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out indictment, or even the benefit of a jury in Open Court, the delivery of the verdict by the Judge. These are denied him. This, though mean and unjust, and a wicked encroachment on human rights, the criminal is not allowed to raise his voice, even in his own defence, on his trial, as I shall show you from another portion of the sixth section of the aforesaid Bill.
"In no trial or hearing, under this act, shall the testimony of such alledged fugitive be admitted in evidence. And the certificates in this and the first section mentioned, shall be conclusive of the right of the person or persons in whose favour granted, to remove such Fugitive to the State or Territory from which he escaped."
Notwithstanding this prohibition and denial of human rights, I have often heard the Judge ask the Slave if he owned the claimant as his Master, and was he willing to return with him into Slavery. The Slave frightened almost out of his wits, for perhaps he had never before appeared in any Court, and to make the matter go as easy as possible with him when he reached his former home, answers in the affirmative. The unjust Judge, for such he truly is, would take advantage of this answer, and deliver up the Slave with the pretence that it is consonant with the desire of the Fugitive. It is considered mean and contemptible for an individual to take the advantage of his superiors, but infinitely more so to take
