Signs Of Progress

Ln?t week we shuwed. front the "signs oC the times," as devclopéd in various Suites, that public opinión on slavery qucstions wns ripening in the FrceSmies in a manncr that would soon manifest itself in tlie ACTioNof tho nwsses. We ndd this week a few more items which willbeofsome interest. In Dclaware, which has about 2500 si aves, there hos been. for two years a State Autislavery Society, regularly organized. U held iis third anniversary, January 29, at Wilmington. The Garrison Abolitionists have frequently lectured in (he State. There are but Ui ree pupers,and in two ofihem the abolition of slavery has been more or less discussed. 'Lïxe Philadolphia Ledgfir says : " A select Committre of the Delaware Legislature bis reported a bilí ngreeably lo the wishes of a number of petitioners, foc the abolition of slavery in that State. A"v sympa:hy vvïth poüucal abolition is disclaimod by the Connnittee, who consider it a subject beionging exclusivelv to lo the Sta;e in which slavery xUts. For mauy years slavery lias been merely nominal in Delaware, and theCommitlee is of opinión thal ifnot now obnlishcd, in a föv yeurs it will recesj-arily become estmet." The Pennsylvnnia House ofRepreientaüves have unanimovsht passed a bilí to repeal ceriain sin ve laws, prevent kidnapping, 5cc. The Washington Patriot givesthe fullowing synopsis of its prOVJSÍO]) S. 'Section 1, makes it a high misdemeanor, to kidnap, or aid and abel in kidnappii.g a free colored person or niulaito f rom thisstr.'e, punishable wiih fine and irnprisonnient in the penitentiary frpni five o twelvc years. Seetion 2, imposes the same penalties on any person who shall sell, purcha6e, assignor transfer any fríe negro or muJatto for the purpose of removing sucli person from the state and reducing hirn io slavery. Scciion 3, makes it unlawful for any Judge, Alderman,.or Justice to tnke oognizance of the ense of any fugitiva slave under liie act of Congre&s of 1793, nor shall they have 'any power to grnnt a warrant for the removal of such fugiíive. Section 4, makes it a penal ofíence for any person claiming a fugitivo slave to seizeond carry hitnaway in a violent and rio'ous manncr. Sectiön 5, reserves to all judges the auinority to issue wrils of HabeasCorp&sin all cases. Seciion 6, mikes it unlawful to use anyjail or prisojp ín the Coinmonwealth for the detention ofiugitive slaves ; it also imposes a penalty of í?500 on any jailor who shall repoivo. any such fugitive, and declares thal heshall forthwitli be removey frorn oflice. , trion 7, rpc-als so much of the net of 1730, as auihorises owners to bring in and retain slaves in the state for ö monihs andso'muh of said act as prevenís a slave from giving testimony cgainst any person." The passage of the bill through the Senate is cunsidered certain, unless it fails through the speedy close of the session. In Ohio, a bill has been introduced for similar purpose. We give a copyofii in full. A BILL To more rJfcc'.uaUii prevent Kidnapping in the State of Okio, and to prevent the Jails in the Slale from bemg usexl to confine persons claimcd as Fugilive Slaves. Sec. 1. Bs it cnaclcd by the General Assemlltj of the State, of Ohio, Ti:at i f any person or persons in this Siate, nol being public officers of the United States, and acting under and by the authority of the laws thereof, shall arrest or cau.-e to be arrested within this Siate, any person or persons claimed or reponed to be a fugilive alave or s'aves, or shall bring or remove in!o this State any such fugitivo slave or daves, after nis, her or their arrest, or who shall advise or assist, or in any other wav aid or abet any such arrest or removol of any suchclaimed or reported slave orslaves ; every person, so offending, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisened in the penitentiary and be kept at hard labor nol more than ten nor iess than five years. Sec. 2. That ifany jailor or other public officer, acling under the outhority of the laws of this State, or any other perron or persons pretending orciaiming to be such, shall imprison or hold in custodv any such claimed or reported slave órslaves, in any jail or other public prison in this State; or ifany other person in the State, not being a public oíficer oí the United States, octingunder thé authority of the laws thereof, sholl jmprison or hold in custody any such claiihcil or reported sluve or slaves; every perron o offendinghall be deemed guilty of a misdf meanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the peniicntiary and üe kept at hard labor nol more than ten nor less ihan five years. Lec. 3. That ifany person or persons jn thh State, &hall entice or persuade, or encouroge or advise or employ, or in any other way procure any person or persons to g' out of this State, with intent thereby to enclave such person or persons so enticed, encouraged, advised, employed. or in any other way procured, to go out of the St.ite ; every such person, so offending, shall be deemed guilty of a misdenWnnr, aad upon" conviction iheroof, ■ s&é e :ni'pMwrièd '-in thepeniientiary andkept at hard labor not more than ten por fes than five ycare.♦Sec. 4. Thai this net shail be given in charge by the Court to the Grand Jury, ot each term of every Court of Commou PleasheW in the Stntp. - Sec. 5. Thnt all laws or parts thoreof ihat nre inconsistent wiiji the pr'ovisions ofilus act, are lieroby repenlcJ. Soverol ycars since, llie antislavery men of this Sinte potitionod our Legistature for hc cnnclment ofu lnw similar to the first two sections ofthif?, but our vcry wise Domocratic Solons rejected the praye' of the peülibnèra with great indig. nntion, considering the proposal ns little .short of absolute treason to the Constitutution. We will republish that report sometime, just to make t!ie doughfaces wl'.o brought it in nshnmed.