Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-12-27
Assault upon the Press.

Judge Grier, several times in the course Of
way, either to crafty his personal spleen, or
else present his free will offering upon the altar
Of slavery. The following passage occurred
soon after the opening of tho Court on the NOR
ming of the 9th inst:
Mr.. Brent stated that before the counsel
for the defence commenced their arguments
this morning, he would beg leave to call the
attention of the Court to an article in the
Pennsylvania Freeman, of Dec. 4, attacking
an officer OF this Court, IN order that that of.
ficer might have an opportunity TO Justify his
conduct.
Mr.. Read know what the gentIeman
refers TO, but think il scarcely worth while
to bring it before tho Court.
Judge Gricr-lf il is calculated to preju-.
dice the defendant it would not I've proper.
Mr.. Brent.---I have no such intention. Il
only desire to call the attention Of the Court
TO the article, that The officer referred to may
have nm opportunity of publicly vindicaling
himself against the attack made upon him.
Judge Grier.--l think ] recollect having
my attention called to this attack, last even
ing. The character of that paper, however,
- such ,hnt its assertions are Drina faaia eW
idcncc of the filSchood of the charge. Its
praises would be the worst SANDER its CEN
srres the best commentators Which any
man could receive. sent for the Mursllul
MS soon MS the article was shown to me, nnd
wns assured 10y him that the charge referred,
TO was utterly groundlcss.
Anthony Il. Roberts, Esq, the L. S. Mar
shul referred TO in the article in question:.
stated that the charge implied that he had
,,u.t,.,lar Of
the Chrisliana prisoners, and originated i'm
the simple fact that some of the friends of
these prisoners sent them some food, of n
more delicate quality than is usually givem
ont, on Thanksgiving day, aud, having NO
particular engagement, aud being asked To
superiutcnd the division of the present among
those 10 whom it was sent, lie had complied
with the request aud made the distribution.
The reporter of the Ledger would remark
that the charge against Mr.. Roberts was Ell
tirely disproved by every officer connected
with the Court conversaut of the fact, and
ilint all who knew the heart of that cstiinahlc-
gentleman would deem the explanation here
given entirely unnecessary. His position,
however, renders his justification in this mal-
ner, proper before the community.
As VIC read the first part of this episode, We
could but cxclaim, ain the name Of wonder.
what has the Elitor of the Freeman done =
10 be s'Lze, VIC aeycg suspected him of violating
the ordnance against concealed weapons, but
surely he must have committed treason 10y as
saulting the court with bowie knife and revol-
yer; and our blood began to chill with the Wis.
ION OF brother johnson dangling II. a ropes end.
But nerving oursclf with courage to proceed and
learn the worst, who can describe our relief as
we asccTtained that the grave offcace consisted
in statement that the Marshal had BY request
OF the donor, Thomos l.. Kane, Esl., distributed
six turkics anone the prisoners, and had tho
politcness to accept the Invitation of Ianaway
and Lewis, and cat his thank giving dinner at
their prison table.
IL certainly vas out of character for the Mar.
sh Il to exhibit such evidence of humanity, for
what has a L. S. Marshal to do with politencss
or humanity; His business is to catch niggcrs
and hang traitors, and the exhibition of any such
indications Of manhood arc undou5ted evidence
of disqualification for Office. That however can
be no mitigation of the Frecman's offence
The Marshal, like good Christian, as he doubt
'N'' - "'u NV uCsISh ucuuahllilS MS lcit hand
with the doings of his right, when 10 the
Freeman blab'd it all. 1t surely was an occa-
sion to make Judge forget at once dignity, du-
ty and truth. and stoop to vitupcration against
press which he in tho same breath declared
unworthy oCattcntion.
but we request the reader 10 make all charit-
able allowance. The testimony had just closed
Mr. Brent now perceived he had lost his jour
ney and his labor; there was no trcason-thcre
could be no hanging. The Union had lost all
affinity, and the forty halters on which alone
they relied to hold it together were hopclcssly
lost. No wonder they forgot their dignity. and
let 'scapc their indignation.