Year: 1860




RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. }


November 2Sth. 1860.


Dear Sir:-Saturday evening last,
received your letter of 22d instant.


You think | have unintention ally don.
injustice to the State of Pennsylvania, il
my reference to her legislation. respect.
ing fugitives from labor. 1t would be {
source of painful regret to me, to 6ud
that [ had either Intentionally. or unin
tentionally, done injustice TO your State
and no one, when convinced of the error
would be more prompt to repair the
wrong, than myself The faithful and
prompt manner in which the present
high toned and excellent Chief Magistrate
of your State discharged bis duty toward:
this Commonwealth, on recent memora.
bic occasion, and by which he has en-
deared himself to the friends of law and
order everywhere, and the praiseworthy
conduct of your citizens, 10 surrendering
for trial those who had violated our laws
and shed the blood of our unoffendirg
citizens upon our own soil, have inspired
all true Virginians with sincere respect
for the "Keystone of the Arch" and bel
constituted authorities. In my reference
to her Legislation on the question DOW
agitating the popular mind, l desired
merely to call the attention of your citi-
zens, and the citizens of other non slave
holding States, to a source of irritation
that vas doing as much to weaken the
bonds of the Union, as any other one
thing having a legal existence.


With these introductory remarks, ]
proceed to the discussion Of the questions
in issue. The portion Of my letter of
which you complain as unjust to your
State, is embodied in this sentence:


"If l am not greatly mistaken, Penn
sylvania is one of the eleven non slave
holding States which have passed stat
utes. now in full force and effect. design
ed to obstruct the execution of the Fugi-
tiye Slave Law"


This charge was not made without re-
fection and examina ton, and | feel per-
suaded that l can sustain it fully, and to
the letter. by such authority as cannot be
successfully assailed or controverted.


The first Fugitive Slave Law was pass
ed by the Congress of the United States,
and approved BY President Washington,
on the 18th day of February, 1893. The
Act is entitled "An Act respecting fugi-
tives from justice, and persons escaping
from the service Of their masters" The
third section of that act provides;


"That when person held to labor in
any of the United States or in either of
the Territories on the Northwest or South
of the river Ohio. under the laws thereof,
shall escape into any other of the said
State or territory, the person to whom
such labor or service may be due, bis a.
gent or attorney. is hereby empowered
to seize or arrest such fugative from labor,
and to take bin or her before any judge
of the circuit or district courts of the Uni
ted States, residing or being within the
State, or before any magistrate Of a COM
ty, city or torn corporate wherein such
seizure or arrest shall be made and upon
proof to the satisfaction of such Judge or
magistrate, either by oral testimony of
affidavit taken before and certified by Q
On agistrate of any such State or Terrific
ry, that the person so seized or arrested
doth, under the laws of the State or Ter.
ritory from which be or she fled, owe SER
vice or labor to the person claiming hin
or her. it shall be the duty of such Judge
or magistrate to give a certificate thereof to
such claimant, his agent or attorney,
which shall be sufficient warrant for re-
moving tho said fugitive from labor to
the State or Territory from which be or
she fed"


The fourth section of the act further
provides, "That any person who shall
knowingly and willingly obstruct or him
der such claimant, his agent or attorney
in so seiziug or arresting such fugitive
from labor. or shall rescue such tugstiUe
from such claimant, has agent or attorney,
aol.en so arrested. pursuant to the authori-
~ herein given or declared; or shall har-
Dor or conceal such person, after notice
that be or she was fugitive from labor.
as aforesaid, shall, for either OF the said
offences, forfeit and pay the sum of five
hundred dollars, which penalty may be
recovered BY and for the benefit of such
claim ant, by action of debt, in any Court
proper to try the same. saving moreover
to the person claiming such labor or ser,
vice, bis right Of action for or on account
of the said injuries or either OF them.


The provisions of these sections OF the
law 1893 are too plain to be misunder.
stood They refer to Judges of the Cir.
cult and District Courts of the United
States. and also to magistrates OF coum'
ties, cities and toa0mS corporate. All o'
these officials, under the terms of the law
have duties to perform iu giving full force
and effest to this important law for The