Year: 1861

The Select Committee, to whom was referred so muct
OF the Presidents Message relates to the perous CON
dton of the country instructed to report the bills
or resolutions adopted by it. with such comments as the
Chairman mi ght deem proper.


The terms of the reference were such as to advise the
committee OF the magnitude of the subject referred to
them and were regarded appeal to their
prompt action. By advetng that part of the Presi-
dents Message referred to the Committee it be seen
that in his opinion the of the present
are iound IN the history of our public affairs, dating back
TO the year 1850, comprehendng the legislative
ments of several Staesthe agitation public mind on
the subject averythe improper circulation papers
tending to produce apprehension of domestic insurrec
ton in the sayehodng States and the forcible
ton to the peaceful execution Of the laws Congress for
the recovery of fugitive slaves The matters here al
legged having given rise present disturbed
dtion OF the public mind of the South are of character
which could only be ascertaned by the knowledge of the
current history of politics exhibited in the
paper press on the grounds assumed by the various po
tcal parties, and manifested by the the people in
electing State and Federal Officers.


Publications emanatpg from the newspaper and peri-
odical press having tendency promote domestic in
surrecon in any of the States, and circulated that
INTENT are IN the Judgment of the committee highly
criminal and should be treated by the laws of the
eral States The right of free discussion, while
garded absolutely necessary the maintenance of
government be expected in times of great excite
ment to run into occasional RIGHTEOUSNESS The
tion of this evil with the State
the Committee do not doubt that the desired correction
will be promptly applied in all where the evil shall
have assumed formidable aspect while the just ra


onal freedom of speech and Of the press will be careful
ly preserved


The enactment of laws by the States tending



for the recovery of fugves labor has been
alleged prominent complaint the part of those
States of the Union in which slavery exists. The Com
mtee has been impressed with the belief that this was
one of those grievances referred to in the Presidents
to which the Southern States attached great mpor
tsnce The resolves OF popular assemblies in Southern
States-the addresses of speakers to Southern audiences


the frequent and earnest reference of
the South great and fragrant violation of the
tuton and the fraerna relation the free to the slave
Satesthe denuncation of those laws by Southern mem
bers of Congress in both branches of the National Legsla
rfOi1r
to this subject great and in the judgment of Com
mittee, undue Importance


With whatever intent or design such laws may have
been enacted in any State they be regarded As
having had any effect in preventing obsructing the
Te.capiure OF iugltves from labor The laws of the
unted States for the recovery of fugitive slaves
ecuted exclusively by the United States Courts and
Commissioners appointed by them. As necessary con
sequence 1t follows that any State law which offers any
obstacle to the full and perfect of the laws of
the United States, would be void and of effect what
and would be so declared by the limited States
Courts and Commissioners Such laws if any there be
are therefore incompetent to do any mischief whatever
any concerned in the recapure of slave and
at most can be considered only opposition to law
which of the States regard as containing provisions
dangerous to the rights of free persons residing within
their limits Whilst therefore, the Committee have not
peen able 10 perceive that the State laws complained
can really affect the rights the Southern
people States yet from anxious to conciiae
he eengs as well as to protect the interests of fe
low citizens of the South the Committee have respect-
fully requested all savehoding States carefully to
revise their legislative acts and repeal all laws which
come in conflict with the Constitution of the United
States with the laws enacted Congress for the
capture of fugitves from labor have submitted
olution to that effect for the adoption of the House


We have seen with satisfaction that the Governors f
several States within the last week have brouht b
subject to the notice of their respective Legislatures and
recommended action in accordance with views the
committee We entertain no doubt that the faaIis ~ m
well as the interests of all the will
continue to effect the great object desired
restoration of mutual respect and confidence between
all parts of the Union. The committee deemed it incum-
bent on them in connection with the foregoing subject to
revise to extent the laws in force
itfvps lnhn
ugaon they have framed an amendment to the existing
laws, which it is believed will much improve them


Inc law OF 1880 was supposed to contain provision
which positively required any citizen who might be
called for that purpose to aid the owner of fugitive
or his agent the Marshal of the United States in
searching for and capturing such fugitive whether
BILE resistance apprehended idea whether
well or ill founded, has, to very great extent become
the popular belief in many of the States and in the
opinion of the Committee has had the effect to render the
law dstasteu and offensive obvious that such be-
lief would operate cripple the efficiency of the law
and to extent its prompt peaceful
cuon where that belief prevailed 1t is reasonable to
suppose that this odous provision believed to be part
OF the law has given rise much opposition to
much complained of by the South


The End section of the bill presented by the Committee
it is believed, will relieve the law from all objections of
that kind and tend materially to its easy and speedy
ecution-thus improving its efficiency a remedy by
making more acceptable to the people amongst whom it
is to be enforced and by whose aid in case of forcbe
sstance, it is to be made efIectual.


