Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-03-03

Wright. The subpoena was issued, and the
postmaster appeared and was sworn. He
produced a file Of about fifteen numbers of the
" Examiner" These he said were received
at his office, directed to Mr.. Wright. but be-
ing lncendiary papers, he had withheld them.
lie handed them TO the court. He next pro-
duced a letter, postmarked Louisville, Ky.,
directed to Mr.. Wright. This letter was seal
ed. Mr.. Wright claimed immediate possess
sion of the letter, and rendered the postage.
lie had long looked for this letter. He OBJ
Jected to any one breaking the seal, or read
Ing 1t. The court said that the law of self.
protection was superior 10 all others, and di-
rec'ed the clerk TO break open and read the
letter. 1t was as follows:
LOUISVILLE, Ky, July |, 1887.
Mn. ]. WRlcnr-Dear Sir:-Your favor
OF the LIST ultimo, directing a discontinuance
oil the Examiner came duly TO hand. !
shall, however, unless directed to the contra
ry by you, continue 10 send it to your address,
until the time you have paid for the paper ex-
pires. Yours truly,
John G. ""
Judge Shacklebar regretted to see such men
as Mr.. Wright returned as jurors. They were
clearly incompetent. If the returning officer
knew what opinions Mr.. Wright held, his
conduct was highly reprehensible. When,
however, such men did c%ontrive 10 insinuate
themselves into the jury box, the court would
apply the only corrective in their power; they
would clear the box. Mr.. Wright was d.
rected to retire, another talisman was substi-
tuted, and no further challenge being made,
the jury was sworn.
The first witness called was Clement Catch
pole. He testified, that before this indictment
was found, he saw Mrs. Christian teaching
Black Beck the alphabet. Black Beck was
her slave, and had gone with her mistress to
Belpre, Washington County, Ohio, where
they had been living on Mrs. Christians farm
for the last lwo years. 1t Was on this farm
he saw her teaching Black Beck. He had
seen Mrs. Christian at this employment a
number OF times. Black Beck, however,
when he saw her last, had not learned her let
tiers.
Enoel Echo was next sworn. Mr.. Dexter
objected to his competency, and produced a
witness who swore that MIR. Echo had been
convicted and sentenced TO the peniteniiary
for perjury. MIR. Echo produced a pardon
from the Governor under the great seal, by
which he was released, and pardoned from
all further penalties under that conviction.-
The court decided that it would admit no
proof of the conviction but the record duly
authenticated, and Mr.. Echo was required to
proceed with his testimony. He reiterated
what MIR. Catchpole had said, and the prose-
cutting attorney rested his case.
Here Mr.. Dexter moved the court to instruct
the jury that they could not find the defend
ant guilty, on such a state of facts; inasmuch
as the testimony showed that the offence, if
such praiseworthy conduct could be called
an offence, was not committed, either in
Wood county, or in fact in the Commonwealth
of Virginia. The court did not understand
that the offence was committed withOut the
proper county, or commonwealth, and still
asserted that Righteous Ridge was in Belpre,
Washington County, Ohio-that Mrs. Chris
tIan's farm was about 100 feet above low wa
ter mark, but that at the high freshet in 1882,
the Ohio river ran through a slough back Of
her farm, thus making it an island.
Judge Shacklebar said that this part of Bel
pre- was clearly within Wood County, Vir-
ginia; and the case must proceed. MIR. DeX-
ter then called on John White, who swore
that The Ohio river in the spring Of 1882, was
one hundred feet higher than it had ever been
known, either before or since; that he was
acquainted with Mrs. Christians farm, and
that the high waters of 1882 did not run back
OF her farm, nor did the water reach within
ten feet of the highest point.
Here MIR. Blathersklte inteiposed. He had
Just learned that Mr.. White was a black man,
and by the laws Of Virginia he was an incom-
petent witness, and could not speak the truth.
MIR. Dexter admitted the existence of the stat
ute excluding blacks and mulattoes; "but,"
says he, Mr.. White is neither. lie is d
white man. This | see-the court sees it,
and if all the world swears he is black, still
we know he is white. 1t is above all others
a case to be tried by inspection, for here there
can be no mistake"
Judge Shacklebar could not decide by in
spection. Black and white, in this statute,
feierred to blood-nOt TO color.
Ii that must be the test, said Mr.. Dexter,
! insist on his competency. He is neither a
black nor a mulatto, and this statute names
none but blacks and mulattoes. Being a stat
strued strictly. But, says Mr.. Dexter, | will
go farther. If our courts are in fact, wha'
they are de%nominated, and profess to be
Courts of Justice, they will wholly disregard
the provisions of such a statute; where a ne
gro is produced as d Witness. Tie is Iol Cdll
ed to swear for himself. He has no interes
at stake. All that is wanted Of the negro, il
10 tell what he knows in a case between hi
%neighbors. The object of the trial, is to as
certain these facts, and when the legislator,
in their blind zeal to degrade the blacks, pas
a law to prevent the parties litigant from pro
ducing their witnesses, what should the courts
do! Should they be accessory to this high
handed outrage? They know that whateve
tends to elicit the truth is, or should be, ties
timony. 1t is nothing to the witness wheth
er he gives his testimony or not. But it /!
much to the parties. They have a right It
produce their proof, and neither the court
nor the Legislature, have a right TO deprive
them Of it. 1t does not so much stultity III,
witness, by rejecting him, as it Furnishes tn
party who calls him. 1t can do no good, bu
invariably does incalculable mischief. 1t il
perverting the course of justice for the un
worthy purpose Of kicking a negro, when il
fact you DO not hit him, but the white mai