the services of such slave, or
with intent to effect or procure the freedom of
such slave, he shall be ~adjudgod guilty of grand
larceny, and on conviction thereof shall suffer
death. SUM-"
SEC; 2. If any person shall aid or assist in emit.
cling, d~ecOying, or pursuading, or carving awav
or sending out Of this Territory any slave belong.
ing to another, with intent to procure or effect
the freedom OF such slave, he shall De adiudred
suffer death.
Sec 9. If any person shall enticc decoy or carry
away out of any State or other Territory of tho
United State, any slave belong to another, with
intent to procure or effect the freedom of such
slave, or to deprive the owner thereof of tho SER
wee ct such slave, and shall bring such slave into
this Territory, he shall be a~djudged guilty of grand
larceny, in the same manner as if such slave Ind
been enticed, decoyed or carried away out of this
territory. IN such case the larceny may be charged
TO to nave been committed in any county of this
Territory into or through which such slave shall
have been brought by such person, and. on con-
yiction thereof, the person offending shall suffer
death. """ '"n'i
Contrary to all slavcholdirg precedent the
testimony OF colored persons is admitted against
whites IN prosecutions under the above net. II
viii therefore be easy under it to put to death any
citlzen against whom slavcholding prejudice or
hatred may be aroused. Any bloody rufinn of the
otringtellow sort may COMPEL his slaves by the
whole combination of plantation terrors, to testify
that any body he chooses todcsignate has attempt
cd to "decoy them away with intent to procure
their freedom" and thus compass cool blooded off.
cial murder at their pleasure. Such legislation as
this cannot fail to strengthen the resolution of the
people of Kansas utterly to repudiate the legisla-
ture and all its acts. But can they successfully re-
s sist Missouri, whom the Shareholders puppit at
Washington, shall give the weight of tho national
government against them?
Slave property according to Stringfellow's Squat
ter Sovereign is increasing in the Territory. 1t
. says:
j We can truly say that no Territory in Uncle
n Sans dominion can be found where the slave can
be made more secureor his work command a higher
price. Kansas is adapted to slave labor, az all
IS can testify who have experimental in the matter.
n Our slave population is gradually increasing by
the arrival of emigrants and settlers from the
slave States, who, having an eye to making a for.
tune, have wisely concluded to secure a farm n
Kansas and stock it well with valuable slaves.
&c There are nearly one hundred slaves in this imme.
date neighborhood, and we have yet the first in,
I%etance OF ones escaping to record. Situated as
Missouri is, being surrounded by Free States, we
would advise the removal of negroes from the from.
tier counties to Kansas where they are compare.
lively safe. Abolitionsts too well know the char.
ter of the Kansas squatter to attempt to carry out
n the %nefarious schemes of the underground railroad
. Iootnpopioa :