Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-11


tolerated, that government created by the
people, and maintained for their benefit, should
do Injustice 10 any portion Of its citizens.
After asserting her right II withdraw from
tbe Union, South Carolina, through her con
vention, Among other reasons; declares that she
Is justified ln exercising, at this tiue, that right
because several OF the States have for years
pos only refused TO fulfil their constitutional
obligations, but have enacted laws either nul-
living the Constitution, 0f rendering useless
The acts OF Congress relative 70 the surrender
of fugitive slaves that they have permitted
toe open ablishment ef societies 10 disturb
the peace of other States; that The people Of
the nom slsveholding States have aided IN she
escape of slaves from their mssiers, and have
Incitsd 10 seryile insuEFeotleB iaose that remain
and have announced their determination to
exclude the South froe the common territory
OF the Unioo. As the Representatives. Of tue
people of Penasy lEania, il becomes your solemn
duty to examine 9hese serious charges, made by
the authority OF sogeroign State.
Pennsylvania IS ipeudee 10 The list Of States
that are charged with having refused compli>
snce with that mandate OF the Constitution Of
the United States, which declares "that no per-
son held GO service or labor in one State, under
The laws thereof, sseapiag into arosher. shall,
in consequence OF any laB or regulation therein,
be discharged from such serVoe or labor, bat
shall be delivered up, on claim of the patty to
whom such service or aber mag be due" So
far from admitting the truth Of this charge,
uuhesltatnglg aver, that apon careful exam
lnaton, il viii be fouud that the legislative aud
judicial action of PennS, lvania whether as a
eoiony as member Of the old confederation,
or undor the existing Constitution or tie Uni
ssd States, has been almost invaria5y iufaen9-
ed by a proper appreciation of her own oblig'-
,ous, and by high regard for the rights, the
feelings and lbe interests OF her sistar Stltes.
As early II05, the provincial authorities
of PennsylVania. after reeitiug in the preamble.
that ''lhe Importation of Indian slaves from
garolina, or other places, bath been observed
to give the Indians Of this province some UNI
bragg for suspicion AMI dissatisfaction passed
an act against the Importation OF Indian slaves
from any other province, or colony, 10 Ameri-
oa, hat stthe same time declared, ''that 40 such
Indiana slave, as desertiug bis mlster's service
elsewhere, shalt fly nto this province, shall be
understood or construed 10 be eomHrshended
within this act. And wbeu, IN l7S0, more
thsn eight years before the Constitution OF the
United States went iuto operation, FennsylV
ui4 passed her law for the gradual abolition OF
slavery, mindful OF the rigels OF hor c0nfed-
crates, she declared lh4t "th.s act, or nytaiug
IN il conta;nei, shall mt give any relief or she
Der 10 any absGoudlug or runaway negro, OF
Hlulatta slave, or servant, who has a5seuted
himself, or shall absea, himself, from bis her
owaer, master or mistress, residing 10 any other
State or country, bur such owEer, master or
mistress, shall have like iigbi aud all 10 de-
taaud, claim and take away his slave, or SER
ysui. as he might have bad III ease this set bad
not been made. 4 provision muca more un-
eqaiv2eal IN rs ELFaseology, aud direct 10 iia
commands, taah ltose fogad, on the s4lne sao-
leel, 10 The Constitution Of the Union. The
5sei, by lis terms vas nadd ln,ppiica5ls 10 DC
Iueslio slaves attending upon delegates 10 Con-
gress from tic other A,nescan States, and those
held by persons Shile passing ihloagI thia State
OF so1gurulug lhersl1 ios Yeil5G aui i5ager
than Elk montas-
i'm 1888 /, vas made a llsh renAl oiFen K for
any person, by force. gioieuee or i7and, 70 take
out Of this State, eny uegEo or mul%1te, N.tl
tue intention Of keeping or selling the said ne
gro OF nnlhtto slave, for tersa CT years
Soon after the passage OF this act, the Supreme
Court OF Pennsylvania decided that il ,;id not
apply "a the iorciDe removal OF u slave, BY the
owner or his agent. but that its objecs was t.
punish the forclble or fradulent abdacion from
tte State of free uegroes, with the inieution Of
kceplBg or seitisg thcn slaves. Thus al
that early day, giving JQdcial sanction TO tue
doctrine, that master had the right 10 take
bjs slaves wherever he could ind them:
The first sct Ct Congress pFogid!ng for the
rendition Of fugiigeS from justice or labor, was
passed IN 1893, and originated from the refusal
af tho Governor Of Virginia 10 surrender ard
deliver up, on tue requS!Eloa of the Ggvernor
OF Psnusy ylvans, three persons wac lad been
indicted In Pennsy !yauia for kidnapping ne
gro, and carrying sim into Yirgiui3. Aud wi en
II was folud that this Congressional st4tatc did
not afford simple, speedy aud efi ;ient remedy
for the recovery Of lugityes from sor, tie
Legislature Of Pennsy syigaIi4, a; tie request of
the adjolning State Of Maryland, 10 1926,
passed ntr act Aslo give feet % tue provisions
os tue Constitution OF the United State. reia-
sigo to fugilipes from labor, for be pro.ectiJ IN
of free people ot color, and to pFegeut k,auap p
ping" luis excellent and well considered Is
G,ef all Tie exlsung emergencies. It required
.taa iadge<, justices II he pe4ce and aldermen,
ct lhe STATE, upon the OATH of ;he cIHmant, 10
issue theit warrant Tor the arrest Of any fng
live from LABOR escaping 'uto this SIa:e; direct
lag, however, that such warrants sLuald be
sl4de returnabie, BY 2bousoeveE issusd, before
jOdge OF the proper county. 1t required
Sherifs and Constaoie5 to execute such war
rants. 1t authorized the commitment Of the
fugitive 20 the eOuaty Jail, and otherwise made
provisions TO secure ds effective execution, and
81 the ssue time TO prevent It's abuse
This law continued quietly IL operation un-
I'll TIE decision of the Saprone Court of the
United States, made 10 1912, III the ease of
Prigg vs.. The CormOnwea!th =. Pennsylva-
nis. The lis ory of tie NAY be briefly
stated; Edwara Prigg was iudleiel 10 the