The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-16
-Sssstss Sxs~aes's Report on Fugitive
Slaves.

SJ9ve9.
WASHINGTON. Monday, Feb. %, 1864.
Senator Summers repot made Today from
the Select Committee on Freedmen. discusses
the relation between Slavery and the Fugitive
Slave acts, which it says may be viewed Is part
Of the system of Slavery. and therefore OBJ
noxious to the judgment which civilization is
accommodating against this barbarism. II is bad
bondage At any timo. II is absurd to thrust
him hack at amoment when Slavery is railying
all its forces for the conflict which it has madly
changed. But the crime Of such transaction
il not diminished by its absurdity A slave
with courage and address to escape his master
has the qualities needed for . soldier Of Free
dom, but existing statutes require his arrest
and sentence to bondage.
The Committee report in favor Of annuilng
the Fugitive Slave law, on the ground that it
would simply draw An irrational support from
slavery II does nothing against Slavery. but
merely refuses to 90 anything for it. In this
respect, the present proposition differs from ali
preceding measures Of abolition as refusal to
ar offender on the highway differs from an
that the fourth article, section second Of the
Constitution, according to the best rules OF
Interpretation, cannot be considered as applicable
to fugitive slaves, since whatever may have
been the intention Of its authors, no such words
were employed Is describe fugitive slaves and
nobody else. It is obvious that this clause, on
its face. is applicable to apprentices.
1t is only by going behind its primary
Specification and by supplying secondary
Specification. that the clause can be considered
applicable to fugitive slaves, These and kindred
topics are amply discussed, and the Committee
in conclusion. say unhappy the statute m ust
always remain in the pages ofhstory. But every
day Of delay in its repeal is hur,ful to the
National cause, and to the national name.
Would you put down the Rebellion? Would
you uphold our fame abroad! Would you save
the Constitution from outrage? Would you
extinguish Slavery? Above all, would you
follow the Constitution and establish justice?
Then repeal this statute at once.
Mr.. Wilson introduced o bill that each and
every person now in debt. or who may become
indeb., to the United States prior to the LIST Of
July, 1885, on account Of duties or imports
may discharge one-tenth Of the amount Of
such Indebtedness by payment in legal-tender
Treasury notes Of the United States. Also
bill providing that the provision o. August.
1861, which authorize o direct tax of $4,000
COO shall be suspended until April !, 1867
Both bills were referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means. Mr.. Schenck offered certain
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted,
declaring the Rebels and their sympathizers
public enemies; that to prevent future rebellion
the cause Of this one must be extirpated, &c.
Mr. Pendleton proposed resolution denouncing
the arrest Of Vallandingham, which was re-
jected-Yeas Al. Nays IS. Adjourned.
HoUsE-Mr. Julian Of INDIANA, introduced
bill to secure to persons in military and naval
service homesteads in coniscated and forfeited
estates within insurrectionary districts, which
was referred to the Committee on Public Lands