The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-14

Is this case in point? If any one think So
| ask him, which of the two, Kentucky or Ohio.
has shown, of late mos: ofthe odious creature e
But will not leave the opinion have above
expressed unsupported by proof. Who does not
remember the case of Frank-many years ago the
slave of General Taylcr. living in Kentucky, OPP
posite 10 Cincinnati He hired out Frank to work
| in that CITY. Now, the sending of a slave into
Ohio to perform regular work, and his abiding
there 10 do it, Qe it be put down to the credit of
the Ohionns) has been always held as equivalent
TO dissolution Cfthe bonds Of slavery, and an alb
rogation ofthe masters right Frank, before very
long, found out this and assumed his freedom
1t was acquiesced in by his former master--he
was undisturbed for seven or eight vears-Gurng
which time he had become the head of family
and acquired an honest reputation that proved
quite useful TO him in hi, little business. Repo-
sing in the most perfect security, Frank was sud
denly seizcd-not by Gen. Taylor-who ashamed
himself to engage in the eNpediiion,-h had given
a Bill of Sale of Frank to a son-in-law of his,
whose character it was correctly enough suppos-
ed would suffer but small detrnent from whatey-
er personal agency he might have in such an en-
terprse. Well: Frank was brought before one
who was now clothed with the Office of Justice of
the Peace, who had won his way 10 that official
distinction in part by his signal success Stare
catcher, whilst filling post in the Bumbailiff de-
partment. The result of the trial p which was
pressed with the most indecent haste, was, that
Frank in few days, found himself in Louisiana
"a slave Here, he brought an action for his
freedom, and finally succeeded in obtaining it,
But, poor fellow! it came too late for having
been obliged to lie in Jail during the tendency of
the suit, he contracted a disease which carried
him ofsimultaneously with the favorable decision
of his cause.
Take the case of Eliza johnson, resident of
Cincinnati. She was we'll educated, intelligent
woman, as have been informed and was serving
in the capacity of nurse to a gentleman and lady
of that city With them she visited Louisville,
and became acquainted at the hotel where they
boarded, with sprghty active young aohite man
who was a slave in the establishment. Soon af-
ter the return of Eliza TO Cincinnati, it so happen
ed that this young man succeeded in making good
his way to Canada. Eliza was claimed by the
Kentucky master, Mr.. Mann, as having inshgated
the fugitive to this offence, for which the penalty
by the Kentucky law is, if remember correctly
not less than two, nor more than twenty years
imprisonment at hard labor in the Penitentiary
Well Mr.. Manns appeal to the public authori-
ties of Cincinnati, to have Eliza delivered up TO
him to be carried to Kentucky for triaI,-an APP
peal supported soley las it was represented to me)
by the testimony Of his own wife, who boarding.
for a short time, at the same hotel in Cincinnati
where Eliza did, had wormed herself into her con-
fdence-was successful. She was taken back to
Louisville and thrown into jail. At the next Cir
cult Court she was dscharged-21o Indictment
haring Jeem preferred cgainsther
Take another case-that of the Rev. Mr. Ma
han, lately indicted aud convicted of Riot and Res
10 c,,-L;o oh l,;,
and rescue he was, according to the account given
me of the case by the Hon. Thomas Morris, one
Of his counsel, not more guilty than yourself. In
his case, the Judge price, rejected as jurors such
as believed that the abolitionists in their, main
principles were right but who were altogether IN
connected with any abolition Society. 1t was in
this way that a ury Of the friends of slavery was
packed, and that MIR. Mahans conviction was bro't
about 1T could have been done in no other way.
Now, Sir, as u contrast with this, take the trial to
which the same ccIl1ua an was subjected in Ken
tuciy-and in that part Of the State, too, decided
" the most unlavoraJe for one knownto be an alb
oIilonist. The case is familiar to your readers,
that ! will not detain you with the particulars but
only say that the conduct of the trial, throughout
was as uncxceptionahe as was tie result.
will not affirm, Sir that there are not in the
inferior magistracy in Kentucky Justices of the
Peace as base as the qnoadam cachpoIe who con-
signed poor Frank to slavery, and an untmcly
grave-nor, in the higher magistracy orlh0t State
no Circuit Judge as tyraancal, as Jeiterieske as
Judge Price but this ! DO alfrm-that in former
times, when resided in that State, (and know
not that in this respect it has changed sincc,) such
conduct in judicial officer of any grade, would
have brought on the guilty agent general ex-
preston of indignation, from all the better class
OF the people.
am unwilling to close this communication
protractcd though it be, beyond my expectation
when began it-Wilhont telling you Of an in
stance ofemancipaton of which had heard moth
ing previous to my visit to Kentucky last summer.
1t was Of the slaves of the late Hon. John Brown
ii brother of the late James Brown, once Minister
to France, and himself at one time, Senator OF
the U. S. from Kentucky. You will remember,
that he was, also, Chairman ofthe Committee APP
pointed by the Synod ofKy. III 1884, which made
so admirable a Report on Slavery. He emanci-
pated his saves-somc five or six in number-by
WILL. TO the parents of the slavefamily he gave
sulciency of land for their support during their
lives-set them up with every thing necessary for
farming operations on n small scale; and they are
now living snugIy and respectfully in he neigh
Of oniouipr in thar Lot do