Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-02-28

terms Of the Constitution have been complied
with, and i law the most stringent that South
ern men have asked has been put upon the
statute book. The powers of the federal 60
vcrnncnt itself have been exercised upon this
subject 1t is not the failure OF the federal 60
vcrnment to act, uf which We complain; 1t was
not the failure of the federal government to act
that was the reason for embodying this pro-
hibition in the Constitution. This condition
WAS nut there to louk beyond the federal pow
er- 10 look home TO tho States and the people
Of the States themselves. The prohibition is
on the State government; the demand is on the
pcoplc of the States who are concerned with it.
1t is thus, sir, in the action OF STATIC govern
ments, and the people Of the nonslaveholdn5
States, that your Constitution has been utterly
violated and Gisregarded
'rhe Northern mind has been educated in the
doctrine of conflict between Northern and
Southern institutions. They Fave acted pre-
sistenty upon that doctrine long before any
of their leaders were Dol! enough to announce
it in direct terms. They seek upon this. prin-
cipc to maintain exclusive possession Of all
the common territories. But they are not con-
tent with thcir successful struggle for 'thlS oc.
crpation of the territories 1t is obvious that
their ultimate views reach 70 a participation in
the occupation Of the Southern States Here,
by every indirect assault, they attack the in
stitution Of slavery as il exists in the States.
They labor to render it so insecure and unpruti-
table as to induce lis abolition or abandonment
in the States where it now exists. Upon every
side wo behold the aboundEg evidences Of
this design The report Of the Joint Commit.
tees on tho Ilarper's Ferry oulrages, gives you
Synopsis OF Tie Legislative action o! the NON
savchoding States in reference 10 fugitive
slaves In every non-slavtholding Sistc East
Of the RockY Mountains, there now slGEde
upon the statute book, laws hostile to the re-
covery of fugitive slaves, with = single cxctp-
t.n Ohio affords the exception. In that
State there was, until 1858, tie most offensive
legislation upon this subject. In 1855, owing
TO some division among their opponents the
Democratic party obtained Q minority in the
Ohio Legislature, and by one sweeping act IT,
peaIe,l that class Of luws The Republicans
have now regained possession Of the govern
ment of that State, and the Governors mes
sage of this winter recommends a restoration
of hostile legislation. IN Ohu as in all the
free States, with Or without law. fugitive
slave is practically discharged from slavery as
whclning is this sentiment at the North---So
perfectly does il pervadc and control the gen.
eral lhought, that they tlo not even realize
that We take exception at their nuIragrS. Con-
sconently, they involve themselves in incur.
siStenccs OF which they are not ronSclouS.-
They extend to us cOurtcSics and assurances Of
friendship, at the very moment that they are
aiming the dcadlitSt blow at our social and in
du<trial institutions. The city Of New Haven
sent n commissioners here 10 US this winter.-
Alter his arrival here. inc assumed the larger
character Of representing the whole State OF
Connecticut, and delivered lis 4 written ha-
rangue on the subject Of the friendly sentl-
pents OF the people OF that State towards the
people Of Virginia. But sir, hear from Con-
necicut conflicting dissnnant expression
The purposes Of those people, Us declared by
the messenger Of the town meeting Of New
Haven are different from those which lind
formally and effectively announced in actual
Legislative enactInents in that State. Here is
the law Of Connecticut MS stated by your
Joint Committee on the Harrer's Ferry out
RACES:
CONNECTICUT.
This State which late lSiu tolerated slavery Within
her borders appears by the Census OF that year.
prohibits under penalties all her officers from aid
M acts which be done BY ihen 10 attempting to eae-
cute the law
Uy The act OF 1854 Sec IL provided iha, every person
who shall falsely and alciousy d-care -sent or
tend thst any person entitled freedom Is slave,
service labor 10 any or parsons With Intent tn
aid assist in procuring i"rcioe removal "i
such free person from ;n state slave shall pay fne
OF $4,000. and shall be imprisoned hv. in the State
prison.
