The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-05-06
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF
Hon. James H. Platte, Jr., of Virginia,

Hon. James H. Platte, Jr., Of Virginia
ON TIE BILL FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Delivered IN Congress on tie 5A Of april, II
Mr. Speaker, is there any who believes that wcr
this thing reversed and these outrages which are ben
committed upon the friends of the Administration in tn
Southern States, being committed bv Republican
upon Democrats in Democratic States-wth n Demo
cratic majority in both branches of Congress. Demo
cratic President and army and navy in their hands
that Democratic Congress would fail to find constitu
tona warrant for extending protection their friends
although the State authorities through weakness treach
cowardicc should fail call for assistance from
the General Government The whole history of thai
party forls such a supposition; and in their days
power they precedent which is sufficient JUST
cation to for the shall give on this bill an(
such amendments may he offered Is there any gen
eman on the Democratic side of this House who will
ling to admit that the fugtveslave law Of 1850 wa
unconstitutional do not believe there is; and
Republican member from the South am willing t,
take that law-and changing its wording somewhat,
as to make the rights and privileges he protected
OF loyal men and free American citizens instead Of those
of slaveOwners-fnd in it all the protection which a.
loyal citizens of the South demand from the Govern
ment which the fullest protection its laws cal
extend. .-,-.-
The constitutonality of such law could not be q,,es
toned for II 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 tn,
operation of the previous question: no opportunity fol
debate Or amendment being permitted by the then Dem
ocratic majority. Its constiutonay was maintained
and defended by the party that enacted it as long a.
II md
by the United States courts then presided by Dem
ocratic judges. desire to call the attention of the
House TO the remarkable provisions of this constitu
tional Democratic law-this act. entitled An act tc
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 appointment of commissioners By til,
circuit courts to execute the powers and duties prescribed
iy the act Section three provides that the number o.
these commissioners should he EXTENDED at the d..re
ton of the Court, and any number appointed that might
he deemed necessary in carrying the provisions of
| the act
Section four confers such remarkable and extraor,li
nary powers upon these commissioners that quote in
| full:
| lind be further enacted, That the commissioners
above named shat hare concurrent jurisdiction lcA The
Judges Of the circuit and district courts Of the United
States IN Their respective circuits and districts ,rin tn
SEVERAL STATES and the Judges of the
the Territories, severnlly and collectively in term time
and vacation and shall grant certificates such cla
nants upon satisfactory proof being made with author
ity to take and such fugitvcs from service q,
labor to the State Territory from which such pcrsor
may have escaped or fled.
Section five prcscribes the duties of marshals who
may have any number of Deputies and prescrbes penal
ties should they refuse to obey all warrant.
or precepts issued under the provisions this act when
to them directed; makes them liable the full value OF
any slave that may escape from their custody after
arrest, and in language which will give as it appears
in the section, confcrs still more remarkable powers
upon the commissioners. quote from the section:
And the better to enable the said commissioners
when thus appointed to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the requirements OF
the Constitution of the United States and of this act
they are hereby authorized and empowered within tii
counties respectively to appoint writing under their
h'hds any on" or more suitable persons. from mn to
time to execute all such and other process as
may be issued by them in the lawful performance Of their
respective Duties with authority to such
or the persons to be appointed by them execute pro-
cess as aforesaid to summon aud call their aid the y
ISLANDERS posse comtatus the proper county when
necessary to insure faithful observance of the proyi-
siuns of this act: and all good citizens hereby COM
nanied TO aid and assist in the PROMPT and cffcant
execution OF this law whenever their NAV
required. aforesaid for that purpose AMI said war
rants shall and be executed 10y said officers any
where in the State within which they arc issued
Section imposes fine and imprisonment on any per
who shall willingly hinder the arrest Of a fugitive
shall attempt to from custody or haror
or aid to escape any fugitive from slavery.
Section provides that when the claimant or his agent
appr"hcnd rescue, the officer making the arrest is to
remove the fugitive to the State from whence he fed
and to employ as many persons in doing he may
consider necessary all the expenses to be paid by the
United States
Now sir, having quoted much of this act as con-
10 m LET hos -
he adapted to the present condition of affairs and
meet tho requirements Of the loyal men of the South
simply by altering the text make its prov sionl
apply to the prevention of ourages against life and
property instead of catching and rendering I'M o,
| fugitive slaves
Under its provisions the United States circuit court.
could appoint many commissioners they pleased to
appoint in every county in their respective districts and
these commissioners could in commission as man,
they deemed necessary execute their warrants
would have all the powers of tho Circuit or district
judges in term time VACATION could issue their war
rants for the arrest Of any citizen and the
would be good in any portion of tho State could sum
mon every i'll the county assist in serving tle
processes and if any refused to obey their mandate
could fine and mprison them for doing, could nclul,
in that posse comtus such portion the United State
forces, the army and navy of the United States as Nigh
he within the territory which they exercised uris
hicpn, and would possess powers more than ample t,
secure peace, and the most perfect protection life
liberty and property in every STATE in the Union; an,
the constitutional power of Congress 10 confer th"s
powers cannot he doubted. for has the party who's
representatives this floor have often assured us
their devotion to the Constitution stamped the seal
approval upon all its provisions enacted law all it
principles. and enforced and maintained law 10y al
the machinery of the Government: And the Demo