The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-07-15
The Democracy nnd the Fugitive Slave
Law Of 1880.

Law OF 1880.
The following extracts from lead
ing Democratic journals, in 1850
bearing on the Fugitive Slave Law.
70 to chow how effectual the lash OF
tue Southern overseer has been in
determining the sentiment Of the
party, when VIC take into account it's
pressnt position on the same subject:
'our own opinion il thst the governmeu I,
ef the United States has nothing TO DO with
enfsfcin ns that agreement. II 10 Q matter
lrft entirely with the state. We
do not think that the general government has
hny right 10 send It's Office ~ into the states
10 carry out what good faith requires the
sistes alone 10 do. This is the Democratic
an not the Federal reading Of the Consti.
tst.en."-tCincinnsti Enquirer.
"ws agree with the Enquirer. that this is
the De mocrstic snd not the Federal reading
sf the Constitution. What follows, thenf
That the Fugitive Act In an usurpstion, un-
coustitutioaal, void, for the want OF power in
Congress 10 pass it--s nullity uEder the
tenth smendnient. which reserves the undel.
egstsd Powets TO the states and the people,"
--tSandusky Mirror.
1--WE would not have voted for the law
with or without the essential mod fcation."
--(Ohio Statesman.
''whether Constitutional or not, IL 10 so
nsnifestly in conflict with the spirit OF the
age, that II cannot stand" Il Cleveland
plaindeaief.
"The Democratic press OF the sis,e are
opposed 10 the law. Soru- VI vur
brethren regard Il az unconstitutional, while
Others consider u clearly constitutional but
unjust in lis provisions-oppressive in its
character. impolitic and unworthy OF tins
progressive age, and oil manifest q willing
ness for its repeal.-l Youngstown Repub.
Iran.
The Holmes County Farmer described the
law as, "an Outrage upon the Declaration OF
Independence, contrary TO the Constitution
OF the United States, repugnBnt to the Com.
mon sympathies Of mankind, and entirely
unnecessary and uncslled for"
The Sandusky County Democrat declared
s'our Represe natives sold themselves and
betrayed US and TINT wilfully, when they
enacted it," and pronounced 1t ga law ab.
horrent TO Col, nature. and humanity, which
cannot and will not stand"
The New Lisbon (Ohio) Patriot, then. ed.
tied by WIN d. Morgan, characterized it as
"a bill OF abominstions.' observing that
''the monstrosity Of its provisions does not
consist SO much in those portions which
simply comply with the Constitutional re.
quirements of the act Of Congress, as IN the
detail which gives every advantage on the
side Of bondage" and Significantly adding
that "ifi. be wrong Tor The slave to struggle
for his freedom, the American people, IN IN
fancy OF their existence, set an example
which the fugitive finds easy TO hold up IN
extenuation OF his crime"
The Dchsnee Democrat, proclaimed that
sAhumAnity, social order and the better feel
ings OF our nature demand the repeal OF
this blood.thi lsw.'
The Hancock Courier Of January
I, 1881, in speaking OF a fugitive
slave case, at Philadelphia, in which
the black was refused the right to
prove that he had been freed by his
master, remarked as follows: This
10 but one example among the many,
. OF the workings OF injustice towards
that down-trodden portion OF the hu
man race, by tho present Fugitive
Slave Law. 1t matters not what
proof may be at hand to show tho,
the person claimed is not the one fol
whom the slave-catcher ia 10 facI
seeking. lfa single witness swears tc
his identity, a mountain OF evidences
which did not exactly deny his idcn
tity. would be OF no avail. The IN
gitlve, by the tenth section, is not sl
lowed 10 traverse The claim OF labol
Or services, except SO far as TO prov,
that, he 10 not the identical pcrsor
claimed. II matters not il he have
purchased his liberty, or If he hav,
been liberated by his master. or If b,
were born free. He has no right I,
prove any Of these things. The ouIy
proof he can bring, is that he Ia no
the identical person."
Such was the Democratic press /,
few years since. Now We hear no
ching from that direction, but tn,
moss earnest advocacy Of that sam
law then SO obnoxious. The rigi,
enforcement Of this law, in letter an,
spirit, 10 now made almost the onl
issue with the party.