The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-05-18
From the Lehigh Bulletin.
PROCEEDINGS OF COURT.
Commonwealth
Gustav US Adoiphus Sage.

The Defendant in this case was indicted
for publishing Libel upon the Character
OF David X. Porter, previous to the late
election. The Libel charged Gov. Porter,
with being " perjured knave," and with
fraudulent Insolvency" The indictment
contained but two counts embracing these
charges. As the case is to be fully report
ed, we shall not attempt now, neither have
we time, to detail the facts, as given in evil
dence to the jury. We will however state
I,oL;,J H. -,,L q - ~ -
penlnd the 9TH section of the 9th Article of
our constitution which permits, " in prose-
cutlons for the publication of papers inves-
tgatlng the official conduct of officers or
men In public capacity, or when the mat
ter published is proper for public informa-
ton, the truth thereof, to be given in evil
dence." To this the counsel for the Com
monwealth did not object, but eheerfulIv in
vlted the defendant to the enjoyment of eve
ry right OF defence, afforded him by the
constitution and the Laws. The doors be-
ing therefore thrown wide open and nothing
Intentionally left TO impede or resist n fuil
and Tree investigation of the truth of the
charges, the defendant commenced by pro.
ouclng the notorious John Stonebraker as
the first witness. From the undecided and
equlVocatlng manner in which he testified
IN chief, jury could have scarcely placed
any reliance upon his testimony, and before
ne had undergone thorough cross examin-
atlon' 1t was easily to be perceived that his
aihdaylts, which were the original founda-
uon OF the Libel, could not be supported.
Alter his examination had closed, his son
Samuel Stonebraker (SteUens Boss was
called, whose testimony contributed but lit
ue 10 the support of his Father To COM
Plete the trio, Robert Campbell the late
Frothonotary of Huntingdon County sue.
ceeded; and the wreckless manner in which
this man testified, was sufficient 10 make
one doubt the effect which the sanctions OF
an oath have upon the consciences of some
men, and to shudder at the depravitv of hu.
man nature. We shall not give the details
oil the testimony of these men, but content
ourselves with saying, that if they can with
quiet consclences there may indeed be on
earth peace to the wicked.
Inc character Of John Stonebraker for
uull ana yaracity was most awfully i'm.
peached by six of his most respectable
neigbors, who testified, that they would not
believe hIm under hath. Neither did the
character OF Robert Campbell stand in a
better light. For the witness who succeed
ed him, and called to by defendant, testified
that he (CampbelD has sworn to a positive
falsehood. Upon the testimony of such
witnesses as these had the defendant the
shameless audacity to ground his defence
and justification of his conduct Coy D..
Ter was present during tie trial. His noble
and dignifed department was marked by no
agitation no fearful apprehensions of the re-
suit. But seemed rather to be laboring ltn-
der feelings, Of pity and contempt for the
wretched miscreants who was attempting TO
rob him of his character. And when cal.
led to the stand as a witness for the COM
monwealth, the mild and modest, yet, firm
and convincing manner, in which he gave
his testimony, excited the sympathy, and
al The same time the admiration of every