Year: 1860

the arguments in favor OF one view of the case were


worth anything they must be OF equal force in support
Of the other view Now, the argument of the Repub-
can Party which t was most difficult for the gentlemen
from the South TO get was that the men who franz
ed the Consultation construed it in that way. It was
not therefore, consistent to say that any of the fathers
of the ReDublc the trainers Of the Constitution did
anvhng favOring Slavery Now the first construction
plt upon the Constitution by the very men who framed
il he thought was the best and most reliable and they
held that il was the right of Congress TO make laws for
/ the recapture of runaway slaves.


Mr. Carter, of New York. (Rep.)-Do I understand
the gentleman 10 say that master can Law hold of a
black man whom he calls his slaves Can he Law hold of
him in Ohio and take him solely the ground that the
! slave his property


Mr. Corwin-If he had time TO write in his own office
an answer to the question: be would him a once
in the affirmative but he answered now with this quail
ifcation-That the master could do So and was entitled
to retake his slave because the constitution saws that
the man who escapes owing labor and service 10 anotb
er shall on being recaptured be delivered up and the


mas ter shall take him back to the place from whence he
fled.


Mr. Carter asked if slave was brought into Free
State by his master and that he there made his escape
would he be subject the same law and liable TO be re-
captured and delivered up to his masmter?
Mr.. Corwin-No Sir. He understood the gentleman
to ask him whether if master took his slave voluntarily
from Kentucky to Ohio that then he would be as much


slave as before and subject TO the same law of read
ton. In that case, he answered When he spoke
of the slave property, he meant qualified property as
described in the CONSTITUTIONS man who owed service
ard Lbor to another. lie held that slavery was the
creature of local law He knew that the right of white
man 10 work a black man. and hold the descendants of
that man as slaves was the creature of local law or laws
of local usage The trainers of the Constitution knew
very well that these black fellows would run away when
ever they got the chance and they provided means
whereby he could be recovered The Constitution does
provide for the recovery OF runaway horses in Ohio
because the law which regulated this description Of pro-
pery was well understood everywhere and was decided
10y the common law everywhere If it could be supposed
that the negro property everywhere and that he
could he seized everywhere il would be perfect nonsense
70 provide law for his recovery, providing that the
master can follow him aud take him back.


Mr.. Carter asked whether was in consequence Of the
negro being property that the master could take him
back, or whether it merely in consequence of his
violating the sovereign law of the State from which he
had nec?


Mr. Corwin thought that on this point none could mis-
understand him. If negro property in Virginia and
he runs away from labor and service he his master
the Constitution says the master follow him into Ohio
whittier he has fed and take him back but if the master
brings Tim voluntarily into Ohio, as he explained before
then the man had escaped had violated any law
in that way aud he free. That the law OF Ohio


Mr. Elot repeated that the Constitution confers no
power Congress to leg,ae thereon and in support
Of his position quoted the remark of Mr.. Webster in
who said he ALWAYS thought that part of the Consti
tuition addressed itself the Legislature of each State


Mr.. Corgin replied that as all departments Of the Gov
enment have recognized the power OF Congress pass


law for the recapture of fugitive slaves they must re-
gard that the reading otherwise lose the
benefits of a written Constitution. The law of 1883
Just as eectua that OF 1880 without the Consti
tutOna objections


Messrs Carter Of New York (Rep.,) Eliot and Dawes,
of Massa ,husetS Rep.) conroyetei the positions of
Mr. Corvn who in his further remarks k pit the audi
ence in remarkably good humor When his honr expired
there general acquiescence that be Should continue
his speech.


Mr. Curtis wished to know how much time he wanted


Mr. Corsin thought he would get through before the
Chicago Convention. Loud laughter


He made some good nGtured hits at the South, which
were all received in a similar spirit


He sale, among other things that some would dissolve
the Union tomorrow because their negroes run so fast
they catch them; but they ought rccolcc that
tesc negroes have through Slave States before
,hey get TO the Free Why not Kill the negroes South
because they don't catch the fugtyey (Laughter)
John Brown got up scheme in Chatham to operate in
Virginia, contrary TO laws. Wly rot call on the
British Government to deliver up thoe engaged in the
'rausac,ony II there other why this
not done because Great BrItain cotton
and don't desire 10 20 TO with her. daughter
Il would be long before Massachusetts following the
example Of Indiana, would pass a law preventing free
lcgIOcs coming thther, ana il would he with other
Free States, when they found that they were 20
ing to have n negro paupcr population. The Repub-
lean party are opposed the recovery Of fugitive
woud undertake repeal the present law, and subs,i-
tute State legislation. Everybody knows that we would
not ho IN present position If had not been for the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise.


His speech was generally moderate and concilatOry


Tie Committee rose, aud the House adjourned