Sec In all cases arising under this act, the truth Of
any declaration, representation preienre that any per-
son hcng or ha wing hren IN the stale is slave
a, - rr
he deemed proved except by the testimony g! at least
credible witnesses trs,ying TO fac: directly Tending
Ihe truth Of such ecaraton pre"nce representation,
or 10y legal evidence equir thereto.
Sec B. Suhjec,s 10 fine of sjUDa and imprisonment III
the State prison for five years, all who shall sez. any
persons entitled freedom with in,rn. 10 have such per
held in slavery.
Sec l. Prohibits ,hS admission Of deposons in all
under this act provides that any ni,ns,ses tescs
falsely in Gs0j or e plfy aroused anil prosecuted
der this act, he hall tie nnsl $5U and imprisoned five
in the State prison This law is In the opinion OF
committee but little short OF an invitation 20 perjury,
byiimposiuy penalties on false swearing against the
party accused
Why, sir, if you 90 there and recognize your
own slave, and say, there stands my slave, You
are Immediately liable to indictment under this
law; and, if convicted, to Imprisonment in the
pentcntiary for five years, and fine Of IS, 600.
And when You come up for. trial you have got
to send home and get two credible persons TO
prove the fact Of ownership; aud directly they
prove it they are taken up upon charge Of
perjury, and put in prison. Each Of them has
to send home and get two credible persons to
testify in their belialf-and as soon as they tes-
tify, they, too, urc indicted. and have TO send
home TO get two more And thus might they
70 on sir, until they exhausted the whole popu.
lation Of Spo,Sylyania. (SpotsyHania is the
speakers county.) Did any boIy ever hear of
a fugitive slave recovered in Connecticut? For
the very fact of his getting there, is according
to the law ofthat State) release for such slave
from further service TO his master. We have
hal presented TO us. through the Governor, an
invitation from Massachusetts to 60 there to sec
their Legislature. This, SIR is the hard blow
in this lnatter-that these people, who are
doing us this gross injustice, are 80 lnsenslhic
of the fact that they can venture TO extend
to us. and expect lis to accept them.
With such II law upou their statute books Ms
I shall Immediately read, with the fact staring
lis in the face. that. in violation Of that article
Of the Constitution, TO man can 60 TO Massa.
chusc1,s and claim his own slave without i'm
m;ncnt danger to his life. and an almost GER
tain,r of being put in the pcitcntiary, 1t
seems to me that they ought to be cllary ol
sending us an invitation to visit that State, and
to Interchange courtesies. Here is their law.
It is the Joint Committees summary Of the Ia"
Or Massachusetts Here stands the law nnl!i.
fying the Eraeral Constitution by prohibiting
INV of their officers from executing the ing:-
tive slave law. One Of tile compromises Vi the
Constitution is, that Il slave escaping from ser
vice, shall be delivered up on claim. MAss,.
cnrsErrs says that no officer Of hcls shall aid
in delivering up fugitive slave Here is The
nroyision of the law upon the subject:
" MASSACHUSETTS.
The Law. Of this State forbid under heavy penaie' her
.z-us and State and county officers from executing me
ury. slave law aiding In either and denies The
,se of her iails and pulr bungi for such purposes
Ths Governor is required appoint commissioners In
very county to aid slaves In recovering their ree
iom when proceccded against fugitive slaves, aud NIL
nss attending such proceedings are drecca 70
he State. =, ,,,n -
Any prrsop who sha remove, attempt 10 remove or
ome into the State with the nenon 10 remove OF ASSIST In
emovins any person who Is No! tusiVe save, Hhn ne
meaning OF the constitutional Is liable TO punishment ny hac
10, less than n OaU more than suV anu prisoh.
mem; not less than one nor more Than FIVE wears
Their b0b,rs cOrpus acts gives trial by jury 10 irsTe