Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-04-16

He certiies that the said Potter, having by such
witnesses thoroughly and satisfactorily made oct said
ownership of said slave and said escape, and having
also proved by said witness the general description o
the said slave with such convenient certainty as
might be- he the necessary papers tor the re-
clamation of Sims to be made out. and
furnished to the said Potter, provided by the stat
ute.
The counsel for the defence gave notice that they
had weighty objections offer at the proper time TO
the legal suciency of the authorization ofthe pow
attorney the depositions and other certified pa
pers.
The oral testimony was commenced by calling Ed
ward Burnett, who testified that he belonged to Sa-
vannah that he knew Sims there; had known him
some ten months, and that his name was Thomas
Sims had worked on the same scattold with him
at bricklaying some months worked with him last
August and September; had, while working with
him, asked him whether he was slave or free. lie
said he was slave, and belonged to James Potter,
rice-planter. Mr.. Potter livel some ten or twelve
miles out from Savannah. Witne IS knew Sims
mother and sisters they had told him they were
slaves of Mr.. Potter. Sims had said he had to pay
wages to his master; it was $50 month, or there
abouts. Witness knows Mr.. Potter. personally.
The next witness called was John b. Beacon
agent and attorney of POTTER, and he testified as fol-
lows: know the prisoner as the property OF James
Potter. have known him ten years, He lived the
larger part Of that time with his mother. l lived
within sixty or seventy rods of them. His mother
received his wages and paid them over to Mr. Potter
She did so with the wages of all the children. The
arrangement was made for her benefit. l have been
present at his mothers when Sims had accounted to
Mr.. Potter for his wages. Have been present when
Mr.. Potter has demanded the payment of Sims's wa
ges of his mother. Sims left on the 22d of Februa-
~, and understood he went of in a wagon. After
he had gone his mother told me that if found him,
whether it was in slave State or free State, to
bring him back, for Gods sake.
Colonel Thomas said he had another witness, but
for the present would rest the for the complain
ant here.
The commissioner inquired of the counsel for the
defence fthey were prepared to 60 into the
animation. -
Mr.. Sewall replied in the negative, and asked for
a postponement till Tuesday.
Colonel Thomas strongly objected to such long
delay.
Mr.. Sewall said that not having had an opportu-
nifty to consult with the prisoner, they did no, know
what his defence was.
Mr. Rantoul said they had no experience under the
law. The most imporan, points rising under it had
not been discussed here elsewhere, to his knowl-
edge. 1t novel in its general character and COM
plicaed nts provisions, and could not be thoroughly
considered in less time than had been suggested by
his associate. Each link in the chain of the authen-
tication of the papers would have be minutey ex-
applicable to such questions.
The commis> ioner said that he saw no such great
difficulty in the way. there being three very eminent
counsel engaged in the defence.
Mr.. Rantoul replied that the number of counsel
was not favorable to despatch in consultation, al
though it might mpart grerer degree of confidence
in the conclusion to the law, which they might ar
rive at and present the consideration Of the court
Mr.. Loring said he had no learning nor experience
in such law the one under which the proceedings
were being had.
The commissioner said he was disposed to give
The counsel sufficient time. He could only gather,
from what had been said by them, that they Did not
yet know what the prisoners defence was. That
was the only ground which he had heard suggested
that he could judcially act upon, and he thought
hours would be sufficient to ascertain the
nature of the defence. He wished it to be under
stood that he considered the en?uring in the grounds
Of defence by the counsel to be distinct matter from
preparing to argue the defence. When the hearing
should have reached that point, and time should be
asked for such preparation, he would then take the
question Of further delay into consideration.
After some further conversation OF an explanatory
nature, the commissioner explained the further hear
ing of the case until ten o'clock this forenoon.
Sims was now remanded to the room in the court
house which he occupied on Thursday night under
the direction of the United States Marshal.
Pending the hearing before the Commissioner, one
of the lawyers for the slave went before the Supreme
Judicial Court of Massachusetts, and applied for
writ of habeas corpus. which was unanimously refused
During the excitement, this lawyer, MIR. Sewell,
was arrested, confined for time on account of inn
proper and violent conduct towards the Deputy Mar
w ebster, son of Daniel Webster, was also arrested
as the result of misunderstanding. About the time
the cry of" kidnappers was raised, an alarm of fire
was given and MI. Webster, thinking with the Mar
shal, that the bells were being rung for the purpose
of sumnoning the AboIitioniss to rescue, request
ed one of the watchmen to cease ringing An alter
cation ensued, and Mr.. Webster, who was on the
side of law and order, was arrested. He soon gave
hail, and was released.
In the Legislature OF Massachusetts, on Friday, the
following Resolution was presented:
'sResolred, Src., That the use of the State-house
yard be granted the citizens of Massachusetts, to
hold public meeting in the afternoon. to take into
consideration the arrest OF citizen of Massachusetts,
under the operation of the Fugitive Slave law and 20
devise proper and legal for the defence and
protection of citizens of Massachusetts"
MIR. Gushing, of Newbury, spoke in opposition to
the petition, and moved that it be laid the table.
Mr.. Keith. Of Roxbury, moved that it be laid under
the table, The motion to lay ii on the table was car
ried by l49 yeas to l3 nays. The meeting of those
opposed the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave law
was accordingly held on the Common. We find the
following account OF In the Boston Udly Advertiser
Of Saturday morning:
"AGITATIoN AGAINST THE FUGrrIvE SLAVE LAW.
1t will be seen bv our Legislative report that Mr..
Earle presented petition asking for the use of the
State-house yard for public meeting. The follow
ing is copy of the piacard which called together
the assemblage whch--in not receiving the right ia
use the State-house grounds-came together on the
Common:
"PuBL1c MEErlNs-Kidnappers IN Boston. Men
of Boston, one of your felowcitizens last night