The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-19
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TN Ef,CTIYE sIAvRrAw

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states OF the tnios in which slavery exists The com
mittee had been i'm pressed with the belle, that ,hs -
one OF those grievances referred 10 in the Prcsian,
Message to which the Southern States attached Rrea
poslance The resolves of popur assemblies IN outh~
stateshe addresses OF speakers % Southern audiences
the frequent and earnest references to it the ncwspa
Fer press of the South great a1d fragrant v!caoa
a tho constitution OF the frasrna relation of the
iree TO the siaye S.aeshc denuncsion Of those iaws
z! southern members Of Congress- both branches Of
't national legislature, for re last three four yss
together, given to thi, subject great and, in tho
Judgment Of the committee undue importance. witk
Whatever intent OF design such nws may hayo been en-
acted III any state they cannot be regarded as havinsr
"ny eieet ~ preventing Or obstructng the recapure
states for the recovery Of fugitive slaves are executed ek
eiusyey by the United States Courts and
appointed by them AS necessary consequence il fol-
lows that any State hw which eny obstacle to the
iu and perfect execution OF the laws Of the United sase
would be void and Of no effect whatever, and be 50
declared BY the United States Courts and Commissioners
Suh laws any there be, therefore incompetent Ia
90 ny mseel Wnasever 10 any one concerned IN the
capture OF fugitive slave and at most be considered
only as an exhibition Of opposition to law which soma
q he states regard containing provisions dangerous -
me rght OF free persons residing within their limits.
While, therefore, the committee have been able -
perceive that the state laws complained Of can really
Affect the hts interests Of Southern people States
yet from an anxious desire to concate the feelings,
well as to protect the interests of fellow citizens o
the South the committee have respectfully requested n
non slavehodng States carefully revise their egsla-
tive acts and repeal all laws which in conflict with
the constitution of the United States with the laws
enacted by Congress for The recaptue Of fugves from
labor, and have submitted resolution by the House.
We have seen with sat afacon that the Governors u
several states, within the last week, have brought tho
subject to the notice Of their respective legislatures
and recommended legislative action in accordance with
me views oil the committee and we entertain no doub&
ta' the feelings a. well az the interests of all the non
svchoding states viii combine to effect tho great object
much dcsrcd-the restoration OF mutual respect aud
confidence between all the States Of the Union.
The committee deemed il incumbent on them, in con-
necon with the foregoing euhect 10 revise to
tent the laws nov IL force for the recovery Of fgi.lves
from labor. After the most careful examination OF the
subject, the committee have framed amendment "a
the existing laws, which, il is believed, viii much iin-
prove them.
rHH law oF 1850
The law Of 1850 supposed to contain provision
which positively required any citizen, who might he
called for this purpose, 20 aid the Of q
fugitive or his agent or the Marshal OF the United
states, in searching for and capturing such fugitive,
whether forcibe resistance were apprchended or not.
This idea whether wcll or iL-tounded has to very
The states and in the opinion Of the committee has had
the effect 10 render the Law dsasteful ana offensive
is obvious that such belief would operate to cripple he
efficiency OF the law and TO some extent prevent its
prompt and peaceful execution where that belief pre-
blered 10 'e pa of the ar has gires rise 10 much Of 0
opposition 70 4 50 much oo"rlatned Of by the South Tho
is believed win relieve the law from al objection or that
kind and tend materially TO is easy aad speedy execu
ton thus improving s efficiency rs remedy by ua.<-
ing II more acceptable to The people among whom i 70
be enforced, and by whose aid IN case o lcrcble resist
ance, it Is to be made cileeiual.
Tip RElrBIitAN AND ABotI1oS wiTFOEN.
The provisions Of the first section Of the bill, it s
hoped will the fugitive df he alleges be is frec)
fair and impartial trial. certainly than the law
IL stands The committee believe that this
tanty to the fact Of arrested fugitive lnS
given rise to the few instances known to Us &! iorcble
resistance TO the law. Tie obecnon to the present
aw has undoubtedly stimulated the passage, n most a
tances OF what called Personal Liberty bils''
some OF the States 10 should be borne in nind,
hat the objections urged by the NoIthcra people
ere no, to % law for The. The recovery Gov, & Of fas,.
oundcd in the belief that The present law may and does
permit the seizure Of persons Who are fee and subjects
hem to ritude contrary 10 both law and right. The
committee believe To b. unjust 10 the free states 10
that any considerable number Of persons in these
states are opposed to the reclamation Of persons who by
he laws o. any state, owe labor OF service 10 aLoter
any such class exists il l. that known "A abotonis,s.
