Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-21


teo, on board the vessel for debt, by the High Con-
stable, Hays. Since which there is no trace of him
Ine intelligence ofthe arrival of Stephenson having
SOON occome pubic, and suspicious being entertancl
that he had been orcibiy seized aud brought hither
considerable fermcnt excited; writ of habeas
corpus was applied for and obtained: ncsr midnight,
hy some vountecrs behalf of the prisoner aud the
house of gentleman, where no was supposed TO be
detained, was visited, but without finding him. This
morning the fermcnt increased. The British Con-
SUI and lays have both hcon served with writs of
naoeas corpus, wlichs however, yet have not pro-
duced the prisoncrsssnd meanthne.s~ery variety of
runor is aoat, that he has been carried Off to sen;
that ne IL placed, at any rate beyond the reach of
rescue; IN short, that q daring and hirhanted yion
ton of the laws, commonced in Georgia. hns been
successfully accomplished hero.T The better opuiop
however, now ~, that Stephenson will DO fbrthcou
ing at one o'clock, before the Recorder. OF which,
and what then transpires, shall taHe care TO in.
form readers. .ts -..sp
Meanwhile, let us look calmlyat the facts MS they
are alleged to exist in this casc.A msnis forcibly
seized IN distant state-bound. and hurried on
board vessel-brought hither clandestinely-dcliy-
cred under color ofthe law TO sworn officer--and
then oil trace of him disappears. He is not in the
PRISON otthe city Is not, the sheriff says, in his
cestody--nor docs he know aught OF him.-The law
has put forth in vain its process to claim him. and TO
vindcate in his behalf the common privilege ofeyery
man. IN a government of laws, To be Judged by the
laws. He is still undiscovered while il IS admitted
That there those, within the reach g. Jurisdiction of
The courts, who do know who're he s--and who there
tore must stand in the light of persons resisting the
Just authority OF those Courts.
These, we say, arc the facts so far rs n tligcnt
enquiry has enabled verify them; and ussn,inn
them to be correct, ask what security is there for
the personal liberty ofany man, such things can be
done with impunty' No one will suspect ,s of desi-
ring to screen criminals; or to excite i'm behalf of
guilt, the compassion sympathy of the public
But claim, that for guilt and innocence alike there
be but one rule OF proceeding, and that--tlc rile
prescribed by the law IL will be no justification of
what has occurred even though Stephenson be
surrendered to day---for the very concealment md
mystery that has been practiscd and the conseoneu
detea', even though for hour ONLY of the law nv
the agency OF It's own ministers, is hi oh stcmean
or.
The circumstance of Stephenson's seizure in Geor
gla are these; The deputy goaler of Savannah con
ceivcd the plan OF bringing him here i'm order TO obtain
the reward, prefer cd by Mr.. Parkins, of S15Oo He
enlisted the owner of the pilot boat in the Scheme and
they two, with Others followed Stephenson to farm
mouse ABOUT twenty miles from Savannah where they
found him, and told him he must 60 with them. He
made no resistance; took from his pocket
dollars, all he had which be gave to Iloyd his com
panon, and was then put into carriage, driven to
and through Savannah embarked on board the boat;
and brought hither, without being told where no was
going, or what the authority for his arrest Arrived
IN the bay here he made, it is said IN attempt to
destroy himself with nstol--wbicb was Irrovar,oJ
by the master of the pilot boat, who then pnioned
HIM, and pinoned he was brought before the British
Consul here.
At z. Nj. Mr.. Stephenson was brought into the
Recorders room by Mr.. Hays, and after short CON
WIFI OF Inree gentlemen who tn
act counsel for him, the Recorder bat tb.ro
appeared To be no LEGAL process by which la was do
tanea ana inquired II there was any reason why he
should not be discharged from the custody of Mr. av.
No objection being made, the Recorder declared him
to be at hbcrty when Mr.. Sheriff Shaw took hin, in
custody at the suit of Mr.. Ex-SleriF Purlus NJ
i London, for debt -' Va
Mr. Einmet requested permission TO state that AR
Stephenson bad informed him that the British Consul
had since his arrival here treated hin, in every
Spect with ciVity; and that so far as he knew had
nau no agency IN his arrest and transportation from
Savannah to this city. Mr. h. stated the same with
regard to Mr. Goodhue ''''
| The counsel Of Stephenson said, that whatever
might be thought ofthese declarotions, the fact was
that Stephenson taken from his bed at his loJp
ngs, seventeen miles from Savannah, by four armed
men, and by them carried to the pilot boat.
| AFTER warm alteration between some ofthc conn
sell The Bliilsl Consul declared, that far as the
transactions Mt Savannah were concerned he had no.
thing to do with them, his first KNOWLEDGE of anv
OF the business being yesterday, when two men came
70 bis house and informed him that Stephenson was
on board the pilot boat. He went on boardbrouob,
nrn To his house--thencc conveyed him to Mr. Good
hue's, where he was kindly treated---and thence bv
the advice OF those PERSONS went seep at tho
OF lays, who had arrested him. So from having en-
deavored or wished to interfere with tho richie NJ
stephenson, nc was disposed to nrotect him Mr.
Goodhue made similar statement---that he Ind mo
agency whatever, in his arrest AID TRANSPORTATION
h'her. Much confusion prevailed in the office but
the result was as IS here generally stated.
From me SaUnnah .WerctOy or March 10
KowLkSp STEvENsoH.-This individual ,vboao
flight produced so great excitement in ENGLAND.
mas been the cause of still greater one in this CITY
IT. has been known, for some time. that he had mr.
rived at thus port. in company with his clerk. Mr..
Lloyd and on Tuesday evening last, several indyi.
duas, stimulated probably by the hope of obtaining
| the large rewards which had been offered FIR he
apprehension, proceeded to his lodgnrs several
miles from this CITY, and, pretending TO act under e
gal authority, seized upon his person, bound him
iorcod nm INTO carriage, and brought him to this
CITY whence 1t is supposed, he was put on board n
pilot boat and sent TO sea. Whatever may be the
fouts or crimes of DIR. Stevenson this transaction q
clearly Dlegai and citizens who abhor ovcrv
tnng IKE oPFressron manifested no ordinary degree
of feeling the subject; and soon after his dest;n
alton was asccrtaned, boat despatched in pur-
suit of him, IN order that might be brought ayniu
within the pale of tho laws.
We have seldom witnessed greater excitement
than prevailed in our city the whole Of yesterday,