The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-21

presents-the products of labor. Ir.iii, ~
precious metals in England wer. al '"i
once destroyed, she would still be VI @t
my naflon; for she wonld still posses, nv ~.
fertile soil, her roads aud canals and hr;S ,e'
es, her buildings and manufacturers h..
SHIPS and merchandise. So far fron ~,
quantity oil money being the standard -
wealth, II Is found that money is alwa,.
scarce IN cnterprsing and thriving com
inuhIties, when IT can be proftabIy en-
Ployed, and is always plenty when from,
any cause, II Wlllpay the usual rate of IN
terest. ~
We should feel almost ashamed If =.
ting anew and defending such plain prinri.
pies, II every week did not bring us paners
IN which they are misunderstood or PEI,
,erted.
Ffom rs NYYfor several DAYS durinr
the period allotted for criminal business
our court has been occupied in the trial OF
IL cause, which from the excitement if has
produced in our county, the interest ava,
koned during its discussion and Me mpor-
tancc of the principles involved, is de ser
| wig vi particular nOlce.
1t was an indictment against Caleb John
son, Ralph Johnson, John SkiIman and
William Hlggings, citizens Of New Jersey,
Tor san attempt TO take and carry away
by force and violence from the county of
Montgomery, 10 place out of the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania, negro nam
ed John, with design and intention Of
keep'Hg and dctain9ng him as sLave."--
/ There were several other counts in which
the defendants were variousy charged
with procuring Others to effect their OBJ
Jcct, and with the employment OF frauds
and false prctrnces, in the attempt.
| The offence which formed the basis Of
the Indictment, was created in its present
shape by an act of Assembly of eth
March 1920, which declares that If any
person shall by force or violence take and
carry away or cause to be taken or carried
away, or shah by fraud or false preteuees
scduce or cause to be seduced, or shall a.
tempt SO to take, carry away Or sdace
any negro or mulattO, from any part Of
tins commonwealth, to any other place or
places whatsoever out. Of this common
wealth with a design and intention u sti-
ing and disposing of, or causing TO be soh,
or Of keeping and OBTAINING, OIL Of CAUSING
to be kept and detained such negro or
mulattO as 4 slave or servant for year or
years, such person on conviction, shall he
deemed guilty of a fel0ny and shall forfeit
and pay Il sum not less than $500 nor
more than $1,000, and shall be sentenced
to undergo a Seritude mol less than SeueR
nor more than tteenty one gears. Mud
shall be confined, kept to hard labor, fed
and clothed rs is directed for persons con-
victed of Robbery
| Mr.. Moore, the Deputy Attorney &c
neral opened the case for the Prosecd-
| ton.
| The Evidence for the Prosecution was
directed TO The suppost of the indictment
| in is charges of violence, secresy, aud IN
| tentinn TO violate the Laws permitting the
recovery of fugitives from labor.
For the Defendants, to the establish,
ment of title To the negro, us "A slave, iul
compliance with the act of Congress on
that subject, the absence OF all conceal
ment in their attempt to reclaim HIM,
their manly and correct deportmtnt
throughout, and irreproachable character
in all of them.
Messrs. Markly and Pawling conduct
ed the argument for the prosecution WIN
great zeal and ability, on all the ppnts ~
yolyed in the cause-But the subject o!
prominent interest aud which claims Ihe
attention of all who have occasion to PuF-
sue their fugityes from labor, and even VI
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, II they
" ou!d desire to promote distinct under
standing of the Laws, was the interpret
ton to be given to the act OF Asseino!'
upon which the Commonwealth relled io'
"A conviction
Ii was commended that the act made no
distinction between attempts by owners VI
slaves, and persons without IA shade" "a
claim. 1t spoke Of "negrots and n''aa.
toes" without regard to their freedom ..
slavery, and in language which coulu NV
be otherwise construed, covered every
possible case of an attempt to renio''
them from the state, without compliance
with the act of Congress. That the Id"
might operate hardly in some cases v,
bona fide slave owners. But that M"'
designed expressly as an assertion Vi o.
sovereignty of Pennsylvania IN mat'''s
slavery. The grossest abuses had ob,am,
ed for many years, and the aboinon '" ,os
of the state had been in various ins'aHs'F
rendered nugatory by the illegel Pro ,t,
ings Of citizens of other states. IL lhs,t
fore became necessary to provide ior -"
difficulty, in manner that would COUP
respect for the humane institutions u '''
country. -,
Messrs, M'Ivain and kittera oil lhe -
k,delphia bar, on the part of the deie"oal''
discussed the question in all It's nea. .bsd
and with great perspicuousness. Inc! onT
been apprized on former occasion" " NJ
seem, that his Honor Judge Ross 20.
dent of the Court, was decidedly OIL oP
ion with the Counsel for the p'ossc'SY'