Year: 1859

II viii say a few words about the Fugi-
tive Slave act on. the manner in which it
is enforced. With regard to the act itself,
l believe the people are ju.t as competent
to discuss its features as Judge Taney him
self with regard to its operation, let US
look into The present case. =


"Cerlain men from the State of Ken
tucky, arrived at Wellingto6, claiming to
bold a power of attorney which gave them
right to seize and capture negro boy,
John. Be it remembered that this John
was then under the protection of the laws
Of Ohio. These men came to take John
by force of arms; they came prepared for
violence; they came prepared gitA 5ovis-
knife and rerolver to execute a legal doea-
nasnt. Vas his acay to make an ar
rest, as providsd By the Constitations-
Vas this peaess II is oar! Under a
Constitution allowing such means for the
enforcement Of the Fugitive Slave Law,
that law executes himself. The Constitu-
tion provides that no man shall be depriv-
ed of his liberty without due process oflaw.
This means, of course, trial by jury and
proper bearing in court of law. The ar
rest under the power of attorney was d.
rcctly in conflict with this clause. Private
seizure within the limits of any State,
where such seizure has not been regularly
legalized by the laws of that State; is ille-
gal. - =


"There was. and I presume is, paper
published in this city known as the Plain
dealer. About the time the Fugitive
Save Act was passed the editor of that
paper and myself had something to do
with each other. At that time the editor
of the Plaiadealer declared that whether
that act was unconstitutional or not, it was
internal in its origin. When that editor
thus spoke be uttered the truth. 1t was
never intended that the Constitution should
be the shield and guaranty Of slavery in
its ineursions on the Free States and Free
Territories. Ii the trainers of that Con-
stitution could have seen or even dreamed
of the construction now put upon it by
some men, that constitution would never
have been adopted. They thought with
Mr.. Mason that it was wrong to recognize
property in man and so far from intending
to foster slavery, they were calculating on
on its total extintion in brief period.


"Let US 60 peaceably to work. Let us
60 to our courts for redress. Let US not
go to undue pressure to influence their de-
cisions; and, whatever that decision may
be, let us do our duty. For that power, af-
ter all rests with the people. They can,
through the balIot-box, regulate all things.
Let US see that we execute that power pro-
perlv. See that right and faithful men
are sent to Congress. Be sure that
President is sent to Washington who will
truly represent the wishes of the people,
and who will see that that Constitution be
the security and guaranty of liberty, not
the prop of slavery"


In concluding, he said that he had not
given utterance to all he wished, but what
be had said he was willing to die by. He
begged them to be faithful to themselves,
to their country and to the laws.


We hare not given says the Cleveland
Herald, the Governors speech in; as full
and perfect manner as its merits warrant
ed owing to the exceeding difficulty of re-
porting correctly in snch crowd. The
speech was of marked ability, and viii
add to Governor Chase's reputation as q
statesman and an orator.