New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-06-29
Slavery I'm virginia-iev. Jas. G. Bacon.

A f,,end in Grsyson Coaoty. Va. has written
us long account Of the primary examination 9i rev
Jsnes c. Bacon, preacher oi the Ne.no1.'t LP'soD
pal Church, under preseniment by the 1rsnu jury
Tor having feloniously circulated Abolition documents
calculated 20 excite the Slaves 10 rebellion ana against
Tho law 4" ia such case made and provided u apftni
that In Virginia the Grand Jury presentnrnis iOf leo
nv do not psss directly TO the ral court eui 60 os'
fore the County Court, bench consisting OF '"iee %
ave Magistrates aud Justices Of The fea'e WHO mercy
sraiHS the cases. and decide whether persons inde'o
Nv the Grand Jury shall be held for trial before TIE cu
parfor Court The examination u Mr. bacon eNc'u
deep interest not merely Ou account OF lhe su"'s
prejadce existing In that part OF virginia against me
ibotionists but from the fact That some oi me aD'st
eoupsel IN the State were employed on the case An
attempt was made 10 browbeat counse Tor the pms
onsr, and 10 fnghten them win the loea th'l was
NOT safe for them peTsor ally appear IN defense o.
persons charged with that most horrible OF 81 crimes
.-Aboldonlsm ahlns taught II Is true by the gfe1t
sxpounder OF Virginia poiiiic-, Jefferson, bHt Win
singular consistency denied by those VINO profess To
follow his political teHcAings But Hon. Mr. f"ltoni
late Will Member OF Congress. ana another oisiih'
quished lawyer. promptly hIaved the ohoquy OF de.
Tending man charged with very unpopular crime
and they performed their work. 20 would seem ~rh
much more ability than success Mr Bacon was
charged With circulating Al AooHnon address eeh''
cred AZ Cincinnati ana also The lie OF Frederick Doug
lass; but all the evidence elected only proved thst IL
merely loaned the books 70 two pcrsoue at tner re-
Quest and OF them % young LADY whose brother
candestioely conveyed u - the enemies OIL the &C
cused The counsel for the Government Appealed very
strongly 10 the preiufces Of the court uur Of the hve
magisuates being members OF tue Methodist Church
and slsvehoders entered into an elaborate argument
10 show the enormlty of the crime charged aud mat
the Bible not only justified but commanded slavery
The counsel for the defense undertake 90 make
q scriptural argument but showed very clearly that
tho prisoner was guilty under the laws OF virginia
by which laws they Insisted, and certainly win
some show OF reason, he ought TO be tired. Iney
proved very plainly that the books, though they may
bave been Of The class intended by the Law 10 be pro
serbed for the cOlored people, they were not circu
criminal intent To excite
them 20 instruction. The criminal intent not being
proved and no criminal act being substana'ed, they
held that Mr. Bacon must 20 discharged But the nia
gs,ra,es do not appear 10 have entert died this roa
sonabo view OF the matter, and they held the prisoner
70 bs In the Of 1000 TO take his trsl before The
Superior Court. Should the judges and Jurors com.
prisine that Court be equally discriminating no doubt
The prisoner will be severely punisbed But Il seems
20 that such specimens hs OF the power OF slave
~ mlsdircct the cause Of justce viii prove Ia the
end milestone about its neck 10 hold II down IN thar
"lowor deep" TO which its own desperate acts not
less than the enlightenment Of public opinion are ev
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