Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-04-10
T II E B U GLE.
Jerry and his Prosecutors.

This man Jerry is likely to prove hard
customer. He has removed, indeed, to the
Kings Dominions, but with no intent TO
abandon his claims upon our republic. lie
has lately commenced divers suits for dam
ages occasioned by the ontrages practiced on
him at Syracuse, by tile Marshals, and
others, who seized and attempted to re-en-
slave him under the Fugitive Slave Act. He
lays hrs damages high, and makes his de-
mands boldly, as well he mny, for his wrongs
are great.
That such prosecutions should excite
the observation of the country, is not sur
prisng. Indeed il would be most surpris-
ing il they did not attract the attention,
and stir all the good blood of the coun-
try. There are many reasons why it
should be excited by these wrongs and pro-
ceedings.
In the first place, the rufiiuns who arrested
Jerry (under pretcnse that he was n slave,
and to return him as such TO the land of
slavery treated him like brute and not like
man. The slave law assumes, indeed,
that the slave is brute nevertheless, the
citizens of New York, especially of Syra-
cuse, IL they undertake TO execute those in
ferna laws, should be taught that they are
dealing with man and not with BRUTE
They should be made responsible for the
pound of blood. In this respect these suits
commenced by Jerry should attract the deep
est public interest.
But again. These suits will try the ques-
ton, whether the Fugitive Slave Law is at
all binding in this state or in this country
They viii. also try the other question which
undcrlays all our slave laws, To wit: as
SLAVERY constitutional in any state, place, or terri
tory IN Me United States 2" Thut is the
question, and that question must he decided
by the courts of this State. Let the friends
of freedom aud law he arrested 10y this ques-
ton everywhere. Let the judges aud law
yers he forced TO consider it. Let them
look from their pro-slnycry precedent to the
true intent and legal construction OF the con-
stitution. Aud MS there is 10 slavery assert
ed or collntcnanced in the constitution, let
them acquit that instrument aud the state OF
the internal Interpolation.
This question must be and will be agitated,
until an American Mansfield DEGREES the
death of American Slavery. May the slave
Jerry be the instrument TO deliver the slaves
of America, us Somerset was for the deliv-
crunce of the slaves of Britain.-E Dougldss'S
Paper.
The writer of the above, who is Cores
ponding Editor Of friedrich Douglass's Pa
per, talks as though he expected slavery
To he abolished by the judiciary of the coun-
try. As he believes it, we ure glad TO see
him in earnest in regard to it, for il shows
him an honest man. But where he can find
peg on which to hang n hope, that the
American judiciary will abolish slavery II
more than we can tell. The cour's Of this
country are ready, and altogether willing Il
introduce slavery into free territory, TO re
ceive bribes to send back fhgitives, and pro
clnim aud enforce the obsolete law of trea
son-and so they will be, till moral abolition
lam can regeneratc the people. The cour
is but the tool of the slave power, and tn
tools of tyrants are always os nnscrupulou
and mostly more mean, than, their masters.