Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-05-11
Extract From the Speech Of Hon.
James q; Piatt, Jr;. Of Virginia. /.
on the Bill for the Enforcement of
the Fourteenth Amendment. De-
livered IN Congress April 5sh.


M. Speaker-Is there any one who
believes that were This thing reversed.
and these ouira9eS, witch are being
committed upon the friends of The Ad
ministraiIen in the Southern States. were
being committed by Republicans upon
Democrats in Democratic S'ales-wiih A
Democratic majority in both branches of
Congress. Democratic Pfesidrai. and
an army and navy In their hAnd<-ihal Il
Democratic Congress would fail tn find
constitutional warrant for extending pro-
lection 10 their friends. although The
State authorities. through weakness.
treachery or cOwardice. shnull fail io
call for assistance from the General G. w.
erhtn"ns: The whnie history ef IEa:
party iorlIids such 4 sapposilipn and IN
their dsvs OF power lhey gave u a prpc-
edent which is sufficient justification To
me Tor the VOTES shalt give on this bill
and such amendments rs may be offered
lis there any gentleman on the Dcnocrai
ic side of this House who is willing IN
admit that The furi'ige-slave law Of 1850
was Unconstitutional | do not believe
there Is; and rs one Republican member
lrof tie South. am willing 10 take That
law-and changing It's wording somewhat.
~ as To make the rights and privileges
10 be proiet led those of loyal men and
tree American citizens. instead of those
of slave owpers--find in il ALI the rrotcc-
tion which, as luyal citizens of the South.
we demand from The Gnvernment. which
owes us The fullest protection its laws
can extend.
The coBslitulinnslity Of such law
could mol hc questioned, foI il was affirm
ed in 1850 hy the entire Demncra,ic par
tv. and by ihr united and solid vote Of
that party on this floor. forced through
this house under the operation Of The
prcvlols question, no opportunity for de-
bate or amendment being permitted bv
The then Dem 'CraIic majority. It's CON
slrGiionalily was maintained and defend
ed Dy the parry that enacted il as long as
they Continued in power. and affirmed
"a. lin aud again hy The United States
courts, thee presided over bv Democratic
jndg"S. desir. io call the attention of
the 'ihuse 10 the remarkable provisions
of ln,s constitutions. Democratic law
this act, entitled '-Ar ac, TO amend" &c.
commonly known ts :: the fugitive slave
law which passed in this Ii ,ise IN Sep
teni''er, 1850, having previously passed I'M
The Senate. It's firsl section provides FOR
the appointment of commissioners by the
circail courts to execute The powers and
dulles prescribed by Tue act. Section
three provides that the number of these
commissioners should DC extended at the
discretion OF ihe conrt. and any number
appointed tina, might be deemed necessa
ry in carrying cut the provisions OF the
act.
Section four cnnfers such remarkable
and extraordinary powers upon these
commissioners that quite it in full:
And bc il further enacted. That the
commissioners above named shalt have
concurrent jurislic ion with the ju res
oF he circGit aud disric, courts OF The
United States in their respective circui,s
and districts withia the several States
and the Judges Of the superior courts al
the Territories. severally aud collectively,
ir term time and vacation, arl shall
grant certificates to such claimants upon
satisfactory proof being made. with au.
ihority to take and remove such rugliiyes
from service or labor to the State ar Ter
riiory from which such person may have
escaped or ;led."
section five prescribes the duties Of
marsh Ills, who NAV have any number of
deputies, and rrescribes penalties should
they refuse To obey or execute all war
rants or precepis issued under The provis
ions of This act xhen 10 them directed
MAKES them liable to the full value of
any slave that NAV escape from their
custody after arrest, and, IN language
which l Will give rs II appears in the
L S.ssafs az
powers npnn The commissioners. / quote
from The sectinn:
And The better 10 enable the said com
when thus appointed Ia IKE
cute their duties faithfully and efficiently.
IN conformity with the requirements of
the Constitution Of the Uni,ed States and
ut this act, they are hcreby auihnr,zrd
AMI empowered, within their ccuniies
respectively, ro appoint, in wiring under
their hands. aDy one or more suif,,-
bic persons. from time In time; To exc
cute all such warrants and other process
is may be issued by them in The lawful
performance uf their rtsneclivc duties.
with authority to such cOmmissinn' RS, or
the persons to De appointed by them. tn
execute process as afores Ill Ia summon
or call To their aiti f'ie by SANDERS or
posse conait0tus of the proper county.
when necessary. 10 iaSure falihfnl OBJ
servancc of the provisions Of this act
and ali good citizens are hereby COM
nIandcd to aid and assist in the prompt
and efficient execution of this law when
ever their services NAV be required. as
aforesaid. for that purpose. and said war.
rants Sha run aud u: execrted by said
officers anywhere in the State within
watch ihev are issne'l"
Ss-,.iion imposes fine and imDr;son-
ment on any person who shall willingly |
hinder the arrest OF "A fugitive or shall |
attempt 10 rescue one from custody, or
nar,or or aid to escape any fugitive from |
slavery.
Section provides that when the claim |
ant ar his agent apprehend rescue, the |
'fiicer making the arrest is 10 remove the |
'ugitive to the State from whence he fed. |
md tn employ as many persons in sloins |
so as he may consider necessary all The |
expenses to be paid by the United States
Now. sir, having qlotei as much of
his act as 1 consiler nee ,sSary to my !
purpose, LET us see bow easily it can bc
ldsp,ed to the present condaiSn of af |
airs. anl meet the requirements Of the !
oval men of the South. simply by so
'iterinr the text as 10 make its provisions |
'ppiv tn the prevention of outrages p
,slnst life and property instead of 10 the
.afehIng aud reeIerinS ap Of fugitive
lsyes.
Under its provisions. the United States
.ircuit courts could appoint as many
as they pleased to appoint
n their respective districts, and these
could in turn commission
IS MANY men rs they deemed necessary
o execute their warrants would have
III the powers Of the circuit or district
Idgcs in term time or vacation; could
ssne their w.rrants for the arrest of any !
iliZen. aud the warrants wonld be good
n any portion of the State; could sum-
non every man in the county 10 assist
n serving their processes, and IT they re
used 10 obey their mandate, could fine
nd imprison them for so doing; cOu'l
ncluie in that posse cOmt,fdtas such
.oriiun of the United States forces. the
rmy and navy of the United States, as
night he within The territory over which
hey exercised jurisdiction, and would
'ossess powers more than ample to Sc
nre peace. and the most perfect rrotec
ion 10 lite and liberty in every Stateia the ;
Union; and The constitutional power of