The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimonial Read Online Free PDF

State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.”
    God’s law commanded: “ For the L ORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemiesbefore thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee. Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.”
    The horror kept creeping, drawing all manner of people, so that even the elect, the best and the brightest, surrendered and gave their efforts to aiding it. Neither education nor intellect offered any inoculation against infection. The words of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 were further proof. The horror leered over the shoulder of noble President George Washington, the defender of freedom and owner of hundreds of slaves, as he signed the act into law.
    And be it also enacted, That when a person held to labor in any of the United States, or in either of the Territories on the Northwest or South of the river Ohio, under the laws thereof, shall escape into any other part of the said States or Territory, the person to whom such labor or service may be due, his agent or attorney, is hereby empowered to seize or arrest such fugitive from labor, and to take him or her before any Judge of the Circuit or District Courts of the United States, residing or being within the State, or before any magistrate of a county, city, or town corporate, wherein such seizure or arrest shall be made, and upon proof to the satisfaction of such Judge or magistrate, either by oral testimony or affidavit taken before and certified by a magistrate of any such State or Territory.
    She did not seek out public debate; she did not want to be pointed out as one of “those people”; and she tried to conduct herself as a proper woman, but left to shadow and silence, the horror grew bolder and greedier. Heroes were not immune; neither was clergy. Neither status, nor title, nor wealth protectedone from greed, from selfishness, from the temptation to consider oneself above others. Instead, privilege seemed to exacerbate the temptation.
    And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of all marshals and deputy marshals to obey and execute all warrants and precepts issued under the provisions of this act, when to them directed; and should any marshal or deputy marshal refuse to receive such warrant, or other process, when tendered, or to use all proper means diligently to execute the same, he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one thousand dollars.
    It grew stronger, forcing others to comply at threat of jail, poverty, or worse. It muted innocents so they could speak no words in their own defense.
    In no trial or hearing under this act shall the testimony of such alleged fugitive be admitted in evidence; and the certificates in this and the first [fourth] section mentioned, shall be conclusive of the right of the person or persons in whose favor granted, to remove such fugitive to the State or Territory from which he escaped, and shall prevent all molestation of such person or persons by any process issued by any court, judge, magistrate, or other person whomsoever.
    The horror grew stronger, hobbling those who might speak against it, those who might not believe—forcing itself on them.
    Â§7. And be it further enacted, That any person who shall knowingly and willingly obstruct, hinder, or prevent such claimant, his agent or attorney, or any person or persons lawfully assisting him, her, or them, from arresting such a fugitive from service or labor, either with or without process as aforesaid,