Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-08-22
New-Jersey a Slave State.

This is the caption ofan article which we have seen CO.
pied into several papers, and which refers to a recent suit IN
the Supreme court of New-Jersey, in relation To a colored
man William, who was mel as IA slave by a citizen ofthat
state.
In 1920. the Legislature adopted a plan for the gradual
abolition of slavery, but which it appea RS did not affect the
condition of the slave William. In 1874 a new State Con-
strtution was adopted, and in ls45 the question was brought
before the court, whether the frs, section in the Bill Of
Rights did not Immediately and f rever destroy the relation
previously existing between master and slave. The Sec
ton reads as tollows:--
GAN men are by nature free ana indepen dent, and have
certain inallenable rights, among which are those ofenJoy
ing and defending life and liberty, acquiring. possessing
and protecting property, and of pursuing aud obtaining
safety and haPpiness."
The opinion ofthe court was given upon the following
points, three OF the Judges agreeing but the Chief Justice
dissenting
"lst, That the relation Of master and slave existed BY
law at the ADOPTION of the Constitution in 1874.
I'D, That that consultation has not destroyed that rela-
ton or abolished slavery.
I'D, That the colored man, William, should be remP-
ded to the custody OF the defendant
Judge Nevius, who delivered the opinion ofthe court.
affirmed that the decisions of Massachusetts, and Virgins. in
cases somewhat resembling this, were different construc-
ions of similar Professionalism in this conflie t ofopin-
ions among Judges, the present case must rest on what this
court shall consider the fair legal and safe construction"
This is no more than we expected, for we did not believe
that the people Of New-Jersey were ready for the abolition
OF slavery; and this experiment shows that the time and
means spent in trying to force the law to do what public
opinion will not sustain IL in doing, is a waste of energy
and labor. When the New-Jersey Legislature laid down
its plan for gradual abolition, it so left the slave code, that
although the citizens Of that state were not permitted TO.
hold men as slaves for life, except those whom the laws
regarded as too aged to be free, yet citizens of other states
were allowed to bring their slaves upon the soil of New
Jersey, and TO hold them in conformity with New-Jersey
laws. Thus making the state a City of Reluge, not to the
innocent shedder Of blood but to the wilful and deliberate,
man-stesler, who gorges himself upon human prey. Her
statutes too, IN relation to the free colored man, are such
as any pagan nation would be ashamed of, and infinitely
more outrageous than the restrictions of which travellers
complain in the despotic countries of Europe. In New
Jersey, before a colored man can feel that he is in compar-
alive safety, ifhe is the citizen of another state, or if he is
passing from one county to another, he must havehis bu-
manity certified to by a Justice ofthe Peace, as ihough the
testimony ola New-Jersey or Pennsylvania Justice with
the great seal of his State attached, was more worthy
o~fcredence than the testimony of God, with his soul.im-
press.
We do not look for much from New Jersey in the wav
oil humanity, though doubtless we might obtain from her
any quantity of religion we desired. So long as such a
tremendous influence goes forth from her great theological
! seminary at Princeton, humanity will be turned awav from