The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-18
CHRIsTIANA TREASON TRIALS.
TWELFTH DAY.

TWELFTH DAY.
Monddu December S-Mr Brent concluded
his remarks in the case of Hanawsy He gave
"a description Of the position of the South in
regard to slavery, and contend,d that the
people of Pennsylvania are bound to deliver
the slave up to the claimant TheConstitution
binds the people of the North to perform some
>sOss,s - y Va 49,. =, 49, az. g
was the first great COMPOUNDS. The South
k~c,y,-. fysS>{ ~, 1urs thp;5' H. che
ConssitatidS. Nae s,ass b lI-,.. .,.a,.
here with clean breast She came into the
Confederation, and has religouly kept her
promise; and she only desires that, while this
Union shall last, she shall be permitted to
come into this State after her property and
not be butchered
He made long speech, reviewing the testi-
mony, the duty of the General Government
the inquest of the coroner's jury, and contend
ed that confirmed resistance to the laws of
Congress was treason. He quotel the law, as
laid down in previous cases, to SLOW that any
combination to resist the execution of law of
Congress, and to suppress it byyolence was
high treason. The particular motive consti-
tutes the offence. Judge Chase has declared,
in mastery review of the law on this sub
ject, that the use of military weapons is not
necessary to constitute the crime Of high trea-
son. as numbers may supply the place of arms.
AS to the necessity for the evidence of two wit
nesses to prove the crime of treason he would
say that if one witness saw a man engaged in
the fight and another saw him present at it. it
was sufficient. IL it was shown that number
of persons were engaged in reasonable de-
sign, and that the prisoner went and joined
them, he was equally guilty with them; or, if
he melted encouraged, promoted or assisted
them, he is equally guilty, although no force
was used on the occasion it is sufficient If they
were in position to use force.
The learned gentleman quoted a number OF
legal authorities in support of these positions
and assumed that there was no difference
whatever in the color of the conspirators. II
might be lawful for negroes to protect them
selves from illegal kidnapperk, bat it could no
be so for them to combine to resist every slave
holder who might seek to re4pture his fugi
tive slaves 1t was treason for them to combin
for such purpose 1t was, however, in proc
here that many white men were banded witt
the negroes there.
John NJ Read, Esq, then commenced his re
marks to the jury in behalf of the defendant
He said they had just heard avery long and
very able speech from the prosecution, but he
was surprised to hear the gentleman from
Maryland declare that the Fugitive Slave Law
was unconstitutional that law which had
been made by them the South) md for them,
was really no law at ALL but that slave-owner
might come into this State and seize and carry
off his slave by force, and without warrant of
any kind
Mr. Brent asked to explain. lie said he had
not made any statement which could be con-
strued into an assertion that the Fugitive Slave
Law was unconstitutional.
Mr.. Read know the Attorney General of
Maryland whom am proud to alll my friend,
did not intend to say so but he said that the
STAKEHOLDER could enter the house of any Penn
sylvanian, in day or night by tn, sole author
ity of the Constitution, without authority from
a commissioner or judge, and Without even a
power of attorney, if the master was present
Now, gentlemen, if this be law, then say that
Pennsylvania is not State thatwill long sus-
tain the compromises which have been made
between the North and the South within the
last eighteen months There are two sides to
every compromise and if this is the mode in
which the South understands the Fugitive Slave
Law, | am sure this State will not consider
itself bound to acquicsce in its provisions.
What, gentlemen, are we TO be told that
stakeholder can come into our houses Mt any
time, and arrest by violence and carry off man
whom he may call slave, without warrant or
No. Had | been present when
his outrage was perpetrated at Chamberlain,
should have acted az some Of tie gentlemen
n the South frequently do--shot tie scoundrels
IN the spot who came to kidnap the man in
'uch mode. We are asked why the perpe-
rators of this outrage are unpuniAed Why
who will prosecute such ruf6ans, If far
ner attempts il, his barn is ut once destroyed
BY fire il any one attempts it, he is liable ut
III times to violence and personal injuries
We have had long lecture from the gentle
nan from Maryland on the subject Of our de-
pertinent to the South and the stability Of the
Union Thank Heaven, gentlemen, the Union
does not depend upon the opinion Of a few
politicians few Shareholders, or few capital
SITS It's pcrmanency rests upon the sovereign
people, with whom it had its origin and 81
ong as they are sound, we need not fear for its
stability.
In Pennsylvania, we regard every man, white
,r black, as freeman until the contrary is
proved by due course Of law. In Maryland,
very man who has the least shade Of black in |
his complexion is deemed 10 be slave. If
rec negro goes into that State, he is put IN |
all and, il he cannot pay the fine and jail
ees imposed upon him, he sold into perpetual
lavery. This is the difference between US; and
ave VIC nothing to complain Of at the hands
4 our Southern brethren!
| remember case Of q requistion for no
orious kidnapper who seduced negro born
n New Jersey into Maryland, and had him
here sold into slavery. This was before the
ime my learned friend was Attorney General.
Mr.. Brent.-Who was it. sir!
Mr.. Read.-Thomas McCrea, ~ great a
coundrcl M can be found in the State; but he
'as not given up. And have the Southern
tates themselves no laws upon tho subject
o acts of Assembly by which they permit
aveholder to arrest black man Without war
ant or authority, on mere claim that he Is
ave. They have. And is not this viola
on of the Fugitive Slave Law! Isl not this
collation. of the Compromise II u not the
w, gentlemen, as understood here, that man
lay disregard the provisions OF the Fugitive
lave Law, and seize his slave wherever he
Jay find him, and enter any mans house TO do
}, without warrant supported by oath. II
man attempts TO carry out the provisions OF
70 Constitution in this way here, he il kid
apper, and exposes himself to the dangers OF
cling resisted rs such "