Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-07-12

pointed to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently in conformity with the Con-
stitution," they may appoint persons to
execut G process, with authority to the
persons SO appointed, TO summon. the
1yosse co1tifSfifs ito insure n Faithful OBJ
servance of the clause of the Constitution
referred tos in conformity with the proVi-
sioris Of this act; and all good citizens are
Hereby conimahded to aid and assist in
the prompt md efficient execution of this
law whenever their service may be re-
qured.'r
This Statute was directory, declaratory,
mandatory, hortatory and eXhortatory,to u
most gushing degree and the honor of
being summoned by United Srates Mar
shai TO discharge the noble function OF
blood hound would warrant any free
American citizen in gushing little him
self.
But the fugitive slave law Democrat
didn't gush much on Capitalization and
State rights about that time.
Section six provided that when "a per-
son held to service or labor escaped into
another State, the person to whom such
labor might be due, or his attorney, might
pursue and reclaim "such fugitive" either
by procuring q warrant from one OF the
| courts, Judges, or commissioners aforesaid
or by himself arrcsting him, and taking
him before such court, judge or commits
sioner, Whose duty it shall be to hear ana
determine the case of such claimant IN a
summary manner No soft sqeamish-
ness about the sacred right to jury trial,
disturbed the strong stomach OF Demo-
Gratis then. The title to a chicken or cur
must be determined by jury, but liberty
or lifelong bondage were to be settled IN
a summary manner"
| But for fear the full treatment of this
law might become too long for one article
we reserve comments upon other sections
| for a future day, meanwhile inviting at
tcntion to the points noted
We noted in the article yesterday, some
., no iaaiures on tnat noted Democratic act,
| tho Fugitive Slave Law. We were, yes
terday considering the summary trial be
fore Commissioners as to the "title'' of the
Fugitive
| The evidence was as summary as the
| proceeding. This summary court, Judge
or commissioner, was to decide the tate OF
his fellow-citizen upon deposition or am
! davit taken before him, cor by other salts,
factory testimony" taken and subscribed
by some court, magistrate, justice OF the
peace, or other legal officer, authorized to
administer oaths in the State whence the
| fugitive escaped, with proof "by affidavit
of tie identity of the fugitive. On this
proof being made, the officer was to aware
to the claimant Il certificate authorizing
him to take ''such fugitive back and ''ir
no trial or hearing under this act shall the
testimony Of such alleged fugitive be adj
mitted in evidence" and the certificate:
"shall be conclusive evidence OF the righ
of the person or persons in whose favol
granted, to remove such fugitive to thu
State or Territory from which he escaped
and shall prevent all molestation OF sucl
/ person or PERSONS by any process ISSUED
! nv In1up
persons whomsoever."
This is certainly as summary as could b
desired. Arrest by warrant, or by tn
claimant himself-trial by petty magis
trate without jury-proof by affidavit 20
other satisfactory evidence" cooked up T.
order a thousand miles away, and with
out pretense of cross eXamination--the ev
idence of the claimant admitted, but tina
of "such fugitive" eNcluded-a judgmeu
as summary as the arrest and trial, ending
in a certificate which is made conclusiv
of the fact of slavery, and to cut off al
: right of inquiry by hd6eds corpus or other
E wise, no matter how patent the fraud o
| perjury. If "sueh fugitive" were hors
instead of man, the claimant would q
least have had to give q bond for costs,
not q replevy bond, or an attachment bond
E and then prove his case in due process c
i law but let no man propose such lncum
l brances as these, when only the liberty 10
I / life of a man or woman is ut stake.
i If Philemon had had the benefit OF sue
q law MS this, he would have caught Ones
= mus longbefore he got where Paul was. Blu
. all the triunphs of Christian civilizatio
: seem to be reserved for cur days, and thi
: law is one Of them. But there Mas ne cen
: tralization about il, and the constitutions
: democrat slept sweetly anu dreamed OF tn
j, constitution and State rights.
4 Section seven goes on asgaily and cheel
8 fully as its predecessors. 1t provides for
i fine of thousand dollars, and imprison
c ment for six months, for the base aboli
o ZIONIST who should knowingly and willing
: ly hinder the arrest, or should rescue, G
J. attempt to rescue, or should directly, Q
y indirectly" aid, abet, or assist such fug
: tive to escape and that he should more
over pay ito the party injured by such i
C legal conduct" the sum of one thousan
= dollars. ....#..H .fs.f. .fH..a.7 ..
e Section eight provides for the fees of tn
: officers engaged in the holy work of catcl
{ ing and sending back Onesimus; an
r sweetly declares that the apostoical con
= missioner shall have ten dollars il hc send
d Onesimus back 70 his master, and only fiy