Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-01-25
GOV. Andrew aad Fugitive slaves.

The generation which is now growing up
does not cannot understand the intense inte-
rest and romance of that period. The law Of
1850 for restoring fugitivcs to their owners,
was passed hastily, under the impression on
the part of Congress that something of the
sort was necessary to save the Union, and it
was a most unrighteous and unconstitutional
law. The constitution of the United States
says that in all suits in common law, in which
the value at issue is more than 500 the rights
Of jury trial must be maintained but COL
ored man living free in Massachusetts, with
the presumption of freedom in his favor, could,
under that law, be arrested and turned into
slave without ever seeing judge or a jury.
This fugitive slave bill you sec have the
old habit of calling it a bill) was so opposed
to law and to gospel, was so opposed to the
common sentiment Of common humanity, that
/ it perhaps did more for the anti-slavery cause
than anything else, particularly when it was
enforced by conscientious and honest marshal
or commissioner who thought it his duty to
enforce il rigiily. Some marshals managed
/ it well, however, aud such man was Marshal
/ Barnes. | remember, when Sims wasreturned,
old Isaac Barnes said, in his falsetto voice,
that the marshal was fool; he ought to
have done as | did, Well, Marshal
Barnes, how did you do21 Wen, when
they come to me to get a slave used to say,
! know nothing about nggers, but | will lnd
somehodv that does 90 / went 10 the Office of
/ Mr. Garrison. and gave information thcT- shat
such a man was wanted. and thew would let
him know of it. and keen him out Of the
way. That was the way The marshal calcu-
lated To do his dutv.
/ In Jota A. Andrews Office. on the corner of
| WASHINGTON street and Court street. where ne
was to be found for many years YOU would
often see these fupitiyes, They knew they
had friend there to wnom they could always
90 for advice and comfort There Won would
see old Father Hanson. who made his eseape
some wears before from the farm of the yell
low Banks in Kentucky. The old man who.
after having taken his masters negroes from
Virginia TO Kentucky in order to save them
from the sheriff was finally sent down to
New Orleans to be sold, and on his way,
made bitter by the sense of the wrong in.
aicted upon him. for he had already paid over
TO hi. master the LARGEST part of the sum de.
manded for his freedom. he said aWhat is
the use of irving to do rieht2 What is the use
of irving to be rood No. [ will kill him"
meaning his masters son, who was accom-.
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no" ~ 1 oS;,Jran a i; comon ~ ~ hia ON bis
back knowing be would have to carry them
a a number OF miles when he put his plan INTO
execution. At last, when the time came Tor
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