Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-03-18
Rsecai or the Fnsftiye slave Law.

RsR0al Offhe Fugitive Slave Law.
Senator Sumner has made report to the
Senate from the Select Committee on Freed
men, in favor Of annullipg the Fogitive Slave
Law, on the ground that it would simply
withdraw an irrational support from slavery.
Tho committee argue the fourth article Of
section Of the Constitution that, according
70 the best rules of interpretation, it cannot
be considered as apply ing to fugitive slaves
since whatever may. lave been the intention
of its authors, no such words were employed
as described fugitive slaves, and nobody else.
1t is obvious this clause, on its face, is appl-
cable ~, apprentices. It is only by going
behind its primary Specification, and by sup
plying q secondary sigri ification, that the
clause can be considered applicable to fugi-
tive slaves. These and kindred topics are
amply discussed, and the, committee say in
conclusion :lrao1 20 a'ci-1a,J ..ot9ol2 'stit.'1s
Is" Unhappily, the statute must always re-
main in the pages Of history, but every day
Of delay in its repesl IS hurtfuf to the Nation
al cause and 20 theP National name. Would
you put dowHp the rebellion !? " Would you
uphold our farie abroad Would you save
the Constitution from outrage Would you
estirguish staverye Above all would you
follow the CONSTITUTION and establish Justice
Then repeal this statute at onc..' . . "
This is a sensible and humane view of the
proposition. 1t is bad enough to thrust an
escaped slave back intebondage at any time );
tits absurd to thrust him back at moment
when slavery is ralying all its force for the
conflict which it has madly challenged, but
the crime of such transaction is not dimin-
ished by its absurdi'y. A slave. with cour.I
age and address to escape from his master,
has the qualities needed for a soldier of free
dom, but the existing statute requires his ar
rest and his being sent to bondage. Let it be
swept off tie statute books without further
delay. hI-as'j '7'e s'-ssi- @'. ''l' -
ADVERTISEMENT OF A AtRuNAwAY MASTER
The following advertisement, which we copy
from the Memphis fTenn) Bulletin Of the
18th u't, affords striking illustration Of the
ruin which rebellion has brought upon slave
ry: D
FIFTY Cents Reoard Ran away, the
subscribers master, about the 9Th of June,
1862. He had on, when he left, a suit of
black clothes, but frequently wears gray
clothing. He is about feet II inches in
height, weighs about ITO pounds, has light
hair, blue eyes and light complexion is quick
spoken and Of good address. He was usually
called Col. Ray-his name is J. E. R. Ray
was formerly Secretary Of State under Gov.
Harris, and it is supposed he may yet be in
his company. When he agreed to become
my master he bound himself to take me for
better or worse, and to support me in sickness
and in health but he having absconded with
out making any arrangements to do so, I
offer, and will pay, the above reward for his
apprehension and committal to any Jail, where
I can secure him, or half that sum for any III
formation that will lead to his arrest He is
supposed to have gone South, in search of the
"lsst ditch" as he often spoke of it
ALBERT RAY. q