The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-28


character They believe that the provisions in the 9Th
ton stringent enough to obtain justice in most cases
The marshal is to be fined 81 ooO If be does not faith
fully carry out the Of the slave and he pay
the owner the value of the slave if be afterwards suffers
him to escape.
But we are satisfied that nothing less stringent than
such provisions will satisfy the southern people II is
with some surprise and regret therefore, that we signs
OF purpose emascuate the bill when il is taken up in
the House of Representatives, The South calls for an
effective bill to carry out the guarantees of the cons,itu-
lion itself They have right to complain and they will
loudly complain, and will satisfied until Con-
gress shall have made sufficient regulations for the rest
tuition OF fugltives Ii this guaranty had not been
given in 1887, the constitution would have failed and
every day, instead of weakening the claim OF the South
is only adding strength it, Cases daily
upon Not TO speak of the abduction of slaves
from this Dslricior his agency in which the ncendary
Chaplin has been hailed with admiration by the conven
ton al Cazenovia, and has been complimened by the
fanatic abotoniss Of that mongrel assembage with the
empty honor OF being nominated President Of the
United Staes-we have just the favorile maid of
family in Richmond abducted at Newport. And fur.
Their, we give the particulars of at Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, where the from Winchester were
unable to obtain any redress from the acting Judge, al
though the runaways brought before the court,
and were proved to have escaped with stolen horses and
moreover were admitted by the Judge himself to be
"absconding slaves" The Judge would not assist in
restoring them their masters nor would he have them
prosecuted for felony in consequence of some nicely
of form which he plead in his justification. The same
afterwards attended by the dsoderly conduct
AZ n yofh ,c
Of the slaves, and him iree whilst the other two
with their owners, committed TO prison. The mas
have been since discharged on ball. and they were
in this city yesterday morning. They complain loudly
of the reception which they met with in Harrisburg, and
presume will attend the adjourned court with evil
dences sufficient 10 establish their property, and with
process that is calculated to meet the case, and with
spirit that will persist in asserting their rights.
The fact is. the South will always insist upon re-
dress They have the constitution TO stand upon, and
they will rest until Congress discharges its whole
duty the occasion. Nothing short of the bill which
has passed the Senate will satisfy them for the presents
and trust therefore, that the prudence and rmness OF
the House OF Representatives will pass the law without
weakening its efficiency Otherwise, shall hear
plants enough.
From the Philadelphia North American.
SLAVE EXCITEMENT AT HARRISBURG.
Judge Pearson's Opinioa.-Dischdrge of the Saues
HARRISBURG, August "a.
Commonwealth Us. Samuel Wilson, George Brooks
and Bllsy These three defendants negroes, escaped
during the month OF July from their masters, in Clark
county, Virginia, near Baetown, Beryville and on
the same night the owners OF the negroes missed also
three horses, saddles, and brides.
William Taylor, the owner of two of the slaves and
George h. Elsler, resident OF Barryye, arrived here
some days ago, and made information before Henry
beader, esq, charging the above named defendants with
larceny and as being fugves from justice Upon this
warrant was issued. and the arrested and lodged
in jail.
On last Tuesday application was made to the court
then IN session, 10 bring these before them writ
OF hdbeas corpus the next morning, which granted;
and the next day the court decided TO postpone the
until Friday, IN order to dispose OF the jury trials first
On last Friday defendants were brought into court, de-
Tended by Messrs. Rawn and Judge Mckinney, two
eminent lawyers at our bar. The owners, William Tay
or and George II. Eiser, underwent long examination
mat these men slaves from the State OF Virginia.
and that the horses stolen doubt used for the
purpose OF rendering their escape from bondage
easy and effective.
The whole day OF Friday was occupied by the exam.
naiion and the argumeh by counsel both sides The
prosecution conducted by Messrs Trunkel Lander
ton, and Carson, all well known as the most eminent law
yers in town when Saturday morning. his honor
Judge Pearson delivered the following opinion:
These before the writs of Labeas cor
The defendants having been committed is
made, charging them with having stolen certain property
On these oabs issued the defendants
ed brought before the magistrate, and without hearing
committed to prison 1t might be Piled, and Is admed
that the offence II committed IN the State OF Viz
GINA.
Several objections raised the regularity Of
the warrants OF commitment
j. That is stated where the offence committed
That tbs ownership OF the property stolen Is suf
cientiy avered
The defendants have also given evidence to show the r
regularity oil the proceedings, and what circumsances
the charge founded The oath m ade and a NOT.
OF the facts stated the docket OF the justice, but not
signed by the doponent.
We OF opinion that the whole proceeding il very
loose and irregular The warrant OF commitment should
whose property soen, and where the offence
committed Had that proceeding been regular, should
amount OF ball. anu possibly whether any gross
take had been committed by the magistrate.
The defendants have called the party the cha
and also TIE man whose property was alleged 10 have
been stolen, show the under which
stolen and, from the evidence, seems three horses
Were taken IN the State OF Virginia, probably by the three
them belonging Mr. Taylor. They, stated took with
them two OF their masters horses, with saddles aud
brides, rode them about thirty miles, and turned them
loose.
The slaves were pursued and the horses found where
they had probably been abandoned In the OF Will
lum (csled john Strange, is no evidence that the
horse was 'toen although H. alleged that William rode
OFT horse belonging Mr Luleohn. We have no proof
OF Mr.. LtueIohn's horse having been stolen all From
aught that appears, he may have been lent We must.
therefore, dismiss William without further investigation
n there ground whatever for ung him Sew
eral questions have been raised by the defendants
counsel
First that the proce eding could only be sustained under
the OF Congress- therefore the Illegally
sued oath made in Pennsylvania We have doubt
that the improperly issued as the oath should
have stated that the crime committed in Virginia, and
the position assumed that the oath be made
under the act OF Congress When made and properly