The Vermont freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1842-1843, 1842-12-10
from the. Emnncipator and Free AIaanh1i1n
THE LATlMER CASE. :"
CONTINUED.

We did not intend to divide Mr.. Austn's most preg
nant and useful communication The closing para
graphs were omitted by casual of the printers
We now give the portion, with the accompanying re-
marks and ask for all historical compilations most
dlligent consideration.
Conclusion OF Ma. AUsrIN's STATEMENT.
AT about ten o'clock on that night, $500 was
paid to Mr.. Coolidge, aud Latimer was made
free man.
There are several suggestions which naturally
arise on this statement Of the facts.
The first is that by the order Of the Sheriff
to the Jallor. no fugitive slave ever be de-
tanned i'm and removed from this city under the
present provisions of the laws of the United
States. So far, then, this case is highly impor-
taut in its results.
1t has been asserted frequently, that Mr.. Gray
had refused from time to time, various sums of
money, for Llrmer can only say, that no di-
rect, positive offer has ever, to my knowledge,
been made to Mr.. Gray, except that made at
South Boston, being check for $500. In the
next place. Mr.. Gray did not come here to sell
this man. He came here under the mistaken
belief that the laws Of the United States were
suffi cientIy explicit to enable him to obtain in
legal manner, that which, by the Constitution of
the United States is made property.
In regard the Standing aud character of
Mr.. Gray, this statement is prepared without
his knowledge feel that have right to say
something. Mr.. Gray is young man, who, by
his own exertions, has earned in legitimate
mercantile business, a competence. He is a
married man, with family of children, and he
enjoys the respect and esteem of the citizens Of
Norfolk. lie is no "slave breeder or slave
dealer" as has been basey asserted bnt under
the laws of his native State, he holds to his
4 ILL., .
sist him in carrying on his business. lie came
here a stranger, to prosecute claim mlde legal
by the Constitution aud Statutes OF The United
StatE%sm@w~4s-es~ rz1rTlrucU-s3r
strictly according to law, and We has not ID erited
nor deserved the opprobrlous epthets and abuse
which have been heaped upon him through some
Of the presses and by of the citizens of this
place.
Neither is it true that Mr.. Gray has been the
representative Of any portion OF the Southern
population. He has pro-ecued this claim so e y
on his own account, and without the pecunary
assistance o. any one.
| cannot close this statement without single
remark in nv own behalf
have acted in this matter throughout in my
professional capacity. | have no more favorable
opinion Of the institution of slavery, than the
most ardent of those who seek its immediate
abolishment-but | have yet to learn that the
counselliug and advising of a stranger, in the
exercise of his Constitutional privileges, is
crime. | have no feeling in this matter-no il
fee ling 10 those who, under the shield Of anony
nous newspaper communications, misrepcesen
my motives and cOnduct-and no feeling of re
greet that Latimer is free man. | could have
wished, however, that his emancipation had beef
effected in a different manner.
1t may or may not be the duty Of the citizens
tl,o
NV their ancestors, with the inhabitants of tn,
South in regard to- slavery-but bad as is thi
institution aud great is the curse it brings OF
the nltion, | am of those who think that tn
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Union would not accom-
plIsh the end proposed, or favOrably affect an
portion of the country-and that as long a, W
are united people, the citizens Of the South
whenever they seek to- enforce their rights, ar
entitled to- the services of those persons who
by education are qualified to advise them no,
10 observe the provisions Of the Constitution an
Laws Of their country. f.. q. AUSTIN.
10 Court street, Nov. 2lst, 1912.
81 It seems clear that the $4OO was obtained wron.
fully and fraudulently, and we should like to hear
argument pro and con-, before the proper tribunal
see whether the transaction is what technically Guile
obIaning money by false preiences: Those Who pa
the money acted under apprehension that Latino
might be spirited away. Coolidge obtained it und
Austins Injunction to get as much as he could Pc
haps il can be recovered back.
90 Mr. Austins conclusion that " fugt
slave can ever be detained in and removed from tn
city, under the present provisions of the laws of q
United States" proves what have always mai
tanned that those laws nullity, for the laws
are the that they always were, and hence sla
never could be removed under their provisions and
that have been removed were taken, Latmer wou
have been but for the intesrenee that is, by will
tools here supplying by their zeal the defects in
law Whether there exists any process by which t
wrongs thus committed the innocent and he lplt
can be redressed, unable to say. A reckoni
may come, one day, which will surprise many.
90 The correction of Mr.. Gray's mistaken bel
that the laws of the United States were sufficiently
picit to enable him to obtain in a legal manner ''-p
session of a man to be made slave in Massachuse
has been rather expensive process both to Gray
to the people of Massachusetts; but of opin
that, in this case, bought wit is worth its cost.
a. Il will be well for Mr.. Austin if he wishes
retain the name of lawyer TO rid himself s soon
possible of the phantasy that slave is by the Con
tuition of the United States made property" 1t is
error very dangerous in its influence, and yet too
ish TO be advocated in Massachusetts,.
o5 Would Mr.. Austin please to be a little
plic in regard to the legitimate mercantile busine
by which Mr.. Gray has become rich, We recol
hearing most brilliant argument, once from the
torney General of Massachusetts,, to prove that
Giles DistiIery Legitimate business and