Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-07
THE CHRISTIANA TRIALS.
FROM THE BALTIMORE CLIPPER.

FROM BALTIMORE
The Report of Attorney General BRENT of Maryland
does not present in favorable light the conduct pursued
by the judge and others in the Chrisana Trials and
from the statement of Mr. BRENT we should infer that
there is little chance of having justice administered in
Philadelphia, in the of the owner of slave being
killed in the effort to his property The whole Of
the persons concerned in the murder of Mr. GoRsucH Of
Baltimore county have escaped punishment and there is
prospect that any Of them viii be brought to JUS
tice We wish that every citizen of Maryland could be
put in possession Of Attorney General Brents report of
the Chrstana Treason Trial for its perusal would assist
in bringing the public mind to the conclusion that
action should be taken the pursued towards
in pursuit of fugitive slaves in Pennsylvania.
large portion of the report consists in legal argu
in opposition the ruling of the Court in relation
to what constituted treason But the following paragraph
shows that two principal witnesses desgnedly per-
mited to escape whilst third induced to perjure
himself 1t also exhibits the disgusting spectacle ofwhite
females assocatng with and encouraging the negro
charged with being concerned in the murder:
In this connexion will also state that few weeks
before the trial Peter Washington and John Clark two
important witnesses for the prosecution, escaped from
prison without breaking lock using any force as
proved the trial by Witness and though cheerfuy
acquit the marshal Of all prvy with their escape, yet
the fact remains that there reachery the part of
some officer within the walls of the prison. Another
markable fact the corruption of Government wit
ness by the of Harvey Scott free negro, who had
thrice estifedoncc at Chrstana, at Lancaster,
and once at Phladephiao the fact of being eyewit
ness to the murder Of Mr.. Gorsuch and now, this
trial. influenced by brides other corrupt consider
alton when placed the stand by the United States,
openly confessed that he had thrice committed perjury,
and then his trial that he not present and
knew nothing about the affair." which perjury receiv
ed with open applause in the courtroom.
Agan the counsel for the defence applied to the Court
for order to bring out of the negroes
to which of them could be identified participants in
the treason, by Henry H. Kline material witness for
the prosecution At the opening Of the Court the next
day these negroes sitting in row, supported
each side by white females Who to the disgust of all
respectable citizens gave them open sympathy and
tenance each Of he negroes appeared Nth comforts
around their necks their hair carefully parted, and their
clothing erery respect alike, 10 present Uniform
appearance 10 the eye far posall done doubtless
for the double purpose of giving aid and comfort to the
accused murderers of white and of confusing and
pcrplexing important witness as Kline in respect to
their identity. And this manifesty done with the
prvity suerance, and consent of the officers having
charge of the prisoners and passed unrebuked."
II also appears that the marshal not only summon
ed confirmed abolitoniss jurors but dned with the
accused parties Thanksgiving Day How can justice
be expected where judge marshal and jury thus OPP
posed to the impartial administration of the law? It
would SEEM from the result Of this trial. that negroes
may commit murder with mpunity in particular sections
of Pennsylvania provided the murdered individual be
stakeholder or be in pursuit Of fugitive slave.