Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-11-22
The Rescue Trials.

On Fridny the 7th inst, the testimony for tho
defence in the case Of Robert Norris was clos
cd The Commonwealth reports the following
as a part Of the remarks of Mr.. HALE on that
day.
Mn. lIALE's ARGuMEST.--Nr. Hale then COM
menccd his argument to the Jury-saying that /
he should condcnsc what hc had to say, and .
present his views as they struck his own mind. |
The learned Counsel for the Government had /
thought necessary to warn the Jury against all
defamation, us if he expected good deal Of it.
lie did not feel at liberty to decline to en-
gage in this case, though at great sacrifice OF
his own affairs, and felt tho disadvantage under
which he stood here in this city, aud the ncces
sity which compelled his client 20 60 to what
the District Attorney had called the "benght-
cd regions" of his own native State, for such
humble counsel to assist him. lie stood here
In the consciousness of an honest purpose, and
should give his views of that sin which had
brought such woes upon this country; Slave
ry, so far as it was involved in this issue. In
the Providence Of God some good will come
out of this Fugitive Slave Law. 1t will bring
slavery home to the people of Massachusetts,
II comes here into your Court House to-day,
with brazcn face, and asks you to declare that
human being is a slave. And this you have
got to do.
The indictment alleges that Shadarach was
slave under the law, and they have got to prove
that that there was rescue iE which Morris
took part--and they have got to prove that
Many questions Of law and evidence have aris-
en- and been passed upon by the Court, and
there is no appeal. Now there is an issue,
Guilty or Not Guilty, and that, the Constitu-
ton says, shal, be tried by Jury. lie has
thrown himself, the Clerk told you, on the
country, which country you are, and not you
and the Court. If any one steps in between
you and the performance of this duty, he prac-
tices an usurpation which hope we shall new
or live to sec. God has not given you eyes and
told another to see for you cars, and told an
other to hear for you minds, and another to
judge for you The responsibility of finding
a true verdict is imposed on you by tho Consti-
tution and every thing, hold, that enters
into the issue of Guilty or Not Guilty, you are
which is to settle it. To como to the question.
First. they have to prove that Shadrach was a
slave. 1t is not said so in the Constitution,
but believe it means so When our fathers
framed it, they found slavery sore subject,
which nearly prevented the formation and
adoption of it. Our fathers then agreed that
every ono held to service or labor who escaped
to our territory, we would give up. He must
be held under the law. Without this provis-
ion slavery cannot exist in Massachusetts,
When he touches the soil of Massachusetts, in
the spirit of the language of Curran, he is free
with this sole exception. No man can make I
chattcl of him, unless it is written in the tond
, Have gentlemen seen the Magician at the Bos
ton Theatre blow on anything and change it =
You have. Well. lie never performed such
trick as Caphart and Debreo played here on tn
1 stand who, with the breath Of their mouths
c made Shadrach slave. The Court calls thi
4 pripla facie evidence that he was slave, bu
c God said to him when he made him, "jlay
: dominion over the earth, be MAN and not
c SLAYEw You arc to start with the presuml
n ing the question of freedom or slavery, WI
c Shadrach the slave whom Debree bought i
II Norfolk How do they prove it. John Cap
a hart says he was.
l. l don't believe it. COpharts business
IS catching and whipping negroes, and don
C think he is very scrupulous how he gets then
!. He comes into Court, and seeing the poe
ID wretch sitting here in Court, with an officer o
'f each side, and he says, "Ycs, he is the man.
u Why did not they go to the Cornhill Coffee
S. house with John Capharti lie is not onttlC
10 to moments credit here. lie is Womai
- Whipper. That is what John Caphart is /
I'd tells you so that he whips without regard
tn sex or color. lie is walking scourgc, and h
iy followed the trade for 20 years. This is Il
ed man who contaminatcs this Court House al
NJ this air Of Massachusetts that he breathcs.
tel Government asks you to give up one of 20
&c citizens, because such a man says he is slaN
&C and to punish Robert Morris for aiding him,
as they say, TO escape The government sends