Then will there be Indemnity for the Past such as no nation ever before was able to win, and there will be Security for the Future such as no nation ever before enjoyed, while the Republic, strengthened and glorified, will be assured forever, one and indivisible. NO SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE SLAVES IN WASHINGTON. RESOLUTION AND REMARKS IN THE SENATE, MAY 23, 1862. May 23d, the Senate proceeded to consider a resolution offered the preceding day by Mr. Sumner:-- “_Resolved_, That the Committee on the District of Columbia be directed to consider what legislation, if any, is needed to protect persons of African descent in Washington from unconstitutional seizure as fugitive slaves, or from seizure by disloyal persons.” Mr. Sumner said:-- MR. PRESIDENT,--The question presented in this resolution has a practical value to-day, when, here in Washington, we are shocked by efforts of slave-hunters, coming from an adjoining State, to carry off human beings as slaves. This is menaced on a large scale. Whole hecatombs are to be sacrificed. A Philadelphia paper of this morning, “The Press,” which I find on my table, contains, under the telegraphic head, an account of certain proceedings instituted by persons called Commissioners, who have undertaken gravely to decide, that, in a case of human freedom, “it was discretionary with them to allow cross-examination as to identity and ownership.” According to these wise Daniels, a person may be doomed to Slavery, even without any cross-examination of witnesses against him. The statement of this assumption shows the outrage which offends justice and common sense, and, I am happy to believe, the Constitution also, even if it be assumed that anybody now can be treated as a slave in the District. The much discussed clause of the Constitution bearing on this question provides that “no person held to service or labor _in one State_, under the laws thereof, _escaping into another_, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor.” It will be observed that this is limited to escape _from one State into another State_. Nothing is said of escape into Territories, or into the District of Columbia. If made applicable to Territories or the District, it is only by inference and deduction, and not by virtue of any express words.