Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-08-30
7,agp t1spayap17n0 AFFAIR.

THE HARRISBURG AFFAIR,
A1taoagA ahora Is mach IN the extraordinary
proceeding q, Harrisburg, to excite Southern In
s.a41ioa. !, is worthy Of remark that the deci-
sjagss ot Judge Pearson Involve remarkable sc
know graan; a the Injustice exhibited by the
Northern people 10 The Southern States in regard
to fugitive slaves. In this case, il seems tina. the
pur>uers Of the negroes, unwilling TO trust 10
Northern court sustaining their night Of proper
" in the negroes themselves, though. it best 10
proceed sgainss them as Tags1spes from 9sSst9ot
and csused them 10 be arrested upon the charge
Of stealing the horses with which they effected
their escape, The court before which the negroes
were brought, On Friday last, upon writ OF habaas
oa~pass. held, in its opinion delivered Saturday
morning whilst the slaves were in the Jail, that
there was not only no proof OF the intention to
steal. but positive proof OF the contrary, inasmuch
as Il appeared that the horses were turned loose
sf9er ride Of some thirty miles. The slaves were
thareupon ordered 10 be set al large: the court de-
c3Arng, however, tba. although Mr.. Taylor. the
owner, wool6 nos hs permitted 10 seize his pro-
perry, n the presence Of the oour4, for that, il
strangely held, woald he conseEnpt,l yei he had
~aa un3oubse3 right TO take these men wherever
be could lsy his hands upon them, peaceahly. and
i violence ensuad. those persons were criminally
responsible who caused it, It is something 10
have 50 strong Judicial confession that the own
e Of fugitive slave has perfect night 10 seize
him and take him home. But, in declining TO
give is personal countenanee 10 the masters ia
king possession q his property, the CO uu record
n xr-nS-l 1..- 10
sb21 soon followed 81 the Jail. Ii was but telling
the party, WIG claimed only his nghifl property,
Is the cozrt distinctly admitted. GO and take your
s1zsss- Il the mob now in the street will permit
yoe: We. The court, cannot lower dignity so far
IS 10 lei yoa take them under our eyes The
mob, composed in great part OF negroes, was, Of
oourse, ready 10 prevent By force what the court
Szs 50 10Th 70 witness
The judges second decision, made when Mr.
Teylo. and his associates were brought up. on
vi. Of aaas corpus, applying 10 be released from
coal1enenl Tor the alleged offence of criminal
participation In the Jail not. also be;rays an ev-
den. disposition TO elude the solemn obligations of
The eour. itself and the community to sustain the
rights OF 8 STAKEHOLDER seeking the recovery Of
Ms property Evidence was received thai the ne.
gToes suffered very seriously from the rsncontre
but testimony was excluded, which was offered to
show that they commenced the assault, and that
the violence enployad was No greater than was
necessary.
The whole matter Is now deferred to the
De1i term Of The Court, when il is 10 be hoped that
something Ike straight forward justice viii be ex-
tandad 70 me parties who have already encoun-
tsras gres, risk and expense in endeayouring to
o5zin no1hing more than their acknowledged
rights In lie mean time, new trouble is likely
to grow ON Of the situation Of the negroes who
were 10 be heard On another application for release
from Imprisonment Should they be released,
Mr.. TsyloE would, according TO Judge Pearson
be entitled 10 seize them as his properly. Anoth-
er mob would doubtless be prepared TO prevent
him from doing 50, and another scene of violence
woaid ensue.
II Is manifest that the only thing, which can
eEaetusily protect person who endeayours to
reczy.are his fugitive in a community like that of
Harrisburg, is the c,nsant attendance and
assistance Of officers Of the law, and it is the
great merit Of the fugitive slave bill which has
passed tie Senate, that il supples this important
dssderatum. The bin makes il the duty Of the
Commissioner (ghom il invests with penary ju-
deal powera.) 70 cause the fugitive slave to be
ARRESTED, and, upon the requirement Of the claim
eng, i IS -the duty ri the officer making the ar
Tess u reqin suea fugitive IN his custody, and 10
T.nzoce hina % lss Ssale fran which he fed, and
t>rs II d.lireT lin 10 ,aid claimant, his agent Or
Attorney" To that end, the officer is authorized
ard required 70 summon To his aid 50 many per-
sons As may bs necessary to overcome the threat
end farce. Had Judge Pearson been "a com
missioner, and hls sheriff been ordered, upon Tay
las requirement, 70 summon hundred men TO
aid hirn in 0r.aging the fugitive negroes to Vir-
gina, the mob wo8d never have dared to attempt
Z rsseae
A. IL Is, under Judge McLean's late decision,
IN One Or Indiana, every person who took part in
t.s ARRAY =; the jail has made himself liable to
IezFV calg4ges