New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-03
The Pennsylvania Riots-Nas ~ Treason .

To the Editor or The Tribune.
The late SLAVE CASE at ChrlStlana, In
Lancaster County. attracts much attention and
is the subject OF many comments IN the public
papers.
One class of writers assert that tins case IN
wolves Treason and Rebellion against the United
States Government another declares that II Is
Murder IN Its most atrocious form while
larger class denounce the ARRAY IN unneasured
terms for the purpose of making political capital out
OF the occurrence.
It's lamentabie state of things when We see men
who are intelligent, and good citizens IN their PM
waite relations ready to cry out against another class
of their fellow citizens and denounce them tral
tors murdorers and elons, to crafty political am
bition.
Innocent persons are accused, and public opinion.
Judges and Junes are to be fOreStaled 10 make lu-
dcial immolatlons for the purpose OF satisfying the
demands OF public frenzy.
THIS particular outcry has had many periodical
spasms in its day. In earlier times We read that
certain High Priest once asked the multitude " why,
what harm hath he done But they crlcd ont more
and more. Cruelty him Cruelty him Cruelty Nun "
This same feeling Is now rampant IN certain hlgh
quarters regard 10 the colOred people, who de-
Tended themselves and their hresdes al thrstlana,
against the lawleSs assaults and attacks OF an armed
party of negro.huneTs from the State OF Maryland.
We have seen, IN the case OF Prlgg against the
Commonw ealth, what judicial infatuatOn VIII do,
and how much crime II Will tolerate FOR political
effect That wasa case where two iree-born children,
IN The State of Pennsylvania were kidnapped in the
night time and taken from their fathers house BY an
armed mob surrounding IT, The TWO children were
carried away INTO the State of Mary land and sold into
perpetual ,savery Vet We find that a majority OF
the Judges ofthe Supreme Court OF the United States
adludged and pronounced this act to be- lawful
Just so With the present case. We have very
hat No
sacrificed the trials of these cases to appease po-
htcal clamorS. We hope better things but our
hopes may be disappointed.
In a work of very high authOnty We read that
every mans house ms castle that he y entitled
10 defend the same against all unlawful IntrudeTs.
Blackstone Com p. 223.
the weaker party, and besides that, they leave him this
natural right Of killing The aggessor he can they also
protect him the might Of the assalant
powerful That the law Of England has 81 paftou-
lar and tender regard To ~ immunity oi man mouse
lated tn mpuh For thus reason no outward doors can
be broken open to execute anu cr'i process
Now We are constantly told by the advocates of
the Fugitive Slave law, that II is a cuH process
which the Marshal officer executes when he ar
rests the accused and that the whole proceeding is
IN relation to property, and therefore the Act Of
Congress on this subject must not be treated as "A
ci ninal statute bur must be- regarded as not com
ng within that clause or prohibition of The Constr
tuition wherein Congress are forbidden 10 pass sE
Slave law We have doubt Is correct. Besides all
this. the fourth amendment Of the Constitution OF
the nied states provides IN eyTress terms
That he night Of he lc0ple 10 be secure their per
sons. houses papers effects against unreasonable
scare and seizures shall not be violated and M war
rants shall but upon probable Gauss, Supported by
oath affirmation. aua particularly descOlmg ne pace
10 he searched Or things 20 he seized"
Testing the late homicide case at Christian by
the nights guaranteed 70 the people by the ConstItu-
iIon Of the United States, We find that tho colOrei
people were assacd, contrary 10 law, by band Of
armed men, who had no warrant describing me place
10 be searched, who had no authority 10 assam and
break ooen h0uses that private dwelling house,
20 the peaceable occupation Of It's owner, was broken
INTO By an armed mob without any authority what
ever so 10 DO. and without warrant describing any
place 10 be searched that the assafauts hrst Ore"
her deadly weapons, fired Their pistols upon the IN
habtanis and inmates OF the house where the colOfed
people ere found. and after creating riot and al
fray on their part the claimant Of the slave and his
son shot by the inmates OF the house IN "O-de-
ftHse
We ash any sober-In nced man whether tn. homI-
eide a. treason against the laws OF the Ini"d states
l. 10 Murder Is u an Otefse pdftdklng OF frIony
{ eTianly not.
The whole aspect Of this case, on tho facts made
out by the story and conduct Of the assaiants pre-
sents a very different state OF talngs from that Of
Treason against the laws OF the United states, MuT-
der Or Felony committed by the cOlored people who
were assailed while peaceably assembled IN their
dwelling-houses. the advocates Of the iSaye pow
ers and Of The Fugitive Slave laws 70 the contrary
would by no means have II understood that Y
gave any sanction 10 the late violence IN Lancaster
County, regret II much any man, but us no
more than ight be expected from who set nst
estimate on Liberty and who have scrapies IN reia-
latIon 10 War. Isaac Z. HOTTER.
Ner- York, Oh Month 10Th, 1851.
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