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Petitions

Petitions image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
December
Year
1843
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

This week we publish two forras. of petition to the State LegisJature, wbich w;]J be found on the third page. If they meet the views of our friends, we shall expect that they will bc generally circulated and extensively signed. The advancing sfate of the Anfr-slavery enterprise requires that we take new positions in combatting the great evil v,rhich threatens to ovenvliem our free institutlons. Some years since we sought to preserve the liberties of our Northern citizens by endeavoring to prevail on our Legislature to extend the trial by jury to every human being whëre his personal liberty may be While this question was pending before our Legislature, the decisión of the U. S. Supreme Court in the nelebratedPennsylvania case was pronounced, in which the Court held that the State authorities had no jurisdiction of the case of persons claimed as fugitives from service or labor. They also declared that State magistrates might act under thé law of 1793. if they pleased. but could not be compelied to do so-. The Court also held that the State Legislatures might forbid their citizens to act under thé av. Upon this aulhority, which is final and absolute, Massachusetts has passed a tatute interdicling the use of the jails of bat State to si ave catchers, and forbid ing all their officers to aid them in their abominable work. The State ofmont has passed a similar law by a vote almost unanimous, extendingthe interdicion to all íhcir atizens. We ask the Jegislature of this Síatc for a similar enictment. It will be seen that what ve petition 'ov does not conflict at all with the Act of 1793. or any other action of the geneal Government. It does not encouragc our citizens to help the flying fugitive, ïor "does it command them'to stop his prógress. It leaves the slaveholder and his victim, ifthey meet on the soil of Michigan, to fight out theirbattle between Liberty and Slavery as best they can, according their individual skill or prowess.with such aid as each may be ablo to obtain from the national Government. It says to the slaveholder, ;You claim a right of property in your fellow man according to the laws of your State. You claim imder the Constituí ion a right to recapture him on our soil when he escapes. We shall not leallv inTere with snch recaption, provided it be done peacably. and according to the laws of the United States. But you must bring with you your chains, your manacles your whips and overseers. for our citizens shall not inlerfere in aiding you in youi detestable work, neithor shall our public buildings, erected by the toil of free men be used as a prison for slaves. You mus find your own jails and keepers. So fai as ihe Constitution and Laws oí" this State and the practise of itf? citizens are impli cated, you will find the doctrine of the Ordinance of 1787 strictly enforced. - That Ordinance was es,ablished by Con gress as the fundamental law oí' our State before theConstitution of the United State was in existence, and it solemnly declare THERE SHALL BE NEITHER SlAVERY NOR Involuntary Servitüde in the Territo ry northwest of the river Ohio." It appears to us that this is precisely the ground to be taken at this time, no do wc see what objections can be made t it. Itcompromisesno higher principie on which we may justly claira further actiohereaftcr, while it does noí come in collis ion with the law of the United States. - And may wc not hope that this view o the subject will be favorably received by our Democratie Legislature, wheu acts similar to those we ask have received the sanction of the Democracy of Massachu setts and Vermont? The second form of petition prays for the extensión of the right of suffrage-with out distinction of color. On this we have only room to sáy at present, that the form ís the same as that we published last year - that it contémplales the carrying ou of the frst principie of genuine Democ racy - that it is just and right - that the measure has many friends among the Democrats - and that all we ask of the Legislaiure stke privilege of submitting the queslion to the peoplc. Brethren, Iet us try these Democrats thoroughly. Circuíate the petitions. Cut them frofn this paper, paste them oh to a sheet of wriiing paper, sign them yourseíf. and get as many legal voters to sign them as possiblc. Forward them to sorne member of the Legislature the first week in January, with a request to presentnná advoca-te them before that body. Much good will result from the elïbrt. Try it and see. We say again, (Xcibculate THE PKTITIOXS __ƒ!}.

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News