Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-24
The new war Articie-Absiitionis ism


I'm the senate.
We extract from the Congressional Globe the
proceedings in the Senate upon the passage Of
the bill which. by attaching penalties and punish
ments to solder or officer who should return
fugitive slave to a loyal master, even in those
States where the Federal authority is recognized.
virtually renders nugatory the fugitive slave law.
Heretofore, whenever the civil authority has been
incapable Of enforcing the provisions of that act,
the military power has been called in to aid the
former This was done in Boston under the ad-
ministration of President FILLMORE. The new
article of war is intended to evade the provisions
Of the Constitution in regard to the return of fu-
gitives from labor to those to whom said labor or
service is due We call attention to the amend
ments proposed by the conservative Senators and
which were voted down by the Republicans
and Abolisionists. 1t was proposed by
Senator DAVIS of Kentucky, that all officers
and persons in the military and naval service Of
the United States should be prohibited from de-
tanning, harboring or concealing any such fugi
tives. This was voted down, 10 to %. Another
amendment was offered that the article should
not apply to the States of Delaware, Maryland,
Missouri and Kentucky. nor elsewhere where the
Federal authority is recognized or can be enforced
but it met similar fate. An amendment pro-
hibiting any forces of the United States being
employed "for the purpose ofenticing or decoying
such persons held to service or labor from the
service of their loyal masters was likewise lost
BY a vote Of 10 to 60 1t will be noticed that
Governor WRIGHT, with the Republican
and Abolition Senators, voted against all
these amendments. His professions and
practice viii not square Since his APP
pointment to the Senate he has professed to be
as good a Democrat as he ever was, and that he
would as zealously maintain the constitutional
rights of the people of the Southern States as he
ever had done. The President called to his aid
the military power of the nation to enforce the
laws. But Governor WRIGHT is found cheek by
jole with the Abolition Senators, voting against
the employment of the military forces, if their
services should be necessary to aid in the execu-
ton of a law upon the statute book-with the
very men who oppose the Presidents emancipa-
ton resolution, because they are in favor of the
unconditional abolition OF slavery, without COM
pensation to the master. This is singular posi-
ton for one to occupy who processes to tread in
The footsteps of DoUGLAs. He had no sympathy
with such crew, and in his last speech took
ground against them in declaring that eve must
not invade constitutional rights" Read the pro-
ceedings:
SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE SLAVES.
Mr.. Wilson of Massachusetts, move now
to take up the bill from the House of Representa-
tives to make an additional article of war
Mr.. Dlvis-I move to amend the bill by in
serting after the word educ, in the eleventh line
of the first section, the words "and also from de-
tanning, haIboring or concealing any such fug
tives," so that the proposed article will read:
All officers or persons in the military or naval
service of the United States are prohibited from
employing any of the forces under their respec-
tive commands for the purpose of returning fug-
tives from service or labor who may have es-
capped from any person by whom such service or
labor is claimed to be due, and also from de-
tanning, harboring or concealing any such fugi-
tive.
/ ask for the yeas and nays on the amendment
The yeas and nays were ordrred, and being ia
ken resulted-yeas 10, nays %, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Bayard, Garlic, Davis, Hender-
son, Latham, McDougall, Powell, Rice, Sauls-
bury and Wilson of Missouri-l0.
Nays-Messrs. Anthony, Browning. Chandler
Clark COllamer Cowan, Dixon, DoOlittle, Fes-
sender, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Hale, Harlan, Har-
ris, Howard, Howe, King, Lane of Indiana, Lane
of Kansas. Morrill,, Pomeroy, Sherman, Sumner,
Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade Wilson of Massa-
chusetts and Wright-29
So the amendment was rejected.
Mr. Saulshnrv-I offer the followiuO amond-
ment, to come in as a proviso at the first sec
ton:
Provided, That this article shall not apply to
the States Of Delaware, Maryland. Missouri and
Kentucky, or elsewhere where the Federal au-
thority is recognized OF can be enforced
| ask for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and being Ia
ken resulted as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Bayard, Garlic. Latham, Nc
Dougall, Powell, Salisbury and Wilson of Mis-
souri,.
Nays-Messrs. Anthony, Browning, Chandler,
Clark, Collamer, Cowan, Davis, Dixon, DOOlttle,
Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Hale. Harlan.
Harris, Henderson, Howard, Howe, King, Lane
of Indiana, Lane OF Kansas, Pomeroy, Sherman,
Sumner, Ten Eyck Trumbull Wade, Wilson of
Massachusetts and Wrigh-30
The bill was reported to the Senate without
amenement.
Mr.. Carlile-I wish to make an inquiry of the
patron of this bill The President under his proc
lamaton in April, among other things called for
the services OF the militia TO aid him in the exc
cution of the laws. One of the laws upon our
statute is for the return of fugitive slaves. If
the Presld. mt shall find it necessary to call upon
the military power of the country to enable to
discharge bis sworn duty in this respect-for he
swears, as / understand, when he enters upon the
duties of his Office to see that the laws faith
fully executed desire to know il this bill will
not interfere with that in this particular. and what
effect this bill would have upon any military au-
thorities of the country who should obey the call
Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts, suppose the
Senator from Virginia clearly understands this
matter, The case he supposes, If understand IL,
would be where the authorities would call
out the military for the purpose of enforcing the
decision of thejudicia. tribunals-mere civil pro
cess The return of fugitive slaves is civil
question, judicial one, not a military one.
Mr.. Carlile-Then am to understand that
this will not interfere with that2
Mr. COllamer-I think the last section of the
bill ought to be stricken out. 1t does not mean
anything. OF course the act will take effect from
Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts-But if we
amend it, it will have to go back 10 the House Of
Representatives. 1t is House bill.
Mr.. McDougall-I move to strike out that
section
The Presiding Oficer-( Mr.. Foot in the chair)
The words proposed to be stricken out will be
read. The Secretary read, as follows:
Sec. ?. And be Il fnrther enacted, That this
act shall take effect from and after its passage
Mr.. McDougall--If understood the proposed
legislation correctly, it is SIMPLY TO nhbt the Of
tcers in the field from being agents in and about
this business of returning fugitives-prohbits
them from engaging in IT, j do not understand
il to impair effect that provision of the Consti-
tuition, which make il the duty of any person
having custody OF possession of fugitive from
service or labor, to surrender him up the claim
OF the loyal owner. IL is. understand. mere
measure 10 prevent the interference of the army
in these matters. As such. | am prepared to vote
for it, but in voting for it, wish to say here that