Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-05-09

resolution has BEEN passed By t6e Massachusetts
Senate sppropriating So 900 to test the censttuoa1tv
of the law Of Virginia providing for search Of ali YES
sells leaving the ports of that State order to
the escape fugitive slaves by Kcase has occurred
under this law which offers fair chance for bringing its
merits before legal tribunal We extract from the Bos-
ton Journal the following synopsis of it !:
"For the last twenty-five years Captain Baker has
pursued the occupation of coaster between various
Northern ports and Norfolk and other ports of Virginia
In the ordinary pursuit Of his business in the month of
July last he sailed from Dennis, in this State IN the
schooner Nymphas C. Hail. bound for Norfolk with
cargo of fish his account The schooner arrived
in Norfolk about the Goth of July aforesaid and remain
ed there until the LIST of August when she sailed with
cargo of corn and fruit forNew Bedford Capt. Baker
sailed openly having board colored person what
ever any persons besides the proper of the
vessel excepting two gentlemen belonging to New York
who were passengers
Previous to his departure from Norfolk he was not
boarded by any searching officer, nor at any time re-
qured by any one to submit to inspection was he
aware that he had violated any law of Virginia did
ne suppose that the act of the Virginia General As
sembly required Of him to hunt up officer and pro-
cure an inspection of his motion before leaving the
port The vessel duly arrived in New Bedford and Capt
Baker sent her again to Norfolk under another master
being detained necessarily at home: whereupon, her
arrival IN Norfolk she seized by of the State
oncers OF Virginia for alleged violation of the Of
Assembly in her departure from Norfolk the last pre-
ylous trip unsearched, and without the certificate of in
specon Capt. Baker Immediately repaired Norfolk
was apprized Of the ground of seizure and advised
| by merchants and by leesh counsel in Norfolk wnoss
advice he sought that the act aforesaid was not only
unreasonable, oppressive and injurious the coasting
trade but violation of the constitutional rights of the
citizens of the United States to when 1t applied He
declined to pay the penalty demanded of him the
don OF releasing his vessel and offered give salts
factory bond for any which might be required in
order relieve his from arrest SO that he might
try MS rights by making the proper defence in the
but found that his vessel could not be bonded until the
sitting of the court then next to be held after the lapse
OF two and half months Believing the law to be I'M
constitutional he deemed it to be his duty do nothing
BY way of compromise but assert his ultimate rights
before the proper tribunals Of Virginia. and finally, if
need be, before the Supreme Court Of the Union"
Capt Baker. being citizen of Massachusetts, petit
TONED e Legislature for protection and asista IN
the assertion and legal maintenance of what he
to be his constitutional rights and it is to pay the ex-
pense Of prosecuting the suit brought by him the
that the Senate of Massachusetts, passed the resou
ton approprating 81 500 The act complained Of was
passed by the Legislature of Virginia in the year 1856
and in its caption the object of the law is stated to be
provide additional protection for the slave property Of
the citizens of Virginia DEGREES that no vessel own
ed in whole in part by any citizen resident of an
other State and bound to any port north of the Capes
Virginia, shall depart without undergoing an inspection
and receiving certificate that effect under penalty
of $780, Pending any suit for the recovery penalty
the vessel shall leave the State until bond be given
in the penalty of $1,000 for the payment of the forfeit
fne together with the costs and expenses incurred
enforcing it in default Of such bond the vessel is held
liable. Under the operation of this law every vesse
bound for Northern port must pay five dollars for ben
inspected and the inspection be certified to- andt
certificate only be procured payment of the ta
mentioned.