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Editorial
September 11, 1850
Richmond Palladium
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana
What is this article about?
Editorial strongly opposes the Fugitive Slave Bill pending in the House after Senate passage, criticizing its provisions for capturing fugitives, biased evidence rules, and penalties, calling it a mockery of justice that enables kidnapping in free states.
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Fugitive Slave Bill.
This bill is still pending in the House, having passed the Senate by only 12 negative votes. Indiana, by her compromising Senators, dodged the question--Three northern Senators, Dodge and Jones of Iowa, and Sturgeon, all locos, voted for the bill.
The bill as it came from the Senate provides:
1. For the appointment of commissioners by the United States Courts in the States and Territories, whose duty it shall be to hear the demands and grant certificates to the claimants of fugitive slaves for their apprehension.
2. Commissioners shall appoint assistants to execute their duties in the counties, and shall all of them have power to summon the posse comitatus to their aid.
3. Testimony of claimant or agent to be prima facie evidence against the fugitives, whose evidence is not to be taken: and upon a hearing before any magistrate, justice of the peace, U. S. Judge, Commissioner or assistant, upon the testimony of the claimant or agent, the fugitive is to be delivered up.
4. Persons hindering the execution of the law to be fined $500 and imprisoned six months, and on conviction by trial of having caused the escape of a fugitive to be fined $1000 subject to recovery by law.
5. It is provided that when a marshal or his deputies permit the escape of fugitive from their possession, they shall be amenable to the value of the slave; and for default of duty in his capture, amenable to a fine of $1000.
The testimony of the claimant or agent is to be prima facie evidence of the truth of his claim, and the interested party on the other side is not to be heard. What mockery of justice! of common sense! of law! Why not issue a license to kidnappers, authorizing them to enter any of the free States and take into slavery any man with a colored skin! Such a course would create a revenue to the government: but under this bill a monopoly is offered to all desperadoes who are infamous enough to engage in the business. We trust the House will not disgrace itself and the country by the passage of such a bill.
This bill is still pending in the House, having passed the Senate by only 12 negative votes. Indiana, by her compromising Senators, dodged the question--Three northern Senators, Dodge and Jones of Iowa, and Sturgeon, all locos, voted for the bill.
The bill as it came from the Senate provides:
1. For the appointment of commissioners by the United States Courts in the States and Territories, whose duty it shall be to hear the demands and grant certificates to the claimants of fugitive slaves for their apprehension.
2. Commissioners shall appoint assistants to execute their duties in the counties, and shall all of them have power to summon the posse comitatus to their aid.
3. Testimony of claimant or agent to be prima facie evidence against the fugitives, whose evidence is not to be taken: and upon a hearing before any magistrate, justice of the peace, U. S. Judge, Commissioner or assistant, upon the testimony of the claimant or agent, the fugitive is to be delivered up.
4. Persons hindering the execution of the law to be fined $500 and imprisoned six months, and on conviction by trial of having caused the escape of a fugitive to be fined $1000 subject to recovery by law.
5. It is provided that when a marshal or his deputies permit the escape of fugitive from their possession, they shall be amenable to the value of the slave; and for default of duty in his capture, amenable to a fine of $1000.
The testimony of the claimant or agent is to be prima facie evidence of the truth of his claim, and the interested party on the other side is not to be heard. What mockery of justice! of common sense! of law! Why not issue a license to kidnappers, authorizing them to enter any of the free States and take into slavery any man with a colored skin! Such a course would create a revenue to the government: but under this bill a monopoly is offered to all desperadoes who are infamous enough to engage in the business. We trust the House will not disgrace itself and the country by the passage of such a bill.
What sub-type of article is it?
Slavery Abolition
Legal Reform
What keywords are associated?
Fugitive Slave Bill
Senate Passage
Northern Senators
Prima Facie Evidence
Kidnapping Free States
Anti Slavery Opposition
Congressional Debate
What entities or persons were involved?
Dodge (Iowa Senator)
Jones (Iowa Senator)
Sturgeon (Senator)
Indiana Senators
United States Senate
United States House
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To The Fugitive Slave Bill
Stance / Tone
Strongly Anti Slavery And Critical Of The Bill's Injustice
Key Figures
Dodge (Iowa Senator)
Jones (Iowa Senator)
Sturgeon (Senator)
Indiana Senators
United States Senate
United States House
Key Arguments
Bill Passed Senate Narrowly With Support From Northern 'Loco' Senators
Appoints Commissioners To Issue Certificates For Capturing Fugitives
Claimant's Testimony Is Prima Facie Evidence; Fugitives Cannot Testify
Penalties For Hindering Capture Include Fines And Imprisonment
Marshals Liable For Slave's Value If Escape Occurs
Bill Mocks Justice By Denying Fugitives A Hearing
Equates Bill To Licensing Kidnappers In Free States
Urges House To Reject The Bill To Avoid Disgracing The Country