Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-24
Ebe constitutional eMUtU.
SATURDAY MORNING., M.RCH RI. 1929.
ROWLAND STEPHENSON.

sd by the intelligence, that this individual has been
kidnapped in the neighborhood of Savannah, forced
INTO pilot boat and in all probability, carried back
To England. In the absence of al conventional
rangement between England and the u. States, for
the mutual surrender of tugitives from Justice, and
claiming protection from Our Government, us Ste
pheuson under the laws of Nations had right To do
and to have awarded him, sioen seizure and alb
duction Of his person, b. the subjects OF another
country, must be construed an indigny to the u
s., and insult to the invioabiy of her soil. OF
course, do not defend that conduct, which drove
Stephenson refugee, the shores of the u States
We ineAn only to say, that the moment he touched
oar shores, he was entitled the protection e. our
laws, and could not be required legally to leave the
country to answer offences committed under for
elgn jurisdiction. Sach the construction in
England, when the unfortunate Sncson was oversa-
Ken at Liverpool and that lie brought bac, TO the
scene OF his offences against the laws, tl.;efect
Of his own voluntary surrender and choice ,Eut
Stephenson has been hilnopped-vioently seized
and abducted. We humby conceive that reparation
is due for this insult upon the sanctity of orr soil
We have not heard vino it was that committed the
outrage upon Stephenson but from the following let
ter which We find in Liverpool paper of January
we have little question that his captor was the uoto
rjous Bow Street officer, Bsyho,
Rristo' Saturday afternoon Enc O'Clock.
Copy Of letter just received Master of the Bristol
p' soa q s cdis5 5 10 s rG"1 1888
Dram SIn-f send you the following information s,,ppos,
cial Rooms viz:Last nigh, here in vessel last from
enhy Mr. Cope, the City Marshall with Bishop and another
from this port on Monday as in the Kingston Wood master
aiHd to Savannah which vessel had wind here
from Liverpool and when under weigh gentlemen oinei
her from smack, mich they Ind from Cope to
which they had been previously traced by officers The on,
The HER tr
f'y years OF age and very short sighted, but did
left no doubt on the mind of the officers hut Stephenson
Mr. Cope leaves this evening, per mall for London; Bsno,
and the other gentleman sailed Falmouth in the hope
ofmeens packet bound Savannah Tor so.e other fast
sailing vessel,) as they determined pursue.
II much TO be regretted that instructions had sent
the Custom here when the cutters would have
ed every vessel at the harbous mouth and would have
impossible to have escaped these officers had Eng
sh and Bristol Channel and found the bee three
days at Clovely, from whence they here in the
stated but did not come shore. They reported
Knowing this would be received much than could be
ny the regular channe induces me sending this asy
The Myrtle packet, for America, is detained
Ne London mail of the 9Ih she leave
probably
POSTSCRIPF.-Since the above was in type,
find from the New York American of the 18th,
that Stephenson has been brought to that city
Some mystery hangs his fate since his arrival
there, but we have every hope that an indignant
population will force his pro1igate caDtors to pro-
duce him, and restore him to the rights of national
hospitality and protection of the laws 1t appears
from the American, and the Savannah Republican,
that it not Bishop we supposed but one or
Americans, who stimulated by the hocc Of re-
ward, kidnapped Stephenson. Offence at Stephen
SIMS conduct, is well nigh lost in indignation for the
outrage to which his person has been subjected
From The .Ne,o York American Of Tuesday.
1he Fugitive Stepienson.-The circumstances TN.
der which this man has been brought here from Sii-
vannal, have deeply excited the public mind. lie
arrived here, seems, yesterday in the pot boat Sa-
vannah, from Savannah, in four days. OH arriving
the vessel anchored Off the battery, and cornmunica-
ton had with the British Consul aad the agents
OF the British creditors; and he after ares
ted board the vessel for debt, by the High Con
stable, Hays. Since which there is no trace of hin.
Phe intelligence of the arrival OF Stephenson having
SION become public, and suspicious being entertained
that he had been forciby seizedaad brought hithcr
Il considerable ferment excited; writ of habeas
corpus applied for and obtained: near midnight
by volunteers behalf of the prisoner, and the
lTouse of a gentleman, where he supposed to be
detained, was visited but without finding him. This
morning the ferment increased. The British Con-
sui and Lays have both been served with writs of
habeas corpus which, however, yet have not pro-
duced the prisoner, and meantime, every variety of
rumor is atoat, that he has been carried off to seas
that lie is placed, at any rate, beyond the reach OF
iii short, that daring and highhanded viola
tiou of the laws, commenced in Georgia. has been
p successfully accomplished here The better opinion
however, is, that Stephenson will be fortbcom.
ing at o'clock, before the Recorder. OF which,
and what then transpres, we shall take care to in
form readers.
Moanwhile let us look calmly at tic facts, as they
are alleged To exist in this Casa man forcil,iy
seized in distant state-bound, and hurried on
board vessel-brought bither clandestiDely-dcliv-
cred under color of the law to q oficer-and
then all trace Of him disappears lie not in the
prison ofthe city-he not the sheriff says in his
custody-nor does he know aught of hnn.-Fhc law
has put forth i'll vain its process claim him. and to
vindicate, in his behalf the common privilege ofevorv
man, in government of laws, to be Judged by the
laws. He is still undiscovered while it is admitted
that there those, within the roach g. jurisdiction of
ayno do kror boi. nj