The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-21


entirely divorced from the profits OF the slave trade Ennis
sares had been sent the Atlantic to poison the
minds obscure the vision and ALLEVIATE the affections OF the
American people AT that time Pennsylvania would not
blurred the fair page of her legislation by the act OF
847 which denied the Of her prisons to the United
States for the detention and saekeepng OF negro ugiyes
from labor seeking concealment within her jurisdiction
At that time Massachusetts would not have stained the
oc page other statute book with the provisions OF such
an act as the personal---very. ba law which at blow
attempts blot out the constitution and TO paralyze two
acts Congress passed in pursuance of its provisions
procams dsfanchsement of his profession to that lawyer
who may venture TO represent claimant OF fugitive
slave under the laws of Congress of 1893 1885, and
its whole scope and tendency moral treason against
the United States IL it be enforced would be declared
unconstitutional and any overt of resistance under
the federal authority would be treated and punished
actual Thank Heayen the native spirit OF Penn
sylvana awakened and her honor redeemed by the
repeal of her Infamous law of s47 but that of Massachu
ses in spite of earnest circumstances and stirring appeals
from her greatest to the patriotism and national ale
glance OF her people, yet remains untouched upon her
ute-book to the present day.
Where is the spirit which in the year l643 bound Mas
sachusetts, New Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven
together colony for mutual and common proec-
ton? Where sleeps the spirit of wise and provdent
forecast which suggested in the celebrated Articles OF
Confederation formed in that year. provision that
want running away from his master into any of the
federate jurisdictions should be delivered to bis master
upon the certificate of magistrate other proo The
personal---very. bill of 1855 ignores the existence of these
ancient articles and is obivous of all existing
federaons well of the day she to "the con-
ederae jurisdictions" to herself as one member of
in Massachusetts, to the ugitvesave laws Of 1893 and
1850 s that they contain provision for right OF trial
by jury II this removed there would still
be another 1t comes from persons who opposed
to the execution of all fugitveslave enactments But
in the of alleged fgVes there advantage but
manifest improperly, in such form of trial The New
England colonies were keenly alive in 643 to all the
forms and principles of English freedom which did not
trench upon their distinctive theological opinions but
they SOW nothing in the questions involved in simply
claiming fugitive from labor which justified or required
the interposon of jury. He to be delivered TO his
MASTER according to the words of the articles upon
ticae from magistrate in the jurisdiction out of which
the said servant fed other proof This regulation and
others of similar nature expressly made part of
this celebrated compact for the which the
ton assignshat of preserving peace and taking away ali
occasions of strife among the parties composing it. Happy
would be for the honor and repose of the country If
these communities would heed the lessons of their
history and adopt the sentiments and examples of their
ancestors in their present peicy and laws while acting
| on grander and wider thearel
But before the personal---very. bill of Massachusetts,
passed. various other States enacted laws within their
jurisdictions the purpose of Gripping and disabling
the of 1893 This statute of Congress of the
earliest which the fareeing of that day
deemed necessary the peace Of the country and the JUS
ce of its citizens 1t was passed in the administration
and reeeved the sanction Of Washington. 1t only
to carry the constitution ITSELF injunction upon
States for the observance of duty which the col
ones had performed before and during the confederation
which Pennsylvania as State had voluntarily imposed
upon her own citizens and which the celebrated ordinance
of 1881 so much and justly extoed for its wise and lib
provisions imposed upon the territory 1t forever dedi
Gated to freedom. ~. 49,. ..".
But State enacmens embarrassed the execution of the
law of 1893 and combinations made in the free States
with English subjects in Canada to facilitate escapes by
what Is popularity known the underground railroad
Every devised by rendering fuglves secure
| from recapture TO multiply the motives to fight
The southern from loss Of their property incurred
in violation of good faith to colonial and constitution
pledges and to all the circumstances of earlier and
later history seemed to have become ineuraby aenaed
The hand Of an enemy bad thrown the apple of dcord
among large family happy States which marching
together band of attached brothers, greatness and
glory Wise statesmen in il all the fell mischief of
the demon, who aimed In undermining the affections OF the
people carry away the grand palladium of country
/ call upon the intelligent North northern man, to
Gc lovers OF the constitution to act good citizens
act with view the practical benefit of their
try rather yield themselves the sublimated general
tiles of ghtheaded giddy and theoretical sen'imenalists
home and abroad No State inerpose obstacles to
the execution of the fugitive slave law within its juris
dicon and be Just snd faithful member of the Union
Any State which passes laws TO prevent impede their
execution which does not by its legislation give them
the moral force of its countenance and need be- the
physical aid of its executive police has fallen from that
devoted allegiance which distinguished the early days Of
| the republic. ....,.
Let consider this subject with reference to the words
of the constitution providing for the delivery of fugitives
from Justice and fngives from labor These provisions
follow each other in the second section of the fourth
tcle.
person charged In any State with treason felony
other crime who shall fee from justice and be found
the State which fed be delivered up removed
to the State having jurisdiction Of the crime
escaping into another shall in consequence of any law
regulation therein bs discharged from such service labor
but shall be delivered claim Of the party whom such
service or labor may be DUE
The criminal and the slave flying from the law and
the other escaping from his MASTER both TO be delivered
M the one on demand of the executive authority
State from which he ed and the other claim of the
party whom such service labor may be due In these
provisions intended to guard against the collisions to
which the preservation of distinct State rights might in
evitaby lead it Is observable that the clause is dis
ngushed from the other by this guarded language that
"noav orregutaon0 in the State Which he has escaped
shall prevent the delivery rendition to his This
being the supreme iaw Of the whole republic that which
gives the protection and honor of nationality it be
evaded dsobeyed only atthe sacrifice of fundament
well superative social duty Obedience-implicit,
unreserved and perfect obedience the constitution
hese great Interstate regulations is at the base of
social edfce and the keystone of the whole national
| pile.
i The two above-quoted provisions as to criminals and
servants in the same category. The legislature of
State in throwing impediments the fair operation of
either would, have ntmated be equally culpabe To
put extreme if State dispensing with capital
punhments should refuse to deliver throw hindrance
justice in States where certain crimes capitay pun
shed, would not such refusal be inracon of the
stituon Some States disapprove in their punitive sys
TENS OF solitary confinement and others approve of
plan but that which separates offenders Some find i'm
prsoument for few abundant for all the purposes of
retrbuve justice and permanent reform, while others shut
their criminals for life Some i'm the culprit if
in dungeon horrible the black hole of Calcutta
in prison nearly deestable while other States provide
| humane places of punishment.
l Now ask if in this diversity of opinion and practice
sentiment should grow up any of the States against the
nhcton Of death Imprisonment for life the lash in
serghteous benevoence any State yielding itself to the
Sc .aL 10