Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-11
IsAfraCs

From the Speech OT Hon. danes III
Platt, Jr., OF Virginia, OF TIE biz
for the enforcement o. the Four
taenth Amendment. Delivered IN
Congress on the 9th q \ p-l.. ISL
Mr.. Speaker. j. there g-v aEsp w-asr
believes that were zsssS Essass- -F=-
virsed, and these ngE1Es--2s, E.sl4szn are
being committed Uag0G tlka fr1a4stEts gg
the AdruinistTas6Isn g nie Southern
States, we're being ggETslZiFaa4a By
Republicans gBnn Democrats in
D.mOcrsfIe 5aaars-wIrlt a DsTno-
cratic majority La ssgeh branches #
Congress, q D~r8ocrzt5e President,
and an army arld navy in their hands
that Democratic Congress would
fail to find constitutional warrant for
extending protection to their friends,
although the State authorities,
through weakness, treachery or cow
ardice, should fail to call for assist
ai o.. from the General Government?
The whole history OF that party for.
bids such supposition; and in their
days Of power they gave US a prece-
dent which is sufficient justification
10 ne for the votes / shall give on
this bill and such amendments as
inay he offered. j. there any gentle
man on the Democratic side Of the
House who Ii willing to admit that
the fugitive-sIave law OF 1850 was
Unconstitutional? j do not believe
there IL; and as one Republican
member from the South, / am will
ing 10 take that law--and changing
it's wording, somewhat, SO as to make
the rights and privileges to be pro-
tacted those Of loyal men and free
American citizens, instead Of those
Of slaveowners-find in it all the
protection which, As loyal citizens Of
the South, we demand from the
Government, which owes US the full
est protection its laws can extend.
The constitutionality Of such a law
could not be questioned, for it was
affirmed in 1850 by the entire Demo-
cratic party, and by the united and
solid vote of that party on this floor,
forced through this House under the
operation Of the previous question,
no opportunity for debate or amend
ment being permitted by the then
Democratic majority. Its constitu-
ti0nnlity was maintained and defend
ed by the party that enacted it rs
long as they continued in power, and
affirmed again and again by the
United States courts, then presided
over by Democratic judges. / desire
to call the attention of the House to
the remarkable provisions of this
constitutional Democratic law--this
net, entitled IAN act to amend" &C.,
commonly known as "the fugitive
slave law" which passed in this
House in September, 1850, having
previously passed in the Senate. Its
first section provides for the appoint
ment OF commissioners by the circuit
courts to execute the powers and
duties prescribed blythe act. Section
three provides that the number of
these commissioners should be ex-
tended at the discretion Of the court,
and any number appointed that
might be deemed necessary in carry
ing out the provisions Of the act.
Section four confers such remarka-
BILE and extraordinary powers upon
these commissioners that / quote it
in full:
"A,ad be H. further enacted, That the
commissioners above named shall
hare Concurrent jurisdiction rifA the
JUDGES of LIas circuit and district courts
Of TIE United States in their respective
circuits and distyicts rikhin me several
l2aSs ....l t..e judge Of the superior