Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-07-07

selves and four small children were entitled
to freedom that himself and wife had been
Keeping house and living together as free
persons previous 10 the birth of the eldest of
the four children. Neither the Sheriff or
myself had the slightest doubt of the truth
Of their statement. The Sheriff thought the
mother so good Christian, that she would
not lie even to free her own children. |
then requested to see the commitments of
the Magistrate, which were handed 10 me-
| at once saw that they were defective and
had no doubt it the individuals were taken
before Judge Booth, (by legal process.) but
what he would discharge the parents and
Tour young children, If not the two older
boys. Alter my return ZONE | called on
Wales, stated the facts of the case, aud re-
qnested him to accompany me to New Cas-
tie, in order TO take the family above named
before Chief Justice Booth for eXami-
nation. The habeaS corpus was prepared,
and they were all taken before Booth, about
eleven o'clock, on second day morning.
The investigation lasted about one hour
The business was conducted by Attorney
Wales in such a manner that the Judge was
induced to discharge the whole family and
with his decision ! was well pleased; but
had little or no hope when they Were taken
before him, that the two boys would be dis
charged. The statement made by Samuel
and wife, in the Judges office, was the same
in substance as they had made in prison 10
the Sheriff, Edith Pusey, and myself; and
that was, that the mother and four Young
children were free-the two elder children
slaves. | then put this question to Chief
Justice Booth, AS those people have been
discharged. will there be any improperly IN
NV employing a hack to take them to Will
mington?' My impression then was, and
still remains the same, that his reply was,
q NO. | then in the Judges Office. and
presence, asked the Sheriff to procure a car
rage. lie sent his son for one. and the
owner came into the Judges office, where
we made the contract for him to take them
to Wilmington. In about half an hour they
were all in the carriage, and started for Will
mington, and arrived at my store at noon,
nothing secret, or covert, in the transaction,
whatever. And | now most solemnly aver,
that when they were discharged by Judge
Booth, and for some time after they arrived
in Wilmington, | had not ev9n a suspicion
of the mother and four small children being
slaves. If my statement above is correct
which | presume will not be questioned by
any one acquainted with my character-your
verdict of $500 for the penalty as rendered
Wy 1Ou U III Stl udy ldSls was not luSl, aS lnb
Judge, in his charge to the Jury, on that oc-
casion, distinctly stated | must have reason
10 believe them to be slaves to entitle the
plaintiff to a verdict. With tina, SmaH clause,
as explained ihsmy favor by the Judge, |
was entitled to your verdict of acquittal.
do not pretend to assert that | was able. with
the latitude allowed to the witness, to prove
my innocence in this case clearly TO the Jury.
The Judges charge was positively against
me-, if | knew they were slaves, or had good
cause to suspect them of being such, even
though examined and discharged by the
Judge. The first case tried during my alb
sence, while | was sick at home, was differ
emit believed the two boys claimed by
Glanden to be slaves; but the Judge having
set them at liberty, | thought there would be
no breach of law, or risk of penalty, in pro-
vldlng them a conveyance with the rest of
the family TO Wilmington; and had | be-
lieved every one of them to be slaves, |
should have done the same thing after they
had been released by the Judge, with the
feelings of humanity which the Almighty
has implanted In my breast, and the interest
| have felt for this oppressed people of color,
in our midst. | should have done violence
to my convictions of duty, had | not made
use of all the lawful means in my power to
liberate those people, and assist them to be-
come men and women, rather than leave
them in the condition of chattels PERSONAL
| am called an abolitionist, once a name of
reproach, but one | have ever been proud 10
be considered worthy of being called. For
the last twenty-five years, | have been en-
gagged in the cause of this d~espised and much
injured race, and consider their cause worth
suffering for; but owing to a multiplicity of
other engagements, | could not devote so
much of my time and mind to their cause as
| otherwise should have done. The imposi-
tons and prosecutions on those unoffending
and innocent brethren, are extreme beyond
endurance. am now placed in a situation
in which ! have not so much TO claim my
attention as formerly, and now pledge my
self, In the presence Of this assembly, TO use
all Lawful and honorable means to lessen the
burdens of this oppressed people, and endea-
vor, according to ability furnished, to burst
their chains asunder, and set them free-not
relaxing my efforts in their behalf while
blessed with health, and a slave remains to
tread the soil Of the State Of my adoption
Delaware; and, after mature reflection, | can
assure this assembly, it is my opinion at this
time that the verdicts YOU have given the
prosecutors against John HUM and myself
within the past few days, will have a ten
dency to raise a spirit of inquiry throughout
the length and breadth of the land, respect
ing this monster evil (slavery) in many minds
that have not heretofore investigated the sub
ject. The reports Of those trials will bepub-
lished by editors from Maine to Texas, and
the Far West; and what must be the effect
produced 1t will no doubt add hundreds,
perhaps thousands, to the present large and
rapidly increasing army of abolitionists.-
The injury is great to us who are the imme-
date sufferers by your verdict, but | believe
the verdicts you have given against us with
in the last few days will have a powerful eff
feet in bringing about the abolition of slave
Ty in this country, this land of boosted free