Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-06-13
The Fugitive Slave Law-Some History
About It--Who is Right, 0berlin or
the Fathers of the Republic

The dsgraceful scenes at Oberlin, the pun,
ishment of their enaotors, and the late de-
cision of our Supreme Court have lent new
Importance to the Fugitive Slave law. 1t
has been increased by the action of the late
Republican Convention, The conservatives
Of that body permitted the raseals to slaugh.
ter them. The hot-heads Of Giddings Mon,
roe and Wade controlled its every move.
ment; and the result has been, not only the
slaughter of Swan, but the utter reputation
of the Fugitive Slave law and demand for
its repeal
This law was passed in 1850 Clay, Web,
ster, Benton, and, indeed, almost every re.
spectacle party leader of the day supported
1t. 1t is founded on this clause in the Com
stitution Of the United States w
"No person hell to service or labor in one
State under the laws thereof, escaping into
another, shah in consequence Of any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor; but shall be delivered up
on claim Of the party TO whom such service
or labor is due" Article lV, section I'd.
In the ordinance of 1887, Nticle of the
compact, first providing against slavery in
the States to be formed out of the north,
western territory next binds these States to
deliver up all fugitives
The above clause Of the Constitution, this
clause Of the ordinance OF 1887, and the law
Of 1850 passed by Congress to carry out the
Constitution Of the United States constitute
the obligations upon the people of Ohio to re.
turn oil fugitive slaves to their proper own,
era Tho first law was in 1898 the second
in 1850, substantially the same as that of
1898. We know no better history of these
clauses and the laws above referred to than
Is furnished by Benton, one of the leaders
Of Republicanism just previous to his death
In his closing chapter to his Thirty Years in
tho Senate, says
From Benton's Thirty Years in the Sensts
Chapter C&CVll.
II is OF record proof that the anti.slayerv
clause In the ordinance of 1887 oonld M
be passed until the fugitive slave recovsrv
clause was added to it. That anti-slavery
clause first prepared in the Congress- Of Con.
ieoerAuon py MT Jenerson in I7S4 and re-
jocted, remained rejected until 1887 when
receiving the additional clause for the recoy.
cry Of fugitives, it was unanimously passed
This Is clear proof that the 6ret clause. nro.
hibihng slavery in the north- western terri.
tory, could not be obtained without the aso,
ond, authorizing the recovery OF slaves
which should take refuge in that territorv
ltwes compromise between the free Statss
and the slave States, unanimously agreed 10
BY both parties, and founded on a valuable
eonsideration--one preventing the spread of
slavery over vast extent OF territory, the
other retaining the right Of property ia the
the slaves which might Zee to ii Simulta.
neoasiy with the adoption of this article 10
the ordinance ofI7s7, was the formation Of
the Consultation Of the United States-both
formed at the Same time in neiRhborjne cit
los, and, il may be said, by the same men
The Congress sat in New York-tbe Fed
sral Convention in PhiladelphiA---and. while
the most active membera Of both were man,
bers Of each, Us Madison aud Hamilton. vet
from constant interchange Of opihion. tba
membsrs of both bodies may be assumed to
have worked together for common object
The right to recover fugitiVOs went into the