Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-07-21

hdtter IN what way, whether lie g.
INTO the prison, releasing the ny 'easlug
MS IRONS, or opening his doors 80 ~ IRON
ing, encouraging. or exciting ,hnand'
SO, the plaintiff is entitled 10 vons 70 DO
In ousrages such as are here cbs, 'efdIct
The most worthless men are eoo,r.o eu' Ice
pioyed as the active agents. gl,Ia en-
VINO employ them, and who have m uOse
TO repair the injury, too often eInda means
ton; yet though their guilt Is soa. Ie'ec'
feel less disposed TO excuse The mdr aai, We
excites TO crime, and whose etiuc.'a. Who
situation IN life appIize him Of sns and
than he who ny brute force. il msauy,
mere instrument oft, Aaue The
The aspect of the case. as sbom
testimony on the part of the plain,,g ~ lns
SCENTS matters IN an extraor1nars PIE.
IS TO be hoped, unprecedented no., ana 1t
u mas Deen made to appear, that on NV ~
evening on which the negroes ,e =" 'ls
BrookvIlle, a number Of people a.. aeagned
at the jail, probably most of Them fi fun
rioslty' The defendants among The ny, eu'
they being then public officers 81 Oe'
high and responsible character nv s"oU
slead OF showing an example of nbsa go w.
to the laws and disposition r. eae
them, they were the most promne,, I'O'ce
couragin5 their violation. and : ~ ea-
setting them at defiance. Ey.m Ipeny
lawless violence may have become In, ~ "
familiar IN society to create surprise ' sa 'Oo
at tbs instance of misguided zeal - o'ea
dressing imaginary human SUFFERING ,e
many may be found to justify The as o. r' anu
an alleged pralsewortby motive. Ra, I'm :"
cry thing valuable TO US: our lives 49,. e''
ty and reputation, are based unon ,ba opeI'
tty oil the laws /; and where men arc ,s 'a'I.
openly TO disregard their obligalions 90 r sas
important subject they have In, hill r ouo
to learn to free themselves ept;rslr l.'Ole
Their control. 1t is but single sien Cn,.
Their and, government and law ars =,
an end. But it is but rarely that the mi'
nIsters OF the law in any coontry mnat
less IN ours, are found ministerinS to ,ba..
evil passions-and if the testimony ~ 49,.
occasion, has established an instance Of !,
thelr conduct cannot be too much ren,oha'
ted; for though the policy Of the law. ,,av
be questioned, while they exist eyerv GOOD
citizen should desire their lal6iment aod
slperadded to this moral Obligation. the
magistrates oath y official duty solemnlv
bind him TO maintain them if these strong
ties are disFegarded, the will of the strong
est becomes the law. and the watcbmsn
instead OF keeping the city. wake among
the rest but TO plumber and DESTROY.
1t is true that in PENNSYLVANIA. where
slavery does not exist, it is no offence 10
wllte; print, or speak on the subject sa.
very. But this right NAV be abused. if
carried INTO practice. TO the injury of The
southern slave holder; if. as is alleged 10
the case before US, inflamma,ory speeches
were made in crowd to effect The liberia.
ton oil slaves, indicating determination
10 and IN any attempt for that purpose, fol.
lowed by their actual escape an action for
damages would lie. 1t must, then, be al
ways an important part of such an inyesti.
sa'lon as THIS. TO ascertain what were the
| intentions Of the accused, Did he carry
his rights beyond their proper limits? Did
he himself liberate the slaves, or did be
procure, engage, direct. council or com.
mand others to do it-for, in either case,
he would be equally gully.
Although the testimony on the part Of
the plaintiff may leave little doubt on your
minds as to the agency which the defend.
ants had IN procuring the escape of Charles
yet 1t must not be overlooked, that il is
materially contradicted by several ofthe
witnesses for the defendants The char.
| acter. however of one of these witnesses
has been called in question. If, after re.
viewing the whole testimony, you are abe
to satisfy yourselves that all or either Of
the defendants, aided TO effect the escape
OF negro Charles, the plaintiff will be emil.
tied TO your verdict. Ii there is room to
doubt whether the defendants or either of
them aided directly or indirectly. in the
escape OF Charles. such doubt should lead
10 his acqnI;tal, II the testimony Of res
pectable witnesses is SO evenly balanced,
that innocence would be as probable as
guilt, the humane precepts Of the law al
ways incline the scales in favor of limo.
cence. The reputation and property OF
men must not be taken away by doubtful
testimony, but after carefully sitting IT.
and rejecting all such as is unworthy of
belief, aud accounting for such as is aclu-
ally, or seemingly contradictory, enough
remains to satisfy you that the plaintiff has
made out his charge against one or more
OF the defendants, 1t Will be your duty 10
say so.