The New York herald., 1850-11-15
NEWS BY THE MAILS.

ments against William l.. Chaplin, who attempted
70 relieve the Hon. A. II. Stephens and the Hon.
Robert Toombs of two of their slaves, by convey
ing them from this city in close carriage. This
individual, together with one Of the negroes, was
captured in Montgomery county, Maryland
by Captain Goddard, and the party oil ponce
officers and oib.r who accompanied him,
after sharp resistance on the part Of the ugitives
and the discbare~ Of sis,os and hourshes of bowie
knives. Mr.. Toon,bs' negro was the only one
wounded, and escaped, and afterwards returned
voluntarily to his master. These proceedings oc-
CURED on the nght Of the Sth OF September last,
Chaplin was brought back TO thus city, and gave
bail in the sum vi six thousand dollars to appear
before the Criminal Court of this district, to answer
for the abduction oi the negroes On requisiton
of the Governor OF Mary and. the accused was g
hvered into the custody of the Sheriff of Mont
gomery county H. mas been in prison about six
weeks, in Marylan
The Attorney for the State, and the Hon. r. ].
Bowie, member uf Congress yesterday appeared
before his Honor, Judge Brewer, TO prosecute the
case in the Montgomery Court Chaplin was
strongly represented 10y Charles ii. Pitts, ID. Rad
Cliff, and John Brewer, lawyers practising in slave
communities. The hrst named gentleman alluded
TO the fact that there indictments, three
OF them charging the prisoner with assault and bat
terry, and an attempt a. XII Captain Goddard, VIM.
Smithia, and Richard Buts, OF the arresting party
two charging The srccny Of the two slaves, and
two charging ssslsaBce 10 The slaves TO escape
He said that tht Idic Uients were just brought in;
that the defence 70 he forced to trial with
out time for preparation; that hve of the cases
were merely msoemespors, aud therefore he asked
the court to hx thr smoupt OF bail for the appear
ance Of Mr.. Chup IN
The temper Of the spectators was, evidently
against such course, ana many privately ex-
pressed their unwinsness that the prisoner should
be released
Mr.. Bowie, of the prosecution, announced that
the State r,ady Tor uial. and opposed a post
poneme mt OF the tfIsl Unleas he most satisfactory
reasons could be adduced for this course. The
court must, he sao, hrst hear the testimony; the
amount Of bail always depending on the circum-
stances which surround the crime, or the offence
charged. He conIended that the court could ex-
ercse its discretion IN fixing the sum, as it was a
matter Of favor, ard rot 81 night
Mr.. Pitts bTit fly responded, insisting that the
counsel OF Chaplin. iof good aud sufficient reasons,
were not ready ior trlal Witnesses material to
the defence, were absent, and, beside, sufficient
time ought 10 he allowed TO make the arrange
ments. The cases. he argued, were balable and
he had supposed that on this point there would
have been no controversy.
Mr.. Richardson, The State Attorney, followed,
and said that he notorety of this case by the pre-
stnce OF counsel, he efforts which have been
made to bail the party anterior To the meeting ofthe
court, and other circumstances, sugge sed whether
the proposition Ia h1ii. was not IN effect PROPOSE
ton 10 enable The 10 escape justice, by for
feiting the bail thus peying bounty for his liberty
The ball. he insisted should be such, if granted,
as 10 secure the as ndgnce of the party for trial
Mr. Pitts said thai bis chent stood on the same
ground as any Other person charged with crime,
and the court was NJ" 10 presume that the in
tention Of the parry IN offering bail, 10 escape
trial The application for bail was made under
protest. that il desired tar the purpose charged
Mr.. Bowie said that the biiling of the prisoner
addressed the sound discretion of the court,
aud could not be demanded by the prisoner as
matter of right.
The Judge announced that he would take time
to consider the application; aud here the subject
rested for the day, or rather the night for it was
growing dark.
In the hotels, whlther the visiters to Rockville
had congregaed to ge out Of the rain, end TO refresh
Chaplin's trial the general theme of con-
versation. Judging from the opinions generally
expressed, sav' seal. had better avoid that sec-
ton of the country The people are law. abb ding,
and hate abolitio0isls - much as true Christians
do the devil, and speak ot them in very select
teimR.
To-day was bright aud pleasant after the storm
OF yesterday, and vsefs began TO pour in 10 liste
TO the trial At Chaplin, which il was expected, by
not a few, would Iost,vel, take place;
Judge Brewer had scarcely seated himself whe I
he announced that he could not admit the prisoner
90 bail, but would alluw him reasonable time TO
prepare for TRIAL
The docket of appeal cases was resumed, and
all at once there wns general movement and
much confusios On the part of the spectators
" Here he comes" said one. "Silence :" bawled
out an officer OF the court, holding a long pole,
painted red, in his hand, as the wand of Office.
"Silepcer was -pouded from the other side, by
similar funcriorsry. The lawyers at the table
towards the deor Chaplin was now in court, in
the custody Of tn Sheriff He evidently
much confused, aud looked as though he would
faint. He was comfortcd by the presence of a Mr..
and Mrs Smith. of New lOrk--not Gerrit and his
spouse. They assuredly belonged to the Society
Of Friends Their dress indicated this The lady
wore an old.tims-ot day Quaker bonnet, and her
spouse a broad hrm. Mr.. Cameron, and a Miss
Gilbert, also followed in the train Chaplin handed
TO the clerk affirm tons, saying that he has
reason 10 believe h5t he cannot have fair and
mi Mf.uf md ali
for a change Of venue This was granted, and the
prisoner and his suite left the room.
Mr. Plts asked the court To hx the amount Of
bail whereupnn
Mr.. Richardson again pressed the point that the
sum should he suahcieut to insure the attendance
OF the accused for trial, and that the court should
not merely regard the circumstances Of the prison.
er and his friends to give the necessary amount of
bail, but should look 10 the questions involved
There are, he said. m this country, fanatics who
think that they are doing God service in stealing
away other person properly and with this feel
ing, and with these fanatics. has this man hazard.
ed not only his lb~ry. hut the benefit Of their for
tunes FOR his escspe lie suggested that this was
question which ought 20 enter into the considera-
uon Of he court IN hNng the bail IL was not the
man, but the case, which was asked to be bailed
and in baiiDR the case the feelings Of this section
of the country wers largely interested.
DIR. Pitts denisd that the counsel for the prosccu-
lion had right to hriug INTO the consideration OF
this case conjectural circumstances elsewhere, TO
influence the position which the prisoner occupies
There was no tact which would authorize the
court TO suppose thit the application for bail
not made IN good isilh and he replied to the
States Attorney for throwing out the suggestion
Bail was TO be determined wi hout looking TO the
description Of property allr ged have been stolen,
and without regarding the preJudces or predilec-
tons Of any other part of the coantry. Bal should
be accorded on the constitutional principle that II
shall not be exce,sive
The court promised 20 ix the amount Of bail in
the 81 the dsv, and then sugge sted that the
venue be removed 10 Howard district, in the ad-
joining county, to which the counsel for the de-
fence sssented, and were perfectly satisfied. The
court OF this district meets, we believe, on the
third Monday Of March next. The Judge subse-
quently liked the amount Of bail at sls, 900, but
bonds were not then entered into. II is scarcely
matter Of doubt that they will be.
Here the csse rests for the present. and IL 10 the
general belief that Chaplin will never appear for
trial, and will forfeit he bail, IL gwen There is
little doubt, however, that he will stand trial in
the Criminal Court for the District OF Columbia.