This class asserts it, opposition 10 the constitution be-
cause does authorize the pursuit and recapue Oh fug
tive slaves. In whatever light the persons composing
this Glass may be regarded. is certain thcis nunbesS
small, compared with the entire voting populat0A
of the free states that danger result t. the
sutonal rights OF any portion o the Union from their
peculiar opnIors thc modes Of commencing them to
the general pubc. 1t u certainly that this class
does with Of Tho great political parties Of tho
day and that its chief leaders and most talented crators
were strenuousy opposed to the republican party
in tho late Presidential contest, aud denounced II and
thcir doctrines bitter and unsparng terms. 7ne groa
he uddct crcesses, cossiE IN coafouaitrp ~
c.ass y kaoua ~ ne u ol.,lisoniaS
N0lM and Us,t similar 10 this, and grow ing out
IT, is q belief. which seems 70 have obtained very
holding States having succeeded in elecng President,
entertain secret design H. accumulate political rower
both branches 1T Congress, until. thro g1 Congress
SIGNAL action II uH 0llih sidery IN the Stas c.ere
mi0y Uen ait How this purpose VIII b. accomplished
net Informed. This prediction has bees poured
into tho ears excited multitudos from he mouths a
popular orators and placed before their eyes IN the pages
Of partisan presses, until IN the southern mind u secns
20 have assumed the form OF plausible fact The plH
charged with this purpose when II met ia convention
at Chicago 10 nominate lts candiiatc previ-
TO the last Presidential election declared s doctrine
on uD
tanance oato Of the rights OF the States and
cnIy the light of each order and control is domestic
institutions according its judgment exclusively Is
essential TO that balance Of power On which the pc,fc
ton and endurance q political fabric depends; and
dcnounoe tic awcss invasion By armed force q the
soil OF oDy state or Territory no mattor under what pro
text, among the gravest of crimes Nc,Siihstand-
the pepOserous character Of this idea the commit
Tee have deemed the belief in it, in portions Of ths
south sufficiently important to demand totice at this
time.
That nothing possible ihoud be left uninterrupted, Ia
order eace those false IMPRESSIONS by the committee
they have prepared, and submit an amendment TO tho
constitution whereby any power to interfere with slave
rs in the states Is forever denied TO Congress TIL every
state in the Union BY s individual State action shall
10 its exercise They entertain confident belief
that this amendment VIII be approved by the number OF
states required by the constitution 70 secure its adoption
III this shall slavery in the states against tho
possibility of interference by federal power, we
wholly Incapable Of conccvng any form of constitutional
guarantee which WILL or which will satisfy those who de-
mand further security for their rights
Results SLAVERY Dhctssioy.
The committee well aware that the frequent asts-
given rise in tie minds Of many fearful forebodn0s
of disunon has uud0usiy contributed 10 NE pr.sese
ali,ndon n eling t,iscn Ne no,n and ,ceser,i and
southern and solhc,sien acons n ne rePuLlc Investt-
cations into the rghtlunes policy OF what property
called forced labor when conducted By thoushtfn and
discreet minds IN calm temper guided by 'he laws %
sound morals aid political philosophy could sctrccsy
~ ATTENDED With danger 70 the peace Of sociey' % s
might be productive OF much good II i equaly uuo
that discuss u touching the stituonal powers . -"
ee government and the powers q The states over the
slbeg slavery when properly conducted, soua nays, nave
tL Il = ,ilci, truth rather than 20 endanger public
trapquy. Ba chen s e5 i oosgof s,, ~, ~ r. S o.ns
~ fisI ffi - aD,,s, nv 5tsird MI pltbo,a dltpvJpg, b Q
aGnccrsu' ste &e hap'oay cHd go9i Ht 20 much toas
ys,sy J,,y III teff ms Of the repnbsc Tue truth 81
M ar !. III ~ fully shown by brief reference -
our history in 1871 Missouri was admitted as slave
state and slavery ~ he same ,me proholted IN Al
recs thirty minutes north latitude At that time great
wes The agitation that men not M ali prone
~ regard imaginary in the light OF real dan
GER entertained great fears for the stability Of
thc government. 1hc public mind however, BE-