Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-04-10

occur 10 render imperfect this illustration of
American equality before the law, and Amer
lean respect for personal rights, he was hus-
tied into the lookup Of the With Ward Sta
ton in the lower part of the Tombs, not
under the control of the regular Warden of
that prison, aud kept there in manner
which might not disgrace the justice of Per-
sin or Tnrtary, but is foul blot on New
York. The oilcnse charged was baiable
one ample bail was offered, but it was re-
fused. The worst Of criminnls-a pirate, O
murderer, violator of helpless woman,-is
allowed TO see counsel aud prepare for his
defense; legal gentleman of the highest
respcctabiity, having, uiier long search,
discovered the place of this mans seqnes-
lralion, went there and demanded to
see him rs counsel, but was turned away
from the door, aud was not even allowed
TO see tie warrant upon which he was i'm
INJURED.
Such is the Justice in New-York meet
ed Oui Such is the respect for person.
al rights which officers of the law here
exhibit Such that equality of privileges
of which Mr.. Webster so pompously boast
ed!
But the morrow developed n new phase
Of the affair. The charge of larceny was
laid aside to give place to the charge of
Slavery. The alleged theft of other peoples
property was supplanted by the theft of his
own person aud his own freedom. The
man wus Slave and had stolen his liberty.
That wHs all. Aud, in order 10 guin time
TO seize him for this ollense, the charge of
stealing had been lrImpcd up, and the man
had been grabbed aud treated worse than If
L., .E a.fp nd
unnutural crimes. Aud finally he was ta-
ken before Commissioner Morton In an out
of the way place, near the United States
Court Rooms, where pile of wood nearly
blocked up the entrance, and there the ex-
animation was commenced, with no counsel
present to protect his rights. Mr.. Culver
uiierward arrived to undertake his case, but
no time was allowed him TO consult with the
negro, or TO eSaniue the papers on which he
was held. The slave.owner had rights, but
the prcsunptive freeman none
1t seems that the active agents in this foul
business, were Policeman MARTlS and one
RcHARD BusTEEp, n lawyer of this City,
They tracked out the fugitive, aud had in
formed the iuan, REEs, of Baltimore, who
claims to bc the owner of the negro, that
his chaliel was here aud could be caught
=
ready, and HAT lie must be on the spot to
take the prey when it was ensnared. More
than this, Busiced himself, ia order to make
sure of his reward, vol nlarily went be-
fore the Commissioner aud nIndc the nflida
vii on which the man was held Us fugitive
slave. Not content with the part of slave
owners counsel aud adyocate--of itself sui.
fuicnt, one would suppose, to satisfy an am
hitipu nj nrfliOurv cepnn in fItn tynv ff mann
uCss and dishonor,-he must put himself
forward MS the primary evidence in the prcln-
iSes. Aud IN this affidavit, drawn with his
own hand, if we mistake not, he swore 10
the whole claim Of the alleged owner, not as
matter Of hearsay or opinion, but absolute
ly, aud as of his own positive kDowlcdge.--
Aud yet il did a<.fappcnr that he md, AZ Ii,s
Tine of sweario1< any other proof on the
subject than tire 1fntemeBt Of Mr.. Rees that
he was the owntf 81 such a runaway. Sup
pose Rees had ciajmed TO be the proprietor
Of any other fieemnn?
But enough of such bloodhounds and
jackalls Of Slavery. Enough of beings So
mean aud inhunan as TO make
business of seeking out men engaged IN
honest pursuits, tearing them from heart
broken wives aud children, aud sending
them into bondage. Enough of Martins
and Busteeds, creatures that crawl SO low
that public contempt cannot reach ntr
public disgust and aversion affect them
The spawn of an infamous statute, they do
the work for which it has engendered and
produced them. But we, who believe in
Liberty, who talk of its blessings, who de-
scanl on the glory Of lis attainment, who de-
claim on the equality of rights and univer-
sal justice it establishes, ought at leust to see
That these Slnve-catchers do not succeed in
proSlituling all other laws aud overriding all
the barriers OF justice in the prosecution OF
their acCursod trade.