Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-11-07
VERMONT LEGISLATURE.
TnuRsDAr, Oct. 80.
SENATE.

PRAYER by the Chaplain.
h'poHs. BY Mr.. Phelps, for general COM
mittee. in favor Of bill relating to the cleo
ton Of Delegates to the Constitutional Com
vention; laid upon the table
by Mr.. Warner, for committee on Finance,
that II is lnexpedient to grant the petition Of
John ,. Miles and others, praying for an in.
crease Of the pay allowed to all officers spe-
Gifted IN section l3 Of chapter ll6 Of COM
piled statutes; and the petitioners had leave
70 withdraw their petition.
Senate biHs passed. Amending section ~
Of chapter 20 Of compiled statutes, relating
to the returns Of County Clerks. Annexing
Bradley Vale to the towns Of Victory and
Concord
Blu introduced. BY Mr. Underwood. in
alteration Of chapter 76 Of the compiled stat
utes referred 10 the committee on Printing.
The bill prohibiting the use Of our iajls
and prison 10 the officers Of the United States
for the detention Of Fugitive Slaves, was a.
gain taken up. The question was on the
amendment proposed by Mr.. Hotchkiss, to
strike ont the proyiso, That nothing in this
act shall be construed 10 prevent the use Of
our jalls and prisons for Fugitives, as a place
OF security for them from any claimant or
claimants
Nj. Gregory obtained the floor, and spoke
at length IN favor Of the bill entire. lie was
opposed 70 the proposed amendment, and
went into a close and labored argument 10
reiute the argument Of Mr. Pierpoint against
the bill, sustaining his position by showing
that the Fugitive Slave Law and all the leg
islation Of Congress Of the United States up
on the subject Of slavery, was unconstitution-
al. Sooner than believe 1t otherwise he
would adopt the sentiments Of Garrison and
consider the Constitution a covenant with
death aud an agreement with He'll"
Mr.. liunton opposed the amendment --
Without the proviso the bill would be a verv
convenient jail delivery. For any one would
only have 10 get some one TO assert that he
was fugitive slave, and the iaier would
Immediately be obliged 10 let him 20. He
thought both friends and foes Of the bill
should oppose the amendment Without the
amendment. the Jailors or Sunern't of the
State Prison would be subject 10 two penal
ties instead of one, that of the United States
laws and that provided in this bin. If in nc
cofdance with previous enactment Of the
General Assembly of Vermont to give the
fugitive slave a right Of trial by Jury, he
should be confined IN any jail or prison. the
lallor would be subject 10 the penalties Of
this act lie thought that if the bill we're
passed at ALL therefore, II ought to contain
the proviso
Mr.. Johnson said IL was with extreme re-
luctance that he said anything upon this bill.
but he believed II necessary IN order to ex.
plain the vote he should give. The argu.
ment of Mr.. Pierpoini the other day, was ad-
mlrable, and would be convincing, It the
premises we're correct. The signature of
Gen. George Washington to the fugitive act
Of 1888, was wrung from him by arguments
Of distinguished men, who told him if the
Constitution did not warrant It, it was at least
eXDedient, and on the argument Of cxped-
eney, be signed the bill. That law even. was
/ far exceeded IN siungency by the Fugitive
Slave Law Of 1850.
Mr. Willard was opposed 10 the bill, and
especially if the amendment did not prevail.
The proviso in his Judgment was entirely
unconstitutional, and as 10 the rest Of the
bill, 1t was enough TO say that IT was unneccs-
sury lr the United States used our lais
and prisons they did il through the courtesy
/ Of the State lie thought the State could
/ grant that right or refuse H., as the Logisla-
ture pleased. Bu, when We enacted a law
making our lails ard prisons castles Of de-
fence against the General Government, it
looked too much like notification, and he
protested against any such law as that ap-
I peaTng on our statute book
| Mr. Marsh moved TO amend the proposed
amendment, by inserting loo the place Of that
part proposed to be stricken out, the follow
ing " Prorided That nothing 10 this act
shall be construed TO prevent tho detention Of
any person so claimed, IN any jail Or prison,
until such person So claimed shall have all
the benefits Of chapter I0l of compiled stat
utes, entitled " Rights Of persons claimed as
fugitive slaves" secured to said person" lie
believed that this amendment would remove
the objections raised by many Senators TO
the original proyiso.
The amendment to the amendment was
accepted,
Mr. Hnnton objected to the adoption of
this amendment, as it entirely nullifed tho
Bill
Adjourned.
TTOf1CE