Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-05-31
NFw YORK Monday

New YORK. MONDAY, May ~.
The last few days have been sgnalizeh 10y The
ariun Of The Supreme Court Of this state, now in
session in this city, on the case of Alexande: Nc.
Leod. AS this matter has assumed III some sense
national importance, will give n brief sale
ment Of the steps taken in il since the scene of
operations was transferred from Lockpor to this
city. Yon are aware that Mcleod was brought
here by virtue of writ of haJeas corpus granted
by the Hon. Greene g. Bronson one of the JUS
ices of the Supreme Court. On Monday of last
week the arguments in the case commenced and
they were concluded on Wednesday. The pro-
ceedng was in no sense trial OF Mcleod, us IL
is erroneousy sly led in many Of the newspapers.
The matter before the Court was purely a queS-
ton OF law, and involved no inquiry into the guilt
or innocence Of the prisoner. Joshua A. Spen-
Ger, Esq. the leading counsel for Mcleod, moved
that The Court enter an order dischargng his eli
ent from custody on The ground that the act char
ged IN the indictment was one which could not
come under the cognlznnce of our courts. Dur
ing the two days and half in which this rialler
occupied The Couri, the closest attention was paid
to The learned aud elaborate addresses of the
counsel, not only 10y the Judges on The bench but
also 10y as large mn auditory could possibly
crowd within the walls of the court rUon Mr.
bradley of L0ckpOr opened the case in behalf of
the prisoner ~ speech Which attracted special
remark for its logical precision and frequent bursts
oi eloquence. lie was followed on the part of
me IthPIe ny Nlr. WOOD, District attorney OF Nj
agnra County, who made an able effort. Hon.
" ills Hall, Attorney General, followed on the
same side aud it is needless TO say in an effort of
great learning brillIanry and power. The argli-
ment of the was closed by Joshua A. Spen-
Ger, Esq of Utica, one Of the nhest lawyers in
the state. OF his speech it is only necessary to
say that il was worthy of his previous fame. The
decision of the Court has not as Yet been given,
and il is understood will not be before the com.
mencement Of the July term. In The meantime
Mcleod will continue in confinement in this city,
al order having been made transferring him from
The custody of the Sheriff OF Niagara to that of
the Sheriff of New York. What the decision of
the court will he is of course matter of conjec-
ture. But the utmost confidence may be safely
entertained that the tribunal TO whom The question
is committed will be actuated by no improper
motives, and will give its judgment in the premis-
es according TO its conscientious conviction OF
Law and Right. 1t having been shamelessy as
serted by The Globe and other locofoco prints tina {
the Wing General Administration were using That
Court as tool to effect the liberation Of Mcleod,
l here take occasion to say, for the sole purpose
of showing the absurd falsity of this SANDER, that
each of the Judges composing the said Court
There are three OF them) is a steunch locofoco.-
Having said this, repeat the expression of my
perfect confidence in the integrity and indepen-
dence of the Court.