The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-28

Another point has been raised, that the court
VIII not permit thoie men TO be arrested, as they
have been frauduenty seized, imprisoned, and
brought into court on criminal charge, Tor which
there was no foundation whatever.
We are by no means prepared to say that this
charge vas fra,idlcnHy preferred; but, the con-
trary, two of the defendants, Wilson and Brooks,
can only escape a trial and probable conviction
from the fact that they were slaves, endeavorng
to escape from the custody of their master, and
merely used the horses to aid them in their object
We would not permit Mr.. Taylor or any other
man to seize his property in open court, which
would be contempt; but he has undoubted
| right TO take these men, wherever he can lay his
| hands on them, peaceaby, and if violence or dis
turbance ensues, those persons criminally re-
sponsible who cause IT,
We have power to prevent the abuse of legal pyo-
cess; but we have no legal authority to prevent the
recapture OF these men, any other slaves, by the
owner, when or wheresoeyer he may think proper
to exercise his right except in the face of the court
1t is therefore ordered that the said Samuel Will
son, George Brooks, and William (alias John)
Strange be discharged from confinement
Upon the announcement of the above decision
the owners of the slaves and their assistants pro-
ceeded TO the Jail in order to seize their men as
as the keeper OF the prison should dischar ge
| them A great crowd-chiefy composed Of colored
per5ons-had by this time assembled in front of the
Jail, and all the avenues leading to the prison were
filled with men, women, and boys, of all coors.-
AS soon the doors OF the prison opened,
and while the slaves still in the vestibule OF
| the prison, Mr.. Taylor seized hold Of one of his
| men, when the slaves resisted, and melee com
menced between slave and master, in which the
| slaves were finally overpowered and handcufed,
but until after severe, but not dangerous,
| wounds were inflicted on both sides, in which the
| slaves Jared decidedly the worst. One made his
escape, and is, no doubt safe enough ere this.
While this melee scutlle was going on, the ne
| groes outside encouraged, and some assisted the
| slaves much possible, but were principally
| prevented from doing much harm to the men en-
| gagged in the recapture by the large iron grated
| door in front of the vestibule which was closed
| The court made acquainted with the fact of a
| riot having actually commenced, or was about 10
commence; upon this information, they ordered
all the engaged in Che vestibule of the jail to
be detained charge Of assault and battery, with
intent to create a riot, and all parties slaves and
| owners, were committed to prison.
| Immediately after this affair somewhat set
tied by the confinement Of all the parties, the court
commenced issuing bench warrants for the arrest
of the rngleaders, aiders, and abetors in the riot
and ten arrests actually made in the course OF
| an hour; these men were placed under heavy bail
| and some of them committed.
On the re- assembling of the court in the after
| noon, application was made for writ of habeas
corpus to bring these owners and assistants In the
recapture before the court and ask their discharge
from confinement This granted and tho
case was Immediately brought up before the court
when, after lengthy examination on the part o.
the Commonwealth, the parties were bound over
| in the sum of $500 each, to appear and answer a
the next court of quarter sessions.
In the evening, Mr.. Taylor came before tho
court and made information against the slaves, a!
participants and abettors in the riot, on which the
slaves were committed, and they now in Jail
There is no doubt that Tuesday next Ito which
/ day the court stands adourned) writ OF habea!
corpus will be issued, on which the slaves will be
heard, and if liberated on bail, may expect an
other tumut.
The uproar and excitement during the day were
very great, and the judge of the court thought i
advisable to call upon Gen. Seller for volunteers
who promptly obeyed the order, and had, in very
short time, sufficient body of abe-b bodied men un
der bis command with mu cts and bayonets fixed
to dispense the mob, principally composed of color
| ed men and women from the front of the Jail. Al
is quiet now, but fear the worst is not over, as thu
owners seem to be determined to reclaim their pro
| perty at all hazards