4. It is claimed that the fugitive slave bill is sustained by this clause in the Constitution, "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, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due."[225] But if you try the fugitive slave bill by this rule, you must settle two questions. (1.) Who is meant by persons "held to service or labor?" and (2.) by whom shall they "be delivered up on claim?" Let us begin with the first. [Footnote 225: Art. iv. Sec. 2, P. 2.] (1.) Who are the persons "held to service or labor?" The preamble to this People's Power of Attorney, sets forth the matters and things which the People's agents are empowered to achieve. "They are to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common Defence, promote the General Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty." Now the fugitive-from-labor clause must be interpreted in part by the light of the Purpose of the Constitution. So it would appear that this Power of Attorney, requires the delivery of only such as are _justly_ "held to service or labor;" and only to those men to whom this "service" is _justly_ "due." Surely, it would be a monstrous act to deliver up to his master a person _unjustly_ "held to service or labor," or one justly held to those to whom his service was not _justly_ due: it would be as bad to deliver up the _wrong fugitive_, as to deliver the right fugitive to the _wrong claimant_: it would be also monstrous to suppose that the People of the United States, with the Declaration of Independence in their memory, should empower their attorneys to deliver up a man _unjustly_ held to service or labor, and that too by the very instrument which directs them to "establish Justice" and "secure the Blessings of Liberty." Whatsoever interpretation was at the time put on the Constitution, whatsoever the People thereby intended, two things are plain--namely, (1.) that the language implies only such as are _justly_ held to service, or labor, and (2.) that the People had no moral right to deliver up any except such as were _justly_ held, and had _unjustly_ escaped.