Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-12-08
SIOUX CITY, IOWA =:
II IOWA A MULTIPLYING STATE

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The right Of the South to slavery is
clearly recogn sed in the Constitution
To make that right secure, valuable and
real, the return of Fugitive, is expressly
snjsined By that instrument. Without
such a guaranty this government never
could have been formed 1t is just as IN
sanbent on every good citizen to carry
out that provision of the Constitution as
spy sther, and it should be done fairly
promptly and in good faith. 1t will never
do for Us 10 say that We will obey this law
or provision, and disooey and resis, some
other. Many have become fanatical upon
this slavery question who fear to boldly
nulhfy Federal law; yet, under the de-
vice Of State rights are using local autho
rity in manner that makes the Fugitive
Slave Law a nuIlity
In some States this hostility has in effect
become a statutory obligation, and consc.
quen,ly to reclaim fugitive is vain un
dertaking. The master is surrounded by
. nob-the oficer Is subjected to insult
and personal violence-and the citizen
who assists in executing he law is i'm
prisoued.
That this should excite the Indignation
Of the South is, to say the least, natural
Upon this subject South Carolina and
Georgia in particular, are greatly sgitated
and have expressed their extreme disp!ea
sure with those northern States that have
assumed an attitude Of hostility and man
ifsst such g relish OF Personal Liberty
Bills. Iowa it seems is not free from sus-
picion among our Southern brethern. 1t
has been said that she tive has laws that
squint towards notification. There are
citizens Of Iowa who would trample upon
tho Fugitive Slave Law openly, if they
possessed the courage; yet we confidently
believe the great majority are conserva-
tive, law abiding citizens who regard the
honor Of the State and viii faithfully OBJ
serve the Ccns,ituion-,he Fugitive Save
clause and ALL
Our Southern bre!hern certainly do US
injustice when they place US in the cata.
cory Of multiplying States with Vermont
and Massachusetts. We have no Personal
Liberty I,aws-nothinz snalgou to them.
The statute in the Code of Iowa DOM plain
ed Of is one Furnishing Kidnapping which
has been in force some ten years, aud is
similar We believe to the statutes Of other
States North and South, in relation to that
subj sct. Section 42ll of the Now Code
is ~ follows: IF any person ptUluAy
and withom lawtul authority forcibly or
"sscretlv eonfne or imprison any other
"person in this State against his will or
forcibly carry or send such person out
of the State or foreib'y seize and con-
6as, or inveiglo, or kidnap any other
"pe-son with the inten. either to cause
"such person to be secretly confined or
Imprisoned in this State a.sins. his will
or to cause such person to be sent out
Of the State against his will, he shall be
FURNISHED by imprisonment in the peni.
"tsutiary not more than five years, or by
81 One not exceeding one thousand dollars
or by both fine and Imprisonment at the
"discretio1 Of the Court
Suro'y !. vii not be contsnded tina. re-
elaiuins a Fugitive Slave is taking per
son ril!tuly and ~it4out luwfM authority
within the meaning of this statute.