The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-02

evidence and the circumstances under which the
respondents counsel found themselves in judi
cial hearing, involving liberty or slavery; they
had been refused the delay Of one hour to pro-
cure witnesses, and for what reason? Had the
respondent been grossly negligent of an oppor-
tunity to communicate with his friends, he might
still reasonably have expected to obtain post
ponement Of one hour but he had not been 30.
He had hardly an opportunity of speaking to his
counsel. Although he had readily given the
name Of several witnesses who resided in New
Jersey and although the testimony, that by &C
eident was within his command, was sufficient, il
not to break down the claimants case, at least to
raise some doubts as to it's validity, one hour is
denied him. But the evidence Of the claimant
cannot satisfy the Commissioner that this is the
boy Emery. The witness, (Price,) who pretended
to identify him, the man who is under bail to
answer the charge Of kidnapping cannot point to
any mark upon him, any popularity, and he does
not even know that Rice was the slave of knight
His business has been TO carry vegetables and
fruit from Pennsylvania into the highly agricul-
tural District Of Cecil county, Maryland very
improbable story; and your honor well knows
that this is the ostensible business Of the men
who carry in their dearborn wagon, chained and
covered up, free colored people who have been
kidnapped. Why has not Knight come forward
and offered here will or deed or why has he
not produced witnesses whose characters entitle
them to be believed The only claimant before
your honor is G.. F. Albert, professional slave
catcher. We have produced the evidence Of two
respectable colored men, who testify that they
know this man to be the slave of DR.. Davis, and
their evidence is corroborated by the will read to
you, which they never saw.
Mr. Brown followed Mr. Pierce in speech Of
great eloquence.
Mr. Lehman followed Mr.. Brown. He said
that he hoped that the Commissioner would dis
charge the boy If he had any doubt Of his identi-
ty that he had been retained in the street, and
that before he came there he had known nothing
of the circumstances of the case; that he had come
there simply to discharge professional duty and
that the claimants had taken the proper course in
bringing their testimony before the Commissioner,
and thus giving the respondent advantages which
he would not have had, had the affdavits of wit
nesses been used instead
Mr. Ingraham said that he had no doubt Of the
identity of the prisoner with the slave Emery
Rice, and that all other proceedings must be
before the Courts Of Maryland whittier he would
send him.
The prisoner has wife and two children, who
have not seen him since he left home ON Saturday
morning.
The prisoner was placed into the custody of
twenty .6ye officers an6ss2 dice A3arsha\ knySs1
and taken to the depot, Eleventh and Market
A large crowd of all colors followed, but
made no attempt to rescue him. The prisoner
WAS accompsS:so~ > 4narsnai neyser anu sevefai !
officers to Grey's Ferry, and at this place the
prisoner was placed into the keeping of Lieuten-
ants Neff, Corson, and Pickering, to be taken to
Cecil county, Maryland.