Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-11-08
70 mr. hDITOK OF THE ENC UIRER.
TILE ABOLITION RIOT AT MARION.
.IuGi aiieram parton


lbeous and abusive paragraph, copied from the
larion (Oho) Vser has been taking the rounds OF The
avsuaucrs Of the United States, which lmpt ratveiy
.mands from me notice Had the article referred
appeared only in the Marion Visit"r, II would not have
zen deemed worthy of attention; but the circulation
,hich s caumnous statements have received IN many
narters where The real facts Of the case are unknoon,
ccompnnpd too in many instances with very obIec-
,on,be remarks by the Editors fepublshng the original
rcle renders il necessary that the whole article
hould be expIodcd and the public, whose indignation
,ss been loudly challenged, placed IN possession OF
he facts upon which TO found its opinion.
The National Gazette goes so for as 10 call for The
names Of The vgnians engaged what hcis pleased to
call The mob Marion, 10 order that The general ~
dicnalion which he nvokes may be properly placed ana
directed One object Of this communication 49, to n
nish The Editors aud the readers of that paper with the
names persons thus njnrously nspersed, as we'll
as with the whole extent OF their offending.
Some time during the Summer Of this year, Mr. John
Lewis of this county underaood that negro man, who
lind eoped from him in 1887, wns living in Gainesville,
Ohio Mr. WIN + Goshorn had seen and recognized
the negro; and the engagements OF Mr. Lewis would
not hermit him to 90 himself to Ohio, for The purpose
of retaining him, he executed bill Of sale 10 Admin
Vanbbber for the in order that he might go and
claim the negro his own property This bill OF sale,
bonqh of course void and of effect to the creditors
Of MIR Lewis if he had any, was yet good aud
pnimoeochobe instrument 10 paRsthe property, as be-
tween Lewis and Vonbibber Mr. Vanbbber ioond
the negro in Marion, and arrested him lie denied Vsn-
bIbbpr's ownship and was committed for further tria
Az The friend and agent Of Mr. Lewis accompanied
n, V,nbibber 10 This Trial. and We took with vt
npsses 10 identify the property, &c, Nessrs Robert An
d.rson an aged and highly respectable citizen ct TINS
conn,v formerly Of Cumbelnnd Va, and w. F 90.
sborn making four in all During the progress OF tie
trial of The before Judge Bowen, The partial and
mororer course pursued throughout by The Judge con-
vnced me that he intended to berste the slave upon
some pre,rxt or other and accordingly advised with
one of The principal lawyers OF The place to ascertain
wha, course il would be best 10 pursue BY him was
advised n case the decision was as we conhds9y eS
nsc,ed i, 10 be- 10 claim the negro as The ppefy Of
Ichn Lewis ond 10 proceed against MN under the law
of the United States
In relation to the Opinion subsequently delivered Ivy
| Tho Judoe and which published at length IN the
NATION Waiter have only to remark that II exhibits
- efficient intelligence prove, that he erred, not
L,ornh mere ignorance, but wlliuy and
! abo,, extract from the Judges published Opinion,
;ii show the ground upon which ne pleased to dir
| charge the negro: :, " .
- The defendants services is this naked bill Of sale.
, He has moi shown that he ever exercised any act
of ow rship over deendsni-Do witness has sa.d
7 Thing about any purchase ever having been made by
him On the contrary, il has been proved that Lewis
was the owner Of defendant and had been in
of him up 10 the time Of his esc,pe in lo3f-caimng
him in his own right. and setting up counte!
claim and ,ha, he has never since parted with him
Can sny rational mind hesitate IN an opinion That Lew
10 sil The owner Of MITCHELL think The claiman M
has shown il most clearly "
S q, The ooinion and because this claimant only
b;b;,ed bill Of sale fiom this "proved owner Of he
slave 10 himself, the judgment OF the Court was tia
| rio d.fends n, be discharged from custody.
A the law Of Ohm permitted no appeal from THE de
cs;nn | Ind determined TO follow the advice OF ny
counseI and the agent OF Mr. Lewis. claim The sas
beG,re Justice or The Peace under the law of Con
press passed February I2h l793 (see noe as the pro
ecr,y Of John Lewis. had directed my counsel Il II