Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-08-30
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
@.,-n,Y MORNING, AUGUST 80, 1850.
THE HARRISBURG RIOT.

THE HARRISBURG RIOT.
..v .,,-nug by the Piney Point route, we received
,3 Philadelphia papers in advance of the mail.
h latter We extract the following final opinion ot
p,,,son in holding TO trial the firgnians acknow-
,,.5ya 10 & 'ne owners of the slaves.
Ie--' HARRIsBrG, ArGUsr 26.
.,u,vinr opinion of Judge Pearson delivered on
,av evening when he heard the owners and their as
nIs on habeas corpus on the charge q" assut and bat
"5y3s Commonwealth RS; William Taylor and others
5abeas cor,gs--These gentlemen are brought rom
;;.on oi Dauphn county wit OF habeas corpus,
been confined under tl.e following circumstances
r. Court informed this day that great rit nao corn,
- and was in progress, III and about the prison. and
, number persons We're engaged III hgh'ln5 wlth!h
A that much blood had been she'd and some lives
s 10 have been taken; and it apprchended from
nber ci persons in the street endcaVorlng To force an
,c that consequences OF the gra.est character lsht
tyaec,ed We directed officers, with potce oi the
wn 10 sufficient ioce make taeir way 10 'he doolS
.5s nr:son and Sccurc them contnng all VINO were WIN
" sri preventing the entrance of any more: and on iis re-
IN, or sufficient force 10 arrest "r llspese 'is
, ~ se ocsde ana secure anu retain those "'hih a VI
mn appears 10 have been performed
or sole object preserve the public peace and secure
se who had broken it, The evidence now before US shows
"a, The parties hearing had entered the vesoue OF he
son !or purpose o securing their slaves who hao ie
n State OF Virginia. been charged WIN morse s'eus
~, hy us discharged This day, writ OF habeas corpus
TIE evidence shows that great violence was used oy
IN, IN endeavong their property; inat tne siafe
asre most severely beaten and let bleeding ana Amos
osess The parties before fully Identified, and the
..cis are clearly proved.
50 far as disclosed by those who have testified there ooes
nj appear 10 have been anything in the nature OF c''"e
N Of the resistance justify resort 10 such extreme e'
s,es The defendants have Offered evidence To Sho" ina,
.sy attacked by the slaves in h"si!e i'es' anu
,t no force than was Necessary 10 !epe Tue ATTACK
ni secure in custody do mel believe tat accoi-
cng rules OF law in regard 10 preliminary eNahiaohS
a. have a rgh, 10 hear their evidence.
This IS preliminary examination in wr't OF haaeas
n yye are not near the evidence 10th sides bu! on
me pa- the Commonwealth only else on every such VIII
81, ,4npst orr
l. would arrogate itself the decision OF ali disputed facts
in The first Instance rendering the trial by jury supe 'oS
and unnecessary We possess BY law no such power bu
where rRc facie Is made OUT BY Tie Commonwealth
must leave the be settled by jury when all thu
evidence will 5e head.
cout, We will judcialiy take notice Of the facts pro-
y peo yescFday that the entavored 10 he arres
-, wce slaves hc!Dng,y 10 Mr. Tayor-and IN our cec
SION This nonir declared that he had night IL take
them wirncr, cul! las lis hands peaceahI. upon then
.y..,,. in The actual presence II the Court.
We are also OF opinion that he and those whom he may
have ca assistance had ri sht to just as muc
force in arresing an. securing them an officer OF THIS
Commonwealth with process in his hands has in executing
such process yet could by means justify Sher
III or Unstable in using the auun; ot violence proved to
have ,a GsC IN this case but w"ld hold them answefaoie
an assault and battery must we hold these defendants
The o er must in the first place, all gentle means to
scrc the party ordered TO be arrested Ii resisted he must
y-,ne NAT resistance bv force, but be extremely
cafaul 10 by the degree OF violence used against
him sni only justify beating his prisoner to prevsh
gr.a, bodily himself and deSst soon as he
Ie>
not accord the defendants here any greater power when
th.y come soil seize their fugitive slaves than
peace officers. The persons engaged
resisting these in the lawful exercise OF their rlat
OF sezl are guilty OF great wrong. and most unJustiha
BE breach OF the public peace for which We have held as
mans responsible could be apprehended and we must IN
ise manner hold these gentlemen to answer al our next
Cou c Quarter Sessions where the whole subject will be
investigated. By tie Court.
J.J. PEARSON, President Judge.
Ts case together with other ourages and inso
lent yoions property and right, will naturally excite
the most Indignant feelings throughout the South We
trust that the fugitive slave bi which has passed the Sc
u.e will supply remedy for the open and wild robbery Of
Su,ern property by the hypocritical miscrcans in the
Northern towns Under that BILL the U. S. Marshals and
ar deputies will be compelled under heavy penalty 10
1e the fugitive slaves and deliver them safely in the State
snce they escapcd-as'ead of leaving TO the owners
claimants attempt the law themselves and to
be invariably cb5ed thrown into prison for seeking TO
their property. We are inclined 10 believe that
mob would respcc, the u. S. marshall armed with all the
power the general government and that this law would be
efficient in securing the constitutional rights OF the slave
o~ne.. Bu; it asserted that this bill pass the
House and the teegac dispatches 10 the Philadelphia pa
s say that is the belief in Washington that the
President, viii the fugitive slave Gi the ground oi
uacJnst!iuliona,.;y
SAoat this bill be defeated, and the owners OF property at
tie South continue be robbed of their properly as at pre-
requires no prophet 10 see that the whole Seuth will
beuaed in sevcyng connection with the North, which,
ned ol gaanying property is made the instrument
o ard robbery. This has become great pTact-
Cal e. and with the Whig believe that sooner than 1t
shall continue the South will feel itself compelled 10 embrace
sson of the Union. Though some of the territorial
questions there may be unity of action at the South all
admit that the fugitive slave question, the time for ar
gaaent will have passed, the united South will discard
ereTnment which fails protect the rights of property
socially recognized and guaranteed by the Constitution and
vii take their defence into their hands We therefore,
VAN the House of Representatives and President Fillmore
TINT should bill fail and the fragrant
sa's The property Of the South be allowed 10 spread
Ns lniOn will be inevitably snapped in pieces.