Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-12-04
Tie Slave Case Decision of Judge Paine,

Tie Slave Case Decision of Judge Paine,
The New York Journal Of Commerce reviews
the Lemmon slave case, aud Judge Pains decs-
ion and trusts the New York statute, on which
that dcision was mainly based, will be repealed ut
the coming session of the Legislature of that
State, and that the Legislature will, also, appro-
pirate the sum of $4,000 to repay Mr.. Lennon
for the property robbed from him, In the mean
time. the journal recommends subscription OF
S5 900 for Mr. Lennon, as he Is now stripped of
same to be refunded when Mr. Lem
mon shall be- able to refund it. The anti-slayery
statute alluded to 10y the Journal was passed m-
der Seward's administration. The following state
ment from Mr. Lennon, shows that deliberate
plan bad been formed TO rob him of his property,
on his arrival at New York.
son the 18Th day of October, last left my
home in Bath county, Virginia, with view Of
to Texas taking with me my wife
seven Children and eight slaves. reached
Richmond on the 30th day Of October, and re
manned there until the Tuesday following, endeav.
oing meanwhileto engages passage in some vessel
for New Orleans. Finding, however, that no pas
senger vessel would be sailing, from that port to
New Orleans for some three weeks thereafter !
went TO Norfolk, and took passage in the steamer
City Of Richmond, for the port Of New York
with the intention Of proceeding directly from
New York 10 New Orleans; having no idea, before
leaving Norfolk, that there could be any diilicul-
ty in going to New York with my slaves, and
proceeding thence TO New Orleans had been
told and believed that could do SO with entire
safety.
"Mr Ashmead who was a clerk in the City Of
Richmond, told me, on the voyage TO New y lork
that | need not be at all uneasy about losing the
slaves; that the law was in my favor in New York,
aud was bound to protect me N the possession
and property Of my slaves; and that the Mayor
on alat city would see that il WIS done, provided
any difficulty should occur. MI Ashmead prom
ised me, whilst on our way to New York, that he
would, Immediately after the Cky Of Richmond
got into the harbor Of New YoR, procure pas
sage for myself family and slaves, in some ship
going at once from chat port TO New Orleans
"Undcr these circumstances, and thinking that
al was right, | arrived in the barbor Of New
York about halfpast four o'clockin the afternoon,
on the 5tb inst
"Wheu the City Of Richmond had thus arriy-
ed ut New York, Mr. Ashmead vent ashore tell
ing me that he wss going 10 procure passage
for us in a steamer ready to sail or New Orleans.
Alter an absence Of about an hour and half
he returned and stated 10 me that lac bad been
unable to find the man whom lie went TO see in
reg,rl to obtaining the passage but handed TO me
piece Of paper which he sail contained Che
name Of the person. and directed me 10 go with
il b. place IN South street | went there ac-
cordinglv, and at the door met 1 man who said
10 me that he was the mdyidui named in the
paper. told him that wanted b engage a
passage for New Orleans in a vessel preceding
at once to that port, upon whid myself family
and slaves could be placed that night He re-
piled that be would Immediately transfer all Of us
that night 10 the steamer Memphis, which would
sail for New Orleans the next morning | then
went with him inside the office, whore passage
tickets were given me. Ile then stated that be
would send round for my family, slaves and bag
rape. 10 the CITY Of Richmond, and transfer every
tHing on board the steamer Memphis. lie and
went 10 the City Of Richmond, and very soon
two hacks came there, which he stated had been
ordered by him, into which myself family aud
slaves rot. under his direction, be saying b Us that
they were b. convey us 70 the steamer Memphis
aThe hacks then, instead Of proceeding 10 The
steamer Memphis, drove round b his Office pa
South street. Here was told that ] must pay
our fare before being put on board Of the Mem
phis. then paid the amount beng Sl6l. As
soori as the money was paid the hack driver re-
fused b. take us 10 the steamer Memphis, but car
ried us. against our earnest protest to house
No. 3 Car.isle-sireet, dropped us down upon tie
sidewalk. and drove OF ltwas dark, and we be-
ing utter strangers in the city, were compelled TO
stav at that place til morning. The next morn
ina. the 9th inst, the steamer Memphis sailed,
leaving myself family and slaves, and whilst she
was departing from the wharf, word was sent me
that NV slave hal been taken into court The
result II the proceedings in court has deprived ine
Of all my property, amounting a least 70 s5OOO.
sJONATIfAN LENNON.
aNew York, Nov. ~, 1852"
If this is correct statement, as the Journal
presurnes II a. Il shows that an innocent man has
been robbed of his property, some s, 600 in val
Ne being al that be bad IN the world, forno 9th
er ofenoe than touching at The part Of NeW
York. in his TRANSIT from one saye-hoiding stat
to another slaveholding STATE; and, fHrther' Thai
the robbery was eifeciei BY means Of an lnia-
nous fraud. Who sent those garages pToiesse'iiy
20 take Mr.. Lennon and bis family d the steam
er Memphis. out IN reality to drop them down IN
Ca-Ii.le s,rest strangers in a strange city, that
,bev might not BE- able % depart in the steamer
Memnhki or had the drivers been tHmpered
sith iv the aboiiti0nis;s, and bribed 10 carry the
stranger - Carlisle street. instead of going 70