The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-23

II gives usgrea pleasure lay the following interest
ing case before our readers We copy il from the In
danopos state Journal Of the 18th instant II proves
that in spite OF prejudice. in spite Of anacsm astcs
Is not deaf in Indiana to the voice Of the South. We
find that efforts were made the slaves from the
MASTER and that those efforts successful but not
with IMMUNITY The court has mulcied the perpetrators
Of this violation by summary damages:
IxroRrArr pxoisosThe suit of John Norris, OF Boone
county. Kentucky, vs Leander Nswon, 3. b. orocker,
aud sbetting the escape slaves. after weeks
before the circuit court q the Uaed States
determined Wednesday last in favor OF the plaintiff
verdict OF thousand eight hundred and my elk dol
lars was given BY the jury agans. The defendants as the
This suit has elected considerable nt.,s and de
cided mainly under decision Of the Supreme Court Of the
ground that the owner Of slave has the right the
constitution and act Of Congress- 10 capture his properly IN
free State, and take thence without gong before
STATE court and obtaining a certificate.
Ga this trial proved that four negroes, cs'med by
Norris captured In the State OF Michigan They had
abseonded their Boone county Kentucky Ia
October is48 That he immediately on the next morning
two OF three witnesses that ne owner and had
been for number or years After searching Tor his me-
suit He traced them far Laurel, in Frankla county,
but could then obtain no further information rs 70 the route
they had fed 70 Michigan and setded in neshborhood In
Cas county where Il estimated by witnesses ha about
Michigan and ion proceeded his journey home
al a distance Of mile and half from the town. Norris and
his party stopped on the roadside Tor refreshments WINE
there patty from South Bend accompanied by the
deputy sheriff the county, and made arrest under
OF habcas corpus Norris and his party returned with
asrs Il he psopss court Of ST. Joseph coua Norris
made the writ OF habeas corpus, under oath,
ss me % S q s
they had escaped The truth of this return was admitted
by Crocker who appeared In behalf Of tho negroes but
d
the ground that they had been captured IN Mcnig,
inv BEEN proven Ia thai sass The Judge deciding tina,
this necessary liberated the negroes Motifs snucipa-
rom the clerk Of The circuit court and as soon as
ion pronounced attempted TO take possession o. tnem
party were armed with pistols bowie Knives aud the
crowd with canes and clubs After consdsraole excite
mer the negroes were taken to the jail Of the county, ~
Several criminal suits Were then Instituted against the
counsel were Tor Inc parpo .e Of aiding In The ultimate
the negroes Tbe negroes were demanded OF the
the nean tme second writ Of habsas corpus had been
issued which the were, In the end discharged
was had on Friday afternoon, and the negroes finally
liberated on the next Monday morning During the time
two hnpdrcd negroes, from Michigan, present Ia
South Bead. armed with guns and clubs, and uumbcr Of
them finally escorted the negroes out Of town, when they
Judge Mclean, in giving his charge to the jury, said
OF habsas eoryus was Incorrect under decision Of the
Supreme Court of the United States In the above
ferred that this decison applicable 10 the case
that the writ OF habsas corpus was poper and was a. al
times allow able but he question under in this case was
the right Of ownership. That being admitted the slaves
SHOULD have bsen renanded into the custody Of Norris
The Judge said he had dissened from this decision OF the
Supreme Court Of the United States when Il given
but he bound carry On the part Of the
defence, plea up that Norris had gwen his ne
groes liberty the river NJ the time OF the.
escape but this proven tho satisfaction OF the
jury Had this been the case, Norris could have hsc
advantage OF the Of Congress and the decision OF hs
Supreme Court la their capture.
Messrs Liston and smith acquitted themselves with
mucn credit the part of ths pa,nt and Messrs Jerne
gan and Marshall made most able defence. Mr. Smith
spoke between and the closing speech.
Under this decision reasons why the ci
Of tho South should complain OF injustice being done
them while in pursuit OF their fugitive slaves, ~ least 20 fa
Indiana IL concerned. The law Il exists, viii soon