Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-05-08

5 Ibid rot seek, by aiding the womanto run
q away,sto enable her 10 go to free State,
and there be free; but his object was either
to prolong an adulterous intercourse with
the woman, or taking advantage Of the
E power which he thus had, 10 carry her of
i, and aell her. What difference there is
between this and stealing, il is difficult to
]. perceive. y
He was indicted FIRST for stealing se-
cond, for aiding her to run away and de-
part from her mas,er's service, under the
act OF 1854, which makes both felonies
without the benefit Of clergy. The jury
convicted him on the second count IN The
Indictment. He was Tried before me, aud
|. I thought The proof as we'll sustained the
Court for stealing, as that for aiding the
woman TO run away. The jury, however,
chose to convict on the second count. The
case was carried up to our Court of Ap.
peals, consisting Of all the Circuit Judges,
fsix 10 number,) and they refused the pris-
oner's motion to arrest Of judgment, aud
for new trial, my brother Evans deliver
! ing the Judgment. Aslhe Judge who tried
him, il was my duty to pronounce the
Judgment of The law, which was done,
and he was sentenced to be hanged on the
26th Of April next. The Judges all agreed,
that his punishment, as he was q young
man, and as the owner recovered posses
sion of his slave, ought 10 be commuted !;
they therefore authorized me to recon-
mend tc the Governor to pardon him, on
The condition of submitting to commu-
tation Of his punishment. This was done,
aud the Governor pardoned him, on con-
dition, lba. on the day appointed for his
/ execu,;on he should receive thirty-nine
lashes. The Application mneS., 10r, and Inc .
granting the pardon was in Dece'SsHr.
few DAYS after judgmenlo death had been
pronounced.
am truly sorry to hear. that any man
protesting 10 be a Christian minister would
| boast of stealing twenty thousand slaves
Rut faua,icism and ignorance can blind
man so far as 10 make him forget every
tbinr which is ri5A.. If the aboli!ionis's
wish to understand US, let them take 'he
trouble to come among US, travel our State
all over. observe how our people are trea-
ted. and then, if any such traveller be an
honest man, and finds any ground Tor the
many horrible stories which are told about
negro slavery, we will be content to abide
The condemnation.
Accept nv thanks for the kind and con-
s;dera,e sentiments contained in your let
Ter aud believe me most sincerely, yours,
JOHN BELTON O'NEALL. r.
The facts of the case are OF course cor
reclIy stated by Judge O'Neall; but we
learn tina. no, long after the commutation
of Browns sentence, petition was for
warded 10 the Governor from the neigh
borhood in which Brown was brought up,
stating iacts not brought before the Jury,
and so we'll authenticated as toinduce the
Governor to relieve him from the whip
ming, and grant him full pardon.
Shortly after this, the Executive De-
par,ment, ws understand, was inundated
with petitions, (which still continue to ar
riye,) from nearly all the non-slaveholding
States, numerously signed, by women and
men, and also letters from individuals, de-
nouncing Slavery, warning, threatening,
and demanding pardon for Brown. Such
a. least. we understand, is the character
of mos, oc the communications, there being
few excep,ions. Such an interference
with the execution Of the laws OF Sove-
reign State, is az novel IS it is lnlolerable.
And If ANYTHING could influence our Ju-
ries, Judges or Executive FROM tne'r sense
of Justice or mercy, and swerve them 10 !,
sterner enforcement Of the laws. it wooid
be this irnperlinent and anonying inter.
ference of those ignorant, self sanctifled
2relenders 10 the special guardianship oi
human rights.
1t is particularly amnsing TO hear Lord
| Br, ,ueham denounce the law under which
Bro WIN was convicted, as being mol only
inhu, nan, but anything but English law,
when j, so happens that this identical law
was pa used in 1854, by government act
inp uut Ter the authority of and in part ap-
poipted by the British Grown. 1t is an
deed &C tualty English taso, adopted, as
most of our laws are, en- nadsSe, by the
newly or ganized Republican Government,
after O ur Revolution. Like Slavery, this
law wa one Of the legacies left US by our
very wise aud humane English forefath-
ers.
The aholilionists denounce with equal
equal justice. Their forefathers OF the
North and East were the Jealous coadju-
TORS and folio wars of the British in The At
ricau Slave Trade, and Slavery generally,
when the Souti, was opposed 10 both, and
resisted to the utmost the introduction OF
the latter. Aud doubtless the law in ques-
,ion is serious stumbling block in the
way of the schemes they have afoat. 1t
would be a serious interference with the
holy dreams of one Of their Missionaries,
who might come here to seduce our slaves
away. to find himself arrested BY halter.
If we recognize slavery, and hold slaves
by law, we must have laws TO prevent
their being taken away from US. And II
it be crime punished wish death, to steal
sheep in England, or horse among the
abolitionists, why should there not be an
| o1not no IN o1f, for ot toolsnn @ ueprO who Is