The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-14
AFFAIRS At THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.



WASHINGTON, March s, 1851. |
Ge~eral Chapliw-7he Fate of some of his Accom-
yiicss- District Of CotSns6ia Latc-Sc.
The MOI ements of abolinonists in this meridian,
last summer, are well known and remembered.
Hundreds of slaves were abducted from the Dis
trict, Maryland, and Virginia, and saveholie rs
generally were alarmed lest their property should
take to their legs and flee away A particular
fancy was entertained towards negro belonging to
the Hon Robert Toombs, and another, the pro-
perty of the Hon Alexander II. Stephens, both Of
Georgia; and this at an important juncture in the
affairs OF our country, when ultras OF the North
and the South were vieing with oae another as to
who should first succeed in dissolving the Union,
Southerners hating the eonfederacy because it
embraced abolitionists, and Northerners as heartily
despispg it because slavery was tolerated. Gen.
Chaplin was the Lieutenant General, and, furnish
ing hms eli with a carriage, hired black fellow,
named Warner Harris, to drive i, and the contents,
fnamely, Chaplin and the slaves of Stephens and
Toombs) hey ond the bounds Of the District through
portion of Mary land, and INTO the State Of Penn
sylvania, where the cars OF the underground rail-
road in waiting, TO carry the fugtives to
cooler climate We know that thus party vas cap
taTed, after warlike and bloody encounter, and
brought back to Washington. Stephens aad
Toombs subsequently recovered their slaves, one
ner Harris, the colored driver, thrust into
prison, and Chaplin gave bail in the sum Of 30, 900
Tor his appearance al the present term OF the crml
nal couit; and was then, on requisition, conveyed
to Montgomery county, Maryland, to answer TO
the charge oil assault, with an intent 10 KILL the
police officers who intercepted the progress OF the
escaping parties. he, however, after lying about
two months IN jail, gave bail 10 the amount OF
$40 COO, TO appear and answer 10 The grave charge
al the March term of the Howard District court
the We nue. having been changed.
fatxF af he Ia In he
lin has not yet made his appearance here, and It
is suIpoeed that he will not, nor at Howard dis
trci, pleferrug TO forfeit the bail rather than 10
trust in the glorious common law privilege of being
Iried by his peers, assembled as jury. But War
Harris, the driver OF his team, put on trial
This week, and was found guilty on one of the in
dlctmens for assisting the slaves TO escape, aud he
will probably, during the coming week, 90 through
the ordeal on the other. Inc law prescribes the
punishment, IN such instances, 10 be not less than
two hundIe dollars for each person entced or as
sisted 10 escape. And II the money be not paid
forthwith. the offender to lie in jail until it is
ne.hslt, We believe, going to the owners OF the
slaves.
But trial of more moment took place to day
that of Noah e. Hanson, colored man, engaged
a servant in the house OF Richard 5. Coke, Esq,
(who was, memorable occasion, engaged by
the Senate of the United States to take part against
Mr.. John Nugent, who was so badly dealt with
by that honorable body, because IL was suspected
that he had furnished the Nem York Herald with
copy OF the Mexican treaty before 1t was ratihed).
X,
a repre- from South Carolina, were miss.
lsg on the sixth of May, and were not found till
The 18th OF August Captain Goddard aud Officers
Handy and Wolard, by some means, ascertained
that they were on the premises OF Mr. Coke; and
they were discovered under the lower floor of the
servants quarters, confined 10 narrow space,
food being supplied TO them through crack, by
Hanson. Mr.. Coke promptly dlsavowed all know
ledge of their being on his premises, and afforded
every facility for the arrest of his servant. Mr..
Colcoek received his negroes, and did not forget
TO re member the police for their loss Of time and
trouble in his behalf.
Mr. Fendall, for the United States, after the evi.
deDce had been given to-day, addressed the jury
10 show that Hanson was guilty Of the offence
charged. namely :-"williDgly and willingly enter
tanning" Mr.. Colcock's negroes, and " entertain.
ing" them for twelve hundred and eighty hours;
and he read from the law applicable TO the case,
passed in Mary land one hundred and three years
ago before the colonies thought about independ-
ence-a law that was transferred to the District
of Columbia when Maryland contributed the soil
nov known the seat of the General Govern
melt. The penalty for entertaining in such
cases is, for zach hour, one hundred pounds OF
tobacco, one dollar sixty-slx and twoIhirds
cen,s-the price of the weed at that time, We sup
pose. Rather severe price for the privilege.
Mr.. Radcliffe andMr. Key, the son OF the author Of
the song of Inc star. Spangled Banner" appeared
for the pris oner The jury returned verdict Of
guilty against Hanson, and came 10 the conclusion
that ne eniertaned" his guests for only hundred
and forty eight hours, throwing out the remaining
four counts in the isdicment. Hanson was taken
sixty -four thousand eight hundred pounds of tobac
CO 10 paid, or one thousand and eighty dollars.
"a the same prison Drsyton and Sears, white
men, are still confined. They were engaged about
two years ago, IN sbductIng seventy-sx slaves, ia
the schooner Pearl, who were all captured in the
Potomac. Their fines are some where in the
neigbborhoo6, according 10 our recollection, OF
thirty thousand dollars each.
Thus, il will be seen, that all persons cannot
steal or entice, or eNertaIn slaves with impu-
nifty; and tina, the ignorant agents are arrested and
punished, while the chitf actors and controllers
have wit or money enough TO protect themselves.
CAPITAL.
WAsHiSeroS, March 10, 1851.
The ca yso~ Blu1S0- The Nicaragua Treaty
Taz NtcqaguG~ Mai,i0 ava SIR Hcmy Ba,-
wu, &c.
For several months past, we have been aware
hat "Le CommaL deur J, de Marcoeti, Enyoye
Ex,raordinaue ct blaiatre Plenipoten,iaire de la
Republique de Nicaragua has been an object Of
suspicion in the West End Of Washington. He
came hither with the highest professions Of friend
ship Of his government towards tina: Of the United
States and his arrival was trump.ted a. an i'm
portant eyenf, calculated to unite he interests OF
his republic and ours in boads OF smi,y stronger
than the locks Of the COME mp.atet snip canal 10
anite the two great ceans for commercial plr-
poses.
Aami.oiIical notice appears directly under the
editorial he id OF the National fHfegrcs of Sa
turday, denying, IN The strongest terms Of ndgaa-
pon, hat Mafcoleil had had a conversation with |
an English capitalist with regard to the cOnstruc-
ton OF the canal, and had favored The project Of /
that gentleman. 10 The deiument OF the United Il
States and the guast treaty stIrulatons on the sub
Jet This Is the substance Of the disclaimer by /
the Nicarsguan minister, who aaont r1ousy says L
that he 10 not q naive Of Nicaragua, buf tss deeply
IL heart her interests. Il u not doubted that the
NtaKeaUan government 70 sincere IN us profes-
SONS OF ireldship towards the United States, but
the reports in relation 70 us minister do Justify
lse satisfactory conclusion.
IL will be remembered that Mr. Clayton, Will. 4
Secretary II safe, blundefed into a treaty with i
Dir Henry Bulwer, with regard to the JOINT use OF Il
the contemplated canal Casing under his table 4
ell pItvios yrnJeit. ne did write a treaty himself,
ans in great hurry il was copied over night, and
signed by the British Minister, on the ensuing day
- L. \ 49,