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But without regard to the discovery of Hudson's Bay by an inland route, and without regard to the discovery of the Mississippi River, Radisson and Groseilliers' were two of the most daring explorers that have ever penetrated our North American wilderness. They were the first explorers of Lake Superior, of Northern Wisconsin, and of Northern Minnesota; and they were the "promoters" of the Hudson's Bay Company. Few of the intrepid explorers of New France are entitled to so much honor as we know is the meed of Radisson and Groseilliers. Their names must ever remain inseparably connected with the history of Wisconsin, of the old Northwest, and of much more of the North American continent.

'Mother Mary of the Incarnation describes Groseilliers as a man of spirit, and one who knew how to make himself valued. Noël Jérémie says that he was high and enterprising. Sulte, in "Le Pays des Grands Lacs," published in Le Canada-Français, for July, 1889, declares that he occupies a large place in the history of his time. Further on, Sulte thus speaks of Radisson: "Few figures of the seventeenth century have so much importance as his, in our annals. Gifted with an exceptional courage, with an ambition that was never satisfied, of an astounding initiative spirit, he was connected with grand enterprises." "Radisson and Groseilliers," says Dionne, in Chouart et Radisson, "occupy a large place in our primitive history."

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW IN WISCONSIN, WITH REFERENCE TO NULLIFICATION SENTIMENT.

BY VROMAN MASON, B. L.

[Paper presented at the Forty-third Annual Meeting of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Dec. 12, 1895.]

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From the very beginning of her statehood, popular sentiment against slavery had been strong in Wisconsin; as in most of the other free States, her citizens were active in resenting the encroachments of the slave power.

In the winter of 1848-49, Congress was occupied in organizing the territory acquired from Mexico; the great problem connected with this newly-acquired land being, of course, the slavery question. In the first week of February, 1849, Wisconsin instructed her senators and representatives as follows:1

"Resolved, by the senate and assembly of the State of Wisconsin, That our senators in Congress be, and they are hereby instructed and our representatives requested:

"1st. To oppose the passage of any act for the government of New Mexico and California, or any other Territory now belonging to the United States, or which may be hereafter acquired, unless it shall contain a provision forever prohibiting the introduction of slavery or involuntary servitude into said Territories, except as a punishment for crime.

"2nd. To oppose the admission of any more slave States into the Federal union.

"3rd. To exert their influence to procure the repeal of all laws sustaining slavery and the slave-trade in the District of Laws of Wis., 1849, p. 172.

Columbia, or in any other place under the control of the national government; and to secure the passage of laws prohibiting slavery and the slave-trade in all places under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal government.

"Resolved, That his excellency, the governor, is hereby requested immediately to forward a copy of the foregoing resolutions to each of our senators and representatives in Congress, to be by them laid before Congress."

A bill to organize the Territories of New Mexico and California, with the Wilmot Proviso, was passed by the house. The senate refused to consider it, and late in the session passed the general appropriation bill for government expenses, with a "rider" organizing the said Territories and permitting slavery therein. On the last night of the session, the senate struck out its "rider," and passed the appropriation bill as it originally came from the house. This "rider," or amendment, was introduced and voted for by Senator Walker, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin, against the expressed wishes of the State legislature, as given above. The people of the State were justly indignant, and the legislature passed the following resolutions, asking him to resign his seat in the senate:

"Resolved, That the course of Isaac P. Walker, one of the senators of this State in the Congress of the United States, in presenting and voting for an amendment to the general appropriation bill, providing for a government in California and New Mexico west of the Rio Grande, which did not contain a provision forever prohibiting the introduction of slavery, or involuntary servitude in said Territories, has outraged the feelings and misrepresented those who elected him to that station, and openly violated the instructions contained in the resolutions passed by this body on the subject of slavery, at its present session:

"Resolved, That Mr. Walker is requested immediately to resign his seat in the United States senate.

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Resolved, That Hon. Henry Dodge, our other senator, in voting against the proposition of Mr. Walker as he did on the 20th of February last, has represented the views and wishes of

'Assembly Jour., Wis., 1819, p. 599.

his constituents on that subject, for which we express to him our most cordial approval of his course.

" 1

In spite of this, Walker still kept his seat in the senate, again contrary to the instructions of the State legislature. Yet the resolutions had their effect, for after this he voted on such questions with the anti-slavery side.

II. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.

Meanwhile, the question of the organization of the Territories dragged on. California applied for admission as a State, February 13, 1850. Shortly before the application, Clay had submitted a proposition to compromise the conflicting claims of the advocates of slavery extension and of slavery restriction. Among his compromising provisions, was one providing for a more rigid fugitive slave law. It directed and encouraged the surrender of fugitive slaves by United States commissioners in the North, without any trial by jury, and commanded all good citizens to aid in making arrests. The entire Wisconsin delegation, in both houses, voted against its passage. This bil as soon as introduced, was quite generally condemned by publ opinion in this State,- Whigs, Free-Soilers, and bolting Democrats being particularly outspoken against it. Nevertheless it became a law, the president signing the bill September 18, 1850. The act provided:

1. For the appointment of commissioners by the United States courts in the States and Territories, whose duty it should be to hear the demands of claimants of fugitive slaves, and grant certificates for the apprehension of the latter.

2. That these commissioners should appoint assistants to execute their duties in the counties, and all of them should have the power to summon the posse comitatus to their aid.

3. That the testimony of the claimant, or agent, was to be prima facie evidence against the fugitive, whose evidence was not to be taken; and upon a hearing before any magistrate,

1 With the exception of the last clause, these resolutions were rescinded in 1851. Resolutions to that effect may be found in Laws of Wis., 1851, p. 437.

justice of the peace, United States judge, commissioner, assistant, or agent, the fugitive was to be delivered up.

4. Persons hindering the execution of the law were to be fined and imprisoned.

5. That a certificate should be given from one State or Territory, for the pursuit of a fugitive, and his recapture in another State or Territory. That on the production of such certificate, and of proof, oral or by affidavit, the officer should issue an order to deliver up the person claimed; and in case the prisoner was rescued, any judge or authorized officer might grant a certificate to that effect, and of the value of the prisoner, on production of which at the United States treasury the sum should be paid, and should be a claim of the United States against the State from which the prisoner was taken.

This act was severely condemned by various political conventions held that autumn. For example, at the Whig convention held at Waterford, October 12,' it was resolved that "This bill, so odious in many of its features, merits the decided condemnation of the people, and that no honorable means should be left untried to procure its early and unconditional repeal." At a "people's convention" of bolting Democrats, held in Waukesha in the early part of October, the following resolution was passed: "Resolved, That the fugitive slave law, passed at the late session of Congress, in denying the trial by jury, the writ of habeas corpus, the right of appeal and of calling witnesses in behalf of the fugitive from boudage, is directly subversive of the principles of liberty, in violation of constitutional rights, and at war with the plainest dictates of humanity." Similar resolutions were passed at a meeting held at Milwaukee, to hear a report from Congressman Charles Durkee, of the acts of the late Congress. All of these resolutions were worded much alike; there was the same reference to "liberty," and to the "rights of man."

A convention of Free-Soilers was held at Watertown, September 15, 1851. Leonard J. Farwell, of Dane, was nominated for

1 Reported in Milwaukee Sentinel, Oct. 14, 1850.

2 Id., Oct. 30, 1850.

3 Milwaukee Sentinel, Oct. 30, 1850.

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