The provisions of the first section of the bill it beev
ed Will secure the fugitive (f he alleges he is free fair
and impartial trial, certainly than the law as it
stands The Committee believe that this uncertain
ty to the fate of as fugitive has given
rise to the few instances known to u.s. of forcbe resist
to the law The objection to the present law
has undoubtedly stimulated, in most instances. the
enactment of what called i'Persona Liberty Bills,
in some of the States.


1t should be borne that the objections urged by
the Northern people to the law the recovery
fugitives who really labor but they are founded in
the belief that the present law may and does permit the
seizure of who Free and subjects them to
vitude contrary both law and right The Committee
believe to be unjust the free to assert that
considerable number of in those States op-
posed to the reclamation OF persons who by the laws of
any State labor service any other If any such
class exists it is that known abotioniss This class
asserts its opposition to the Constitution because it
authorize the pursuit and recapture of fugitive slaves
In whatever light the persons composing this class NAV
be regarded certain their numbers are so small that
no danger can result to the constitutional rights any
portion of the Union from their peculiar opinions or
their modes of commenting them to the general public


1t is certainly true that this class does act with
any of the great political parties of the day and that its
chief leaders and most talented orators
uously opposed to the Republican party the late Pres
denal contest and denounced it and its doctrine in bit
ter and unsparng terms The great mistake which is
now urging on the public mind to the widest excesses
consists in confoundng that class of known as abo-
tionlss with the great of the Republican party
the North and West.


Similar to this and growing mainly out of it, is belief
which seems to have obtained credence very generally
the South that the people of the States
having succeeded in electing President entertain
secret design to accumulate political power in both
branches of Congress- until through Congressional action
it will abolish slavery in the States where IL NAV then
exist How this purpose would accomplished we are
not informed This prediction has been poued into the
ears of excited mutitudes from the mouths popular
orators and placed before their eyes in the pages par
presses until in the Southern mind it seems to
assumed the form of plausible fact The party charged
with this purpose when it met in Convention Chicago
to nominate its candidates declared its doctrine this
point in the following words


That the maintainance nviolate of the rights OF the
States, and especially the right of each State order
and control its domestic institutions according
judgment exclusively, is essential that balance OF
power which the perfection and endurance of our DO
depends, denouDce i'm
sion by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory
no matter under what preteXt among the gravest
crmes.n


Notwithstanding the preposterous character of this
idea the Committee have deemed the belief in
portions of the South sufficiently important to demand
a notice at this time.


That nothing possible should be left uninterrupted by
the Committee in order to eace these impressions
they have prepared aud submit amendment to the
Constitution whereby to interfere with slavery
IN the states is forever denied to Congress- until every
State of the Union by its individual action shall
to its exercise They entertain confident belief that
this amendment will be approved by the number
required by the Constitution to secure its adoption.
this shall not slavery in the States against the
probability of interference by the Federal power we are
wholly incapable of conceivins any form of Constu
tona guarantee which will satisfy those who demand
further security for their rights.


The Committee well that the Fl equent agita
tion of slavery in political has given rise in tbs
minds of many, to fearful forebodings Of dsunion II
has undoubtedly contributed much to the
tiOn of feeling between the Northern and Western an6
Southern and Southwestern States Investigations into
the rightfulnes or policy of what is properly called
forced labor when conducted by thoughtful and discreet
minds in calm temper-guided by the laws of sound
moral and political philosophycoud scarcely attend
ed with danger the peace of society and might be
ductive of much good.


1t equally true that discussion touching the Cops
tutional powers of the Federal Government, and tht
power of States the subject of slavery when
ly conducted would have the effect to elicit truth rather
than to endanger public tranquility But when this sub
iect is brought into the of party politics our eyDe
rence has shown that it too frequently fails attain the
desired end without disturbing to dangerous extent this
harmony and good between the sections of the Re
| public


The truth of this remark will be fully shown by brie
reference to history In 1921 Missouri was admitted
as slave State, and slavery the time pro
hibted in all the territory lying north of latitude 36o
3O. AT that time great the agitation that men
not at all prone to regard imaginary in the light of
danger entertained great fears for the stability the
| Government The public mind, however became calm
and yielding to the suggestions of patriotism har
| its usual rapid steps.


The next event which brought the subject of slavery
into public consideration, the annexation of Texas
Inc PRESIDENTIAL election of 1914 made to amos
entirely upon this single question The great majority
OF the people of the free States were much dissatisfied
with the result but with their views of duty citizens
OF Tree Republic they submitted, with regret but with
no disposition to make improper opposition the will
the people, expressed in accordance all
law Between this period and that of 1921 the public
mnd was not agitated, the public peace at all en-
dangered by discussion by Federal Legislation touch
| ing the subject of slavery.


The late war with Mexico resulted in the acquisition
Ierrltory From the moment of this acquisition, The
question of the occupation the Territory ceded by the
treaty peace with slave free labor again called ntt
acon all the conflicting opinions and ideas which have
Deen anu perhaps always will be- held the subject
slavery, until all men shall be agreed to the
and economical principles which rests This strug
gle was attended with all the angry discussions which
had SO sgnay marked the two previous contests Then
as now dsunion was threatsned public bodies resolved