Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-27
THE SYRACUSE CASE.


on Monday the goth inst. held to bail by Judge
Conkling, at Auburn, New York, to answer for
rendering aid in the rescue of the fugitive slave
Jerry at Syracuse on the lst of the month. The
Syrscuse Journal (.abolition) gives list of 3s
ala lies" and some 80 gentlemen" who were
present in court, and accompanied the accused
from Syracuse to Auburn" Chas. B. Sedge-
wick was with them as counsel. The Judge
gave his decision in writing. He held that they
were not charged with any previous combination
and arming for the purpose of ''levyng war
against the United States" but only with aiding,
in particular instance, the unlawful escape of
an alleged fugitive from labour. The U. S. At
torney, he understood, to concede this. The ev.
idenee he thought was sufficient to convict the
accused at least for the purpose of holding them
to bail. We copy the concluding part Of the de-
csion:
The proceedings the part both of the Commits
sioper anal OF the Deputy Marshal appear to have
lawfully restrained OF his liberty, by due process of
law and all interference by these persons, by act or
words for the purpose OF tavorng his escape, and
ding that result violation OF the act, rendering the
offender amenable to its penalties. The interference
of The defendants and OF their numerous coadutors
who have not been identified direct, pal pabe and
unequivocal Its motive, it not in any instance openly
avowed was too obvious TO admit of doubt, 1t was
adapted TO the unlawful cad in view and terminated
in its accomplishment. My duty towards the defen-
dants is therefore plain and imperative. They must
sevealy be required to give bail for their appearance
at the next OF the Court, 10 be held at Buffalo on
the second Tuesday Of November, or for want OF such
bail to be committed to prison.
II is unnecessary to say more, and under ordinary
cir MIC Ia nt tn do nd
yet | would tain avail myself OF the occasion further
to discourage lar as my voice may be potential for
this purpose the repetition, in this District least of
the dsgaceul scenes OF lawess violence and outrage
described by witnesses in these They must have
been the fruits either of gross Geuson or of wantoo
contempt of law and social order. For the purpose of
eecng the liberation OF person from custody under
process issued and executed in conformity with ex-
press and well known provisions of he Constitution of
the United Staes building in the midst OF popu-
lous city partially demolished, and deadly wea-
pons reckessy used to the imminent jeopardy OF
human lite, and the gevous injury of several persons
The least reprehensbIe motive by which the az.
gressors be supposed to have been ANNA
ted is the belief their part that slavery is unjust
and immoral, and that the laws by which it is upheld
may therefore be rightfuy resisted by force 1t
must be the hope OF all good men, that the time NAV
when injustice and oppression in every form, in
Guiding Human Slavery if such be its character will
have been banished from the earth
But these wrongs exist, and are likely to endure in
other forms besides that OF slavery and if we have no.
thing better than lawess violence to rely upon for
their removal, they will never cease. 1t is to adyan-
cling civilization alone that look for the gradual
extinction These men understand this, and shape
their course accordingly. Bigos and Fanatics are
too blind to it, or too impatient to heed it, and in
their headong zeal to redress particular ways real or
fanced, regardless OF all consequences they commit
other wrongs more aggravated and inolersbe. Such
the grave error into which these deendas hava fall
len. Regardless OF their civil and social duties thew
have broken the public peace, set the law at open def
and with deadly weapons assaulted and wounded
its officers while execung its mandates. In thus in
sutng the majesty OF the the law, did they expect to
escape vengeance? II SO, their folly was equaled on
ly by their clminalty. What is tho Law in this
but the declared will othe majority to which
when thus expressed, all are bound by und amental
principle OF the government to submit, and which all
Its ministers are sworn to enforce.
1t often happens that laws are enacted contrary to
the Judgment, and sometimes to the moral sense OF
thousands OF citizens and this must unavodaby
continue to be the case. But sane man imaenes
that he is therefore absolved from the obligation TO
obey them, still less than he has right torcbly to
prevent others from doing 80. If he cannot submit IN
he Ray seek residence In some other COUNTRY if he
can find one where he thinks he would suffer less from
mlsrule but 80 long as he continues to be an nhabi
tan 1.-THE United States, he lst submit to the laws
or pay the peaaty OF his disobedienc. When this
ceases to be true-when every man may transgress a
law with impunity, because he dslkes it our govern
ment will have become mockery, worth presery.
ing, for ii will have cease to afford protection to the
right either OF property or OF life.
The act in question has unhappiy been fruitful of
bgory and fanaticism, and it is due to candor and
truth to add that seems to have bewdered the iudo-
ment and conscences of others besides the class of
citizens to which the defendants belong. | am happy
be Ignorant of the existence in this part of the State
of New York of any of Those persons-tew | trust in
number anywhere-to whom | allude.- The manly
spirit and love oil far play prevalent here an eac
tive antidote to the unhappy delusion under which
these persons seem to labor. doubt also whether
they are to be met with in the States where slavery is
tolerated, for have always understood that our South.
ern brethren, whatever may be their faults in other
respects. are likewise distinguished for the virtues
have mentioned. Judging from the language of these
authorities more blind than amable on recent occa-
sion one would be led to conclude that they SUPPOSE
it to be the bounden duty of those who are charped
with the execution of the Fugitive Slave Act as often
their invoked for the restoration of an
alleged Fugitive from abor, to take care that he shall
at all events be delivered to the claimant and in that
svent to take care also to interpret the laws as at
all events to secure this result.
1t may OF be amiss to remind these we'll MEANING
people that the law in the application OF its provision
no respector OF persons, and that Judges are bound
o administer il as they find il, ntsligentIy, firmly and
mpartially The day, trust is far distant, when the
lights vouchsaed by law even TO Fugitive Slave will
Ne less secure under the guardianship of American
Judges than OF his master.
Judge Conklins remarks about the injustice
md oppression of Human Slavery, were wholly
unnecessary, and prove that he himself is not suf.
fclently sensible of the duty, whi.h he incul.
Gates of acquescng in and maintaining the laws
of the land
The notorious VIM. H. Seward was present
in the Court room, and, together with the male
Syracuse, signed the bail bonds,
he white defendants giving each bond in the
AMOUNT Of $4,000, and the coloured of $500
This over (adds the Abolition print Gov Seward
invited thirty eight Syracuse Ladies, and the Gentle
men from that city, his house, which invitation was
cordially accepted The whole party repaired to the
Governors mansion, and there enjoyed half hour,
which passed in riendIy chat, and nroducons 10 the
Honorable Senatof--a man admired and bel owed by
he Fair, because of his bold and uuyiedng advocacy
If Liberty.
The Party them in fac spirits, lett for the Cars =
And taus ended the First Arrests, and the First Ex-
animation OF Syracuseans. for giving to Man his
nalienabe Rights"
correspondent of the Tribune writes from, An.