The Vermont freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1842-1843, 1842-12-10

subject, which we hasten to copy The editor of the
Reporter adverts to other Communications Indicative Of
the jealous interest that subject by the British pub
lic The Reporter however, adverts to further safe
guard that may yet be applied, in the phraseology of
act of parliament. HapPily, the British public will
have opportunity of exerting salutary and decisive
influence. The tenth article can be of effect Oh
British territory, until act Of parliament has been
passed in conformity With it, The matter, therefore,
must pass deliberately through both houses Of para
ment, and all necessary pains may-and doubtless will
be taken there to make the phraseoogy of the law
it ought to be- We confde the their fidelity,
and wait to what is done in parliament-Eman.
CHARLES SrUART'S LETTER.
Redruth, October 5th, 1912.
My DEAR FRIEND,-The Tenth Article of
Lord Ashhurton's Treaty, appears more and |
more horrible to me, repeated considerations
seem to develope its character. My reasons are
as follows -
In all slave states Of the United States, and in |
one at least of the free (Ohio,) the colored. |
whether enSlaved or free, have no evidence in
law. When accused therefore, no evidence ex-
cept that of free white persons can be legally re-
ceived in their favor but whenever the contest
is with free white persons, you see at once how
hopeless to them, generally speaking, such de-
this Or is there one amongst US, who, exclud-
ed entirely from those of his own class, could be
content TO repDse the question of his honor his |
liberty, Or hIs& fe, upon the testimony aud 1ge-
I'M Of rs .rroe, ate M rr-l -r.-
mics!
Now, suppose a free colored subject of the
United States is reclaimed from our government
with the legal affdavits, as fugitive criminal
BY TIE treaty, as read it, we are bound to give
him up; but to what do we give him up? To
fair trial! This must have been Lord A>hbur-
ton's idea. To fair trial! Possibly: but GER
tainly not once in hundred times. To fair
trial No; but to the power Of law system
which has already deprived him of almost all
possibility of proving his innocence, if inno-
cent; and which leaves his acqnittal or condem-
nation to judiciary, outrageously at war with
his safety, his honor, and his happiness The
ninety-nlne probabilities out of hundred are
that he will be judged with fearfully partial Sc
verify. Yet, if he belong to the free states,
there is still mtigation-a sacred mitigation
in his After undergoing the warded
punishment, he will be free-he will be restored
to his manhood. But shall he belong to the
slave states, his crime, by the laws of the state
III question, may direct or sanction his being
sold into slavery, either Immediately, or after he
has undergone some other dreadful penalty
| am not willing to believe that Lord Ashbur-
ton contemplated this nor as long as it is pos
sibIe to doubt, will | believe, that our govern
ment will sanction the article in question: with
out expressly and effectuay providing against
| such results.
But still worse evil is involved in the treaty
The slave, whoever he is, wherever he comes
from, soon as he touches British ground, is
free. Glorious feature of our country! Well,
-, Ar1,V
Canada, and from the moment that he arrives
there is free man. British law, in this partic-
uIar executing the divine, restores to him his
inherent manhood and the Egis Of British power
is noby spread over | i'm. But he is accused of
theft, and the United States government, supply
!. ing the legal certificates, reclaims him for trial
Lord Ashburton doubtless presumed. for fair
trial by his peers By his peers Alas he has
none, But THE cattle which Craze his masters
field, or the furniture which adorns his masters
f habitation For a fair trial What! fair
trial with no evidence admissible by law in his
favor except the evidence of exasperated enc
: mics! What fair trial Of a runaway slave by
: indignant slave-masters And, after all, when
he has been tried for theft, when, Of course, he
has been found guilty, and when he has under
gone the worst rigors of the law-what, all
: what becomes of him if he survivesl Will his
, sh instrumentality. be given back by the slave
holder, exuting in the recovery Of the runaway
E slave, and in the fearful example which he has
/, made him to his fellows against similar trans
gressions Of slave-laws? Will he be at liberty
to return openly and without impeachment te
Canada? Alas he is in Arkansas-he is i'm th,
fangs of his tyrants; he was long ago legislateo
k by them into thing, and all his fair claims t.
II equal manhood have of old been spurned witt
J infinite Indignation. And how would the COW
ard pride aud the tyrant seI6shness Of the slave
e system quail and writhe in every at the de
n parting glories Of slavery should slaves CLAIM
It TO the common and inaienable manhood witt
y which God has endowed every man, and to it
n fair and equal rights. be thus publicly acknowl
d edged Ssst III. &. 4-s aer-ie = Sos.
n Lord Ashburton meant, I presume. that Grim
inals on both sides should be equitably restored
e in friendly manner, to fair trial and Judgment
;, and SO far, every honest mind will applaud ant
y support him.
l. Nelson Hackett's case affords fine opportu
:, nifty of testing the question. If the American
be honest in the treaty. they will scrupulousl