The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-22

even if he should be compelled to walk throug
the blood OF every colored person in the city
He said that years delay had already been ha,
in retaining the slave, and the Marshal wa
under great responsibility, and he did not fee
disposed to add to his responsibility, if he coul'
avoid it. He was disposed to give justice a
well to the master as to the slave; but the mas
ter must prove his case to the very letter.
| In conclusion, the Judge said, that as thu
claimant had failed to make out his case, thu
prisoner had a right to his discharge.
Thus ends the first case tried in this city
under the Fugitive Slave bill.
We do not pretend to sit in judgment on
Judge GRElRs decision but whether in stric
Iconsonance with law, or not, the decision viii
not tend to create q confidence in the efficacy Of
the law. The issue is unfortunate in that re.
spect, to say the least of it. .
Not very satisfactory, nor very profitable this
proceeding! But the Submissionists will point
another case "where the master got the value
of the slave" Well that is rather a compul-
sorry species of sale, but it is better than losing
property altogether. Let us look into the case
Mt ,Detroit-Gen. CAss's place of residence by
the way. The settlement there was by a little
compromise or adjustment.
Detroit, Oct. l5.-Since wrote you, the
negro excitement has somewhat subsidized The
! military was on Friday night withdrawn from
the jail yard since which time a police has been
on duty. On Saturday evening large meeting
was held, at which the Mayor presided, and in
hammatory speeches made by Hon. r. s. Bing-
ham, Messrs. Joy and Emmons, and others.
The meeting was large and enthusiastic, and
the resolutions were not of the most infiamma-
tory character.
Yesterday, a subscription of $500 was raised
principally from among our Democratic citizens,
for the purchase of the negro. 1t was headed
by H. Ledyard, ESQ.,, son-in-law of Gen. Cass,
with $50. Not a real noisy abolitionist, we be-
ieve subscribed dollar. The negro was last
night released from custody, and was really UNI
able what course to decide on He said he had
always been treated in the kindest manner, and
regretted that he had caused all this excitement.
His owner, who is a brother of Hon. Mr.. Rose,
of Geneva, 1--WE believe,) paid all expenses, to
the amount of about 5000, pocketing the $500
rs the value of the negro, and left for home
So the great instruction has ended.
e This morning large numbers of negroes are
f crowding over to Sandwich, Canada. We de
not anticipate any further trouble, for fugtive'
will hereafter be cautious how they remain il
Q town. Marshal Knox is deserving of credit fo
0 the faithful manner in which he has discharged
{ his duties"
d Thus it will be seen, as in the former case a
New York, that the master instead of getting bacl
his slave, pockets 5000, rs the value ofthe negro
|. n mere nominal amount which certainly coul'
t not compensate him for the time and trouble
u wasted, not to mention the unpleasantnes
d and peril of the enterprise And this will b
ir trumpeted throughout the Southern States t.
ID show how faithfully our brethren are observing
,e the law of the land. =!
The whole transaction displays its real char
g acter on it's face. The purchase was made b,
= Mr.. LEDyARD and some other gentlemen
# none of whom were noisy Abotionsts.
It Does any one believe that those gentlemen
e would have put their hands into their pocket
: to pay for slave who was from this &C
o count unable to decide whether to return wit
n his master q not-unless they knew that tn
~ attempt to enforce the law, would end in rio
a and blood shed
ct We are willing to give all credit to III
officers who perform their duty, but the
g. sole choice is between its performance an
lis resignation, and for the latter many arc not pre
", pared, even if so inclined But the spirit Of tn
IN masses as evinced in the general tone of tn
&c Northern and Northwestern papers out Of tn
81 large commercial cities-of the popular gather
}. ings-of the resolutions adopted-the cry of re
peal, and the determined action against the exc
y cution of the law, all speak in a tone not to b
il mistaken.
e Our Northern brethren are repeating the Pro
" viso experiment, with the most marked success
y, They are accomplishing, by the agitation Of tn
h. matter, the same results that would arise from tn
g adoption of the measure they clamor for-an
Is when they have secured and swallowed the oys
k ter, will most magnanimousy offer the shell t.
., their Southern brethren as "a great measure O
p cancellation and compromise" The "pruden
|, and patriotic" national men at the South viii
y say: "Why need we disturb the general peace
t and harmony by agitating the matter-the oyste
t is gone, and our brethren might have insultet
d us by keeping the shell-let us take it and b.
e thankful. If they had insisted on keeping tina
shell, then we wonld have clustered" and backet
If out. Thus we see, while the open insolen
d and repeated declarations of whole communitie
is at the North that they will resist, and rende
g nugatory this law, are accompanied by act
n proving their earnestness-a voice of feeble ex
d postulation comes from the Southern supporter
of "peace at all hazards and to the last extremi
+ ty," warning them not to repeal the law: ant
g devoutly returning thanks, when one negro il
8 caught, and liberated afterwards! while hundred
l. of others, under the cloak of the agitation, ar
seeking refuge in Canada.
Of We re-assert, that for all practical purposes
for the restoration to service of nine slaves on
Of of ten to their masters the law has been as efec
ID tually repealed as if it had been expunged Gas