The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-14

next spring term and he again made application
To the court to fix the amount of bail.
Mr. RICHARDSON, for the State, would merely
make suggestion as TO the amount Of bail. This
case was one, he said, which not only excites this
part OF the country but excites other parts of the
country and II being question OF great excite
inent, what would be bail under ordinary circum-
stances would not be bail on this occasion. An in
dividual is brought before court with sparse and
slender means, and another 10 brought before
with large and ample means What he repeated,
would be bail in the one would not be bail in
! the other. There was grave reason for this; one
| case was more important than the other and the
bull given might be forfeited by the prisoner for
the sake OF his liberty therefore sounder discretion
should be exercised by the court. The question is,
whether this case is Que OF that character /; and
| be apprehended that The court would look, not to
the means OF this individual, but TO the weighty
consequences involved. There are in this country
| fanatics who think that they doing God ser
vice by stealing away The property of others And
with this celing, and acting with those fanatics,
this man has not only hazarded his liberty, but
has involved the fortunes Of those who anxious
Tor his release. Mr.. Richardson suggested this as
a question which ought to be considered in fixing
| the amount OF bail. IL was not the man, but the
casej and IN bailing the case, the feelings of this
section OF the country are largely interested.
MIR. PirTs remarked, it was not necessary to
make any suggestion as to the bail. as he had said
yesterday. And he now repeated this morning
that the case stands precisely other cases stand
under the laws Of Maryland; and the prosecution
on the part Of the State had no right to bring
INTO Tue consideration or THIS cage cOnleCtural
cumstances elsewhere to influence the position
which this man occupies. The prisoner has been
indicted for three msdemeanors assault It's commit
ted on persons who attempted his arrest; for two
other misdemeanors-alleged assistance rendered
slaves to escape; and for two larcenes of the ne
groes. He would say TO his friends on the other
side and with due Difference to the court that the
question is, what amount of bail Cooking to the
circumstances of the party, and these misdemean-
ors under the laws Of aryland) should be de-
manded to SECURE the attendance of the ac-
cused for trial There was no evidence which
would lead the court to believe that the appli-
cation for bail is made in bad faith This mans
means are limited; it may be that they are great
er than those of others who are brought hither
for trial but because man has friends who are
willing to aid him in recovering his liberty and to
make preparations for the day of trial. is the bail
to be accumulated SO as to prevent him from OBJ
tanning ~ Is 1t within the spirit of the consttu-
tlonal declaration that excessive bail shall not he
demanded! And shall the amount required be
beyond the means of the party to give? And ia it
to be said because this man has stolen, or attempt
ed TO steal, one kind OF property, the offence is
greater than II he had stolen another kind Of prop
erty! And that because persons in other parts of
the country sympathize with him, the combined
capital OF the North to be brought his aid? Is the
court to be told that because the offence ia ,ainst
particular institution, the amount of bail must
be excessive to crafty those in another region who
entertain contrary sentiments? No; bail should
always be proportoned to the extent of the offence
charged, without looking to the prejudices or pre-
objections OF any other part of the country You
are to look to the law of the land and the means Of
the party, and then determine the bail, having in
view the principle that excessive bail shall not be
demanded.
The court suggested that the venue be changed
to Howard district, in the adjoining county.
The counsel Tor the prisoner expressed them
selves perfectly satisfied. Therefore the trial of
Chaplin is designed to take place (not earlier than
the next March term) in the Howard district
court, at Ellicotts Mills.
The witnesses for the State gave bail, S 500
each, for their appearance the March term of the
court.
We did not remain in Rockville until the Judge
announced the amount OF bail required to be given
for the appearance of the prisoner but learn from
friend that il was fixed at nineteen thousand dol
lars; and that there was indication that bonds-
men were in attendance. They may however, be
procured at an early day.