American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-12
AMERICANTELEGRAPH
WASHINGTON
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER -.
The Treason Trial.

AT one o'clock yesterday Mr.. Cooper finished
his argument for the prosecution, and Judge
Grier commenced his charge to the jury. After
complimenting the jury upon the patient atten-
tion they had given the case, he said that the
prisoner had right to require of them that
they would not allow the atrocity of the affair,
or the horror they had of it, to cause them to
forget their duties to him, and convict him with
out full and satisfactory proof of his guilt.
That the Government also, while it could de-
sire the sacrifice of an innocent man for the
purpose of public example, had right to
demand of them fearless, unfinching dis
charge of duty He said it had been clearly
established by the testimony, that most hor-
rble outrage upon the laws of the country had
been committed. This outrage had been COM
mitted in open day. in the presence of persons,
who, if they did not encourage or participate
in it, looked coldly and carelessly on-these
facts were established beyond contradiction.
The reason why, in sixty years, we had be-
come great and powerful nation, happy and
prosperous at home, and feared and respected
abroad, was because all here bow to the su-
premacy of the law Pennsylvania was loyal.
Her fidelity and love to the Union were be-
yond question, yet he regretted to say that the
only trials and convictions on record for treason
to the United States had their venue laid within
her limits. But without at present expressing
any opinion whether the present outrage is to
be classed as riot, murder or treason, we think
it due to the reputation of this Commonwealth
to say that, with the exception of few ndivi-
duals of perverted intelligence, in some small
sections, whose moral atmosphere had been
poisoned by male and female lecturers and con-
ventions, no party in politics, sect in religion
Of respectable numbers can be found within our
borders who have received with appreciation
this disgraceful tragedy
1t is not in this hall of justice that meetings
of infurated fanatics and unprincipled dema-
gogues have been held to counsel n bloody re
sistance to the laws. 1t is not in this city that
conventions are held denouncing the Constitu-
ton, the laws, and the Bible. 1t is not here
that'the pulpit has been desecrated by seditious
exhortations teaching that theft is mutnous,
murder excusable, and treason a virtue. The
guilt of this foul murder rests not alone on the
deluded individuals who were its immediate per-
petrators, but the blood taints with even q
deeper dye the skirts of those who promulgated
doctrines subversive of oil morality and all gov
ernment. 1t was due to the prisoner to say
that there was no evidence to show that he had
attended any of these conclaves in opposition
to the Constitution. He said the indictment
charged the prisoner with treason in resisting
the execution of the fugitive slave law. The
constitutional provision for the delivery Of per
sons held to service or labor was the law of thu
land and binding on every State and individual
1t was upon this condition alone that the
Southern States accepted the Constitution; ant
if individuals or legislatures in the Northern
States succeeded in thwarting the execution 0
this law, the South could not be blamed if sh,
seeded from an alliance with open covenant
breakers. The judge then went on to examin,
at length the law Of treason, and the evidenc
adduced in the present case, and gave it as hi
opinion that the charge of treason had not beer
sustained against the prisoner Hanaway.
The jury then retired, and, after a brief con
sultation, returned a verdict of "not guilty,
in accordance with the charge Of Judge Grier.
The United States, upon the rendition of thi
verdict, Immediately abandoned the four Other
indictments against Hanaway, and the cour
adjourned.