Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-09-02
An Upright Judge.
EDw. L. KEYEs, Sec'y.

An Upright Judge.
Daniel, the alleged fugitive slave, who was s,
brutality assaulted by Southern kidnapper, while
pursuing his ordinary avocation on board steame
at Buffalo, is free. After being struck down by al
lnhuman ruffian, with billet of wood; after hi
blood had Kissed upon the burning stove upon which
he lay casting for some time in state of stupefac
ton, and from which he was dragged only to b.
carried before United States Commissioner, bribec
at the exceeding rate of FIVE dollars to send him int
slavery after the mockery of trial was ended, an,
the disgusting formulas of judgment were finished
after he had been handed over to the man-stealer
the name of the law, against any one who might in
terfere with the illegal, despocal decision that took
from him his manhood and liberty this poor man
pluched from the clutches of the ravening wolves
who painted for the price Of his blood, and was re-
stored TO his freedom, and all the rights pertaining
to 1t beyond the borders of this Stree and enighten
ed republic the model of future States, the envy of
surrounding nations.''
All honor 10 Judge Conklin who maintained the
dignity and purity of the law, in spite of the well
known feeling which prevails at Washington; in
spite of the eagerness TO beIittle the North, and to
fall down and worship the shameless cowardice and
cruelty of the South, which is characteristic of the
rich men and the politicians Of this nation generally
and in spite of the adverse opinions of recreant law
yers and judges, who by their example as well
its sworn allegiance TO truth and justice.
We have been certain, all along, since the pas
sage of the Fugitive Slave Bill, that if the laws Of
the free States fairly and honestly administered
man who did not really service and labor tc
somebody in the Southern States could be taken
south of Mason and Dxon's line. We held to this
conviction, even when Ingraham, Gardner, Curtis
Ben Hallett, Lunt, Auger-hole Byrnes, and Judge
Sprague were lending themselves soul and body to
nullify all law, and to destroy every guarantee Of
freedom and justice in the Northern States and the
action of Judge Conkln in this issue, proves that we
were correct. When we look at this case through
its whole procedure, and when we contrast the
amount of pretended evidence upon which debaset
U. s. Commissioner was willing, for ten dollars, t.
send Daniel back to slavery,-when we contrast it
we say, with tho small amount Of trouble necessary
under the udicious supervision of an honest man,
show the fictitious and trumpery character Of tina
evidence, we are persuaded that, fairly tried, there
would be even fewer than there has BEEN of sue
hooters. Every fugitive slave case that has beer
tried since the passage of the bill of 1850, excep
that of Johnson, at Chicago, has tended to destroy
the peoples respect for law, and has lowered the ju
dical character, in the popular estimation. Lk'
the wife of Caesar, the judges of this country shouC
not only be pure, but above all suspicion; no matte
whether they called upon to decide the smalles
disputed claim property, or are to adjudicate upo
that most momentous of all questions, the liberty G
slavery of a man made after the image Of GoD.-
The conduct Of Judge Conkln is calculated to re-
store the confidence of the people in law.
1t is fact, substaniated by all history, that nation
seldom manifest any disposition to criticize the
ton of the judicial courts b., disposed to bow witt
cat question to their decisons and it is only when
gIaring Of conspiracy against law that organize
by the government Of the United States as the Fog
tive Slave Law, and attempted to be carried out
their creatures, the Commissioners, and the recusa
Judges that the indignation ola community is excite
We thank God, therefore, that there still hone
officers like Judge ConkIin, to maintain the purity
law in the United States, for without laws which a
founded upon the eternal bases Of truth and JUSTICE
which are supported by the moral convictions Of pc
pie, there is utter anarchy and despotism. Despotis
in this cousry may accidentally exist but il is impos
bic as a permanent institution. Anarchy with mea
dissolution, a catastrophe to be prevented only by d
general yirtue and the integrity Of those who profess
administer our laws.