New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-09

A., M,..pr RoRs FaEE AND EouAL.-The
p;cbnond Wing contains the following parilcu-
lars of an act which, for atroclty and unjust op-
preston. can scarcely be equalcd III a country
hoasting her Just and equable laws.
laws AGAINST FREE NEGRoEs.-We are induced
TO rccur 10 this subject by the recital 10 us, yester
dav of case, which we feel sure will excite tie
sympathy of every reader who has heart. We will
very high official station in the service of this his
native State and that TO secure entire credit to his
narrative, would only be necessary to mention his
name.
Some time during the last summer, colored girl.
born free, only fourteen years old, and resident o
the adjoining town of Manchester, paid visit TO
friend in this city. Either through choice or neces
sitv she remained all night this side OF the rlver
without however, the slightest intention OF becoming
a resident. During the night she arrested by
the police, and not having her free papers was LOGGED
in jail.
Being perfectly ignorant OF the law, and having
no one to counsel advise her, the unfortunate crea
ture was detained in Jail As days, and them by order
OF Court, sold for jail fees She was sold for the
period of 45 years to pay the of $45-was puF-
chased by Negro Trader, and carried into ceptivy
| in strange land, where she was sold again. we
are informed that she is, if alive at this moment IN
Louisiana. We do not recollect any case of oppres
| fully on our feelings.
Our Legislators will no doubt be astonished to
learn, that this glaring expressing Of a poor and
| helpless fellow creature, was strictly legal Not a
| form of law was neglected throughout the whole
proceeding. The girl had not her free papers; she
was therefore legally liable to arrest-she had no
friend to interfere in her behalf, and of course, had
nc opportunity to prove her free birth-she had no
money to pay her lail-fees, and, therefore, it was
strictly within the letter of law to sell her. 1t is
probable that she would not have brought the amount
Of her expenses had she been sold for less period
than she was consequently it was necessary TO sell
heras she It's TO the Statute Book, alone, that
we are to look for a justification of this enormous
| injustice.
On this legal brutality the Richmond Wing makes
the following noble remarks:
Can we expect the blessing of Heaven upon our
| institutions, when such an occurrence that mar
rated above is the legitimate fruit of one of our laws
Sensitive as the opinions of foreigners, can
we expect them to entertain very exalted opinion
of our country and its legislation with such an ex-
annie directly before their eyes 7! complaint is al
ready very general, that the man who has money
enough may commit any crime without meeting the
extreme penalty of the law. Shall we be cited as
an example of the truth of the old saying, that laws
are the webs which hold the weak, but through
which the strong can break at pleasure ?"
! We trust this most melancholy case Of legal op-
preston may open the eyes of the people of this
State, to the barbarous character Of their laws
against an unhappy class of individuals. 1t is TO
them-to the people-speaking in another ieglsla-
ture-tbat we look for reform. From the preseat
body we have no hopes. But we have the utmost
confidence in the virtue and humanity of the body OF
the people, and we hope yet to thorough revi-
sion of this portion of the penal law.