Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-10
soHN BAKER.

Gu report oil the trial OF John Baker. We have
yet had no time to give il that attention which the
interest and the Importance Of the subject demands
IL occupies over page of that paper in fine print
The questions involved in this traiisac lion are Of
too important character TO bc passed unnoticed-
ne can, however, at present, do little more than
state the result.
Ii will doubtless be recollected that MIR. Baker
alter his arrest AMI imprisonment in foreign Jail
and confinement for several months was eventual
~ enlarged on bail, to appear at the May term of
the Supreme Court Of that Province and answer 10
the offence with which he was charged. We are
glad TO learn that MIR. Baker appeared a, the time
and place assigned and submitted himself 10 the
assumed jurisdiction Of foreign power. The in
dictment charged him - OF a conspiracy 10 excite
sedition and disoyal,y, and ton to the Go
vernment OF the Province--to resist the execution
oil the laws, and to bring into contempt the Royal
power anu Prcrogativc within the territory lying
near me sisdawaska River, under the actual sove
reignty Of his Majesty" TO this charge the report
says, Baker plead not guilty. The officer for the
Crown then proceeded to state his case TO the Jury
alter which Esq. Morrhouse and several other wit
nesses were sworn and testified. After having
closed the examination on the part of the Crown,
Mr. Baker was called for his defence Ii is
very laconic and every way worthy of the occasion
and peculiar circumstances under which he was
placed. We give IT in his own words as reported:
" 4 am a citizen Of the United States and owe
allegiance to that Country. have lately received
my deed from the States of Maine and Massachu-
sets. hold myself bound to their Courts live
IN American Territory and hold myself only liable
to the courts of that place. being the county of Pc
nobscot in the State of Maine. | enter TO defence
and call no evidence. do decline the jurisdiction
of this Court
The case was then submitted TO the Jury under
charge from Justice Chapman. The jury then
rered from the Box: and after about an hours de-
hbcration returned into Court with verdict of
S,uny" Baker was then required to recognize
for his appearance on Monday next after the trial
TO receive his sentence.
al;
formation filed against Baker, and also OIL the in
dictments which had been found against him and
SIX others for riot, so far regarded him.
On Monday, MIR. b. was brought into Court to
receive his sentence, which was pronounced by
Justice Bliss, TO the following effect:
The defendant John Baker had been indicted
by The Grand Jury OF the county of ork, for Sc
ditious conspiracy, committed by him and others
within the jurisdiction OF this Court-to which he
mad plead not guilty; alleging at the same time :,
that he did not consider himself amenable TO the
process OF this Court, being citizen of the United
States; and that the offence charged was commit
tea within their territory, but the Court could not
admit this TO he the case it appearing clearly that
the Madawaska settlement where the offence was
committed, had been from the first erection of the
province hitherto, under laws and subject 10
our Jurisdiction, and after very fair and full in
vestgation OF the case, he, the defendant had been
convicted by jury OF the county, and Il now re-
manned Tor the Court TO pass their sentence upon
MN Tor this offence; in doing which, their object
was to treat him with that enity which, so far rs
was consistent with the ends OF justice, was uni
ormly extended TO his Majesty's subjects; and al
though the Court considered the crime of which the
defendant has been found guilty of a very aggra-
waited nature they have had regard TO his previous
long imprisonment, and the object being to secure
the future peace OF the County, and not TO pass
vindictivc sentence against himself, they had
awarded the punishment accordingly; and did sem
tence him to be imprisoned in the Common Gaol of
the County OF York, for the term of two calendar
months, and TO pay fine of f25 TO the King, and
remain committed until the fine be paid"
Such Is the present state of this unpleasant lu-
sness The provincial government have gone
through with their assumed jurisdiction, gardless
oil the demands OF the government Of this State and
the Nation tor restitution. But we forbear further
comment on the subject at PRESENT until we have
leisure to give II a more particular examination
we cannot, however, refrain from again express
ing our appreciation OF the conduct OF Mr.. Baker
during this period of his severe trias.-Draeged
from his country and home, and - incGrcerdted" in
foreign prison, he has evinced the utmost tor-
tuic aud propricty. His return to wait the event
OF the charges preferred against him, after his en-
largement from foul prison, is honorable We
trust his sufferings in the of his country will
not be forgotten or neglected. Port!au.! Coz.
JOHN BAKER, was tiied The Stl, inst before
the supreme Court OF New Brunswick, on an in
dctme nj for raising the United States fae soppn
his Majesys mail, SC. in the Madawasco settle.
ment, the territory in dispute between this gov
eminent and Great Britain, touching the bo,inda
rics between NJ aine and New Brunswick Ea.
ker is citizen of the United States and owned
the land where the offence charged happened He
ciimeG his privilege, and refused to submit TO the
jurisdiction oil the Court answer in his defence
tie held the land by virtue OF deeds from Maine
and Massachusetts The jury nevertheless found
ii'm guilty, and the judge, declaring that he only
looked TO the question of possession and jurisdiction
which were in the British Province, sentenced
MN TO TWO months imprisonment and fine of
t2o. This looks like an outrage upon an Aneri- |
can citizen and yet, il would SEEM that while the
question OF boundary remains unset tiled, and thr-I
possession and jurisdiction othe disputed settlement
are dc facto, in New Brunswick the iud pe il s,,s
tanned by sound law in the course he pursued
There was nothing in Misconduct like unfricnd-
ness or arrogance towards the u. States.
The brazilian ofdir.-We have read the adj
dress OF Condy Raguet, our late charge d. flares
at the Court OF Brazil TO the people OF the United
states, and regret that the limits of our paper will
not permit us 10 lay il before readers The
address was published in the Philade lphia Gazette
oiFriday last. We had never doubted for mao.
meht the correctness Of the course, which this dis.
ungui'hed individual pursued towards the Brazil
ian Government. Insult upon insult, had been
offered our flag, by the maritime force of that gov
erHinsnt our vessels were conGscated in violation
oil the laws of nations, and the conduct of the Bra
zan Officers was apaauded rather ihan censured
by their muster the Emperor of Brazil Mr. Ra-
guet, In the true spirit OF an American demanded
ms passports with view OF laying every thing
before his own government yet near wear has
elapsed since his return TO the United States, and
ai' has been tdctly passed over, notwithstanding
the repeated solicitations OF MIR. Racquet for on in.
vestiga,ion OF his official conduct while at Tie
court Of Brazil; but all to no purpose. Another
Chafge DAtidres has been appointed, and AIr
hdguet has been compelled by this act. to appeal {