The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-12-03
ROM WASHINGTON.
WASHING TON, Nov. 9

The New York slave-stealing case excites
much attention here, and even more at the
North. The conservative parties Of the North
view the subject in Il proper light They are
evidently disposed to do full justice in the
matter, and repair the wrong done to the
owner Of the slaves, Mr. Lennon, rs far as
practicable. 1t is conceded that the manner
in which the outrage was committed was n
disgrace to the city and State of New York,
for it was done by the basest treachery. The
New Workers, anxious to relieve the city
from this foul stain, have contributed the sum
of five thousand dollars for the remunera-
ton of Mr.. Lennon. They will not stop
with tbs; bdtinsist t3,at Mn law capable. Of
being thus abesed be erased from the statufe
book The slaves are, ere this, spirited a.
way, and abandoned to the tender merces of
the abolitionists. But the Legislature of N.
York, at their next session, will certainly
take up the subject, and indemnify the per-
sons who pay the value of the slaves to Mr..
Lennon, and pass some law for the preven-
ton Of any similar breach of good faith and
comfy towards citizens of other States.
There existed law in New York, previous
to 1871, which rendered it lawful for citizens
Of other States to retain slaves with them, in
their visits to that State. That law will not
probably be restored, and ifit were, it would
only serve TO the extent, which travellers
would avail themselves of it, rs harvest for
slave-stcalers and employment for under
ground Railroads. But they can simply pass
a law declaring the proper meaning and in
tent of the existing laws to be such as to
permit citizens of one slaveholding State, to
pass with their slaves to another savehold-
ing State, through New York. This has
been decided by Justice Grier, Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, to be the pro-
per construction of the Pennsylvania law, and
the jury to which he sent the case for an cX-
animation of the facts, gave verdict of
$4,000 damages and costs, against Kaufman
and others, for assisting in the escape Of
slaves, voluntarily brought by their ownerin-
to Pennsylvania, en- route from Maryland to
Missouri The right of transit was conced-
ed by the Court in this case, and in case
that was decided in Indiana, and was not de-
MED in the Massachusetts case.
Judge Payne's decisions that slaves are
not property for the purpose of conveyance
by the owner from place to place, is novel
ty Should the case be ultimately brought |
by appeal to the United States Supreme
Court, it is perfectly certain that this decision
will be ovcrrulcd. The Executive Govern
ment of the United States has, rs mention |
ed in 4 former letter, always maintained that |
slaves were property, and were to be paid for /
as such when taken by foreign powers from |
our citizens The question arose, and was
thus decided under the provision Of an article
in the treaty of Ghent.
There are but few of the national or COM
promise wings among the members elect of
the New York Legislature, that is to meet
next winter-and but very few of the free
soil wings. The body will consist chiefly of
the united democratic party, in which there is
a streak of lreesoiIism. We shall see whcth-
rr the democracy will stand up to the princ
pies of the Union, and the harmony and the
comfy of the States. There is Il conserva
live majority in the Legislature beyond
doubt Cor. Char. CoUr.