The New York herald., 1851-12-20
Interesting Correspondence.
Our PhiIadeiph,a Correspondence.

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Our Philadelphia C0rrespondence.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. II, 1851.
The Christiano P,isonrs-PGy Of DEFENDANTS W.T.
nesses- firs Hundred Dollars Bail for MHder-Hanuay
and his Wys-Teksraphie Bi.ndsr- Interesting Law
Question.
In the Circuit Court of the United States this morn
ing Judge Kane presiding, John W. Ashmssd, ESQ.,
United States District Attorney to the Court that
be had received the following letter from William Thomp-
SON, the District Attorney for Lancaster county
MONDAY NooN, Dec. Is, 1851
Dear SrI have just received the despatch from Phi
Rss.rt has gone to with for
them which directed were to lodge with the keeper of
Moy smensipg prison.
called up that upon motion to discharge the prisoners
it will answered that they held BY virtue Of com
from this % snr ina: mx sns
very good present. do not desire to come down unless
there is some necessity for it, Of which see none at
p' 'seN'' Yours truly, JOHN L. THOMPSON
j. W. Asbmead Esq.
Mr. Ashmesd said that he had discharged his whole
duty. II the prisoners escaped entirely . worid not be
his fault he had shrunk from responsibility; and he
turned the prisoners to the State authorities
He said that he should lodge detaners with the State
authorities against the prisoners as to hold them for
mdemesnor; or If they should escape on the charge Of
murder.
The Court then discharged the jurors who had been
In attendance for the trial OF these cases.
The Hon. John M. Read moved for rule to show
cause why the Of the defendants witnesses should
not be paid by the United States He said that he
would read part ofpage 53l of Burrs trial in order to
show the authority on which his motion was based. He
then read follows" As Messrs. Belknap and
Dana examined Mr. Bolts moved the Court TO d.
rect the Marshal TO make men daily Of their allow
cused most Of whom poor that they could not
subsist without 1t. He had hoped the Marshal would
thought them material, and Summoned them from the
best information he could cbain and when the United
States imprisoned witnesses compel their attend
those Of the accused ought at least to be supplied
with the means OF subsistence
The Marshal said, that the number of witnesses
was so great, and many Of them were said to know
nothing Of the subject in controversy he cautioned
by the Attorney for the United States not to pay them
till their materiality was ascsrtained or the Court or
dered him.
Mr. Hay said that the expenses enormous that
they would be felt by the national treasury, though
full This ustihed the caution alluded to; and the
laws contemplated to pay the witnesses they
gave their evidence.
the Marshal it supposed that he had summoned be-
tween and three hundred witnesses; whereas the
truth that they did not exceed twenty that they
material; that some OF them were summoned to
Pei what might be said by the wit for the United
States that the United States had many advantages for
compelling the attendance Of their witnesses which he
lad not that he would not scquescs in the establish
ment of principle that might injurious to Others
that the witnesses ought to be paid and he hoped that
After rome more desutory observations, as the wit
stated and considered be material the
The rule granted.
Mr.. Ashmead will oppose the payment of these wit
Friday morning at 10 O'clock to hear the arguments
upon it. Judge Kane said that he had an impression
that act Of Congress provided for the Of the
defendants witnesses By the United Btates In such
Castner Hsnway present in the court room during
the proceedings this morning He looks very much i'm
proved in health spirits since his liberation Han
way and Lewis were put under bail in the sum Of i've
hundred dollars each at Lancaster to answer to charge
ia
extraordinary and ridiculous. there any
SUFFICIENT ground for holding them to bail serious
charge they ehoud have been bound to appear under
much heavier penalty. If there good reason
for holding them. the act was petty and contempt-
bic Justice forbids it on the one hand, generosity
the other
Mrs Hsnwsy the true wife whore noble sad glorious
devotion through the dark days Of her husbands i'm
prisopment and trial for her universal esteem and
admiration has nearly sunk last under the saIipg
exc ement through which she has been doome pass
During the last day Of her husbands t-s especial
y while Judge orer was reading his charge 10 the jury
she looked more like corpse than like living person.
and learn that she Is now quite seriously ~
Some blunderer informed the country, by Telegraph
sfew days since that NJ Ashmesd had dstsrminsd to
tsht * question whether refusing to assist sn .icsr in
rescuirg fugitive slave forciole resistance under
the Fugitive Act This absurd idea has been neither
pressed entertained By that Gentleman but he does
propose the Of the negro Williams who conveyed
to the slaves at Chrtiana TIRE ntegence that Mr. Cor
such nd the officers were in pursuit Of them to have the
quetion settled whether such acts constitututes forc
bic obstructng Of the Of the United States within
be proved implcatng the defendant In the snray do
not believe that q conviction can be obtained.
PHILApELrHrA, Dec Is. 1851.
oJsbuetrns The NausafiOr-.7ntI Slavery Convention
Small Por-sreeuiaiion in Jenny Lind Tickets
The Delaware river is blocked up with Ice and most
Of steamboats, have laid up for the present. The
Zephyr started down the river for Smyrna this morning
but forced TO return The boats Of the New York
lines have all been withdrawn and the passengers
landed in KeDsngon ct the depot Of the Trenton
Railroad.
The Antislavery Convention have been in session
since yesterday at Samson street Hail. and there Is great
rejoicing result Of the treason trial This
ming addresses will be delivered by the Hon Mr. Old
dings and the Rev Mr. furness, both Of the red hot
Kind OF aboitionists.
The email pox 10 quite prevalent in West Phadslphis
and forty cases under treatment by the phys-
clans.
The Jenny Lind tickets for the last concerts have been
bought speculater in the expectation Of rush for
them ard they are now asking premium for them
above the regular price.