The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-24

lie morals One of the most striking instances
Of this influence is the vile attempt made in
Pennsylvania, under the special countenance
of the Federal Administration. to convert resist
ance to the execution of the Fugitive Act into
the capital crime of high treason. A fugitive,
who had been arrested at Boston was liberated
by some OF his colored friends who finding the
door of his room in the courthouse open, hus-
tied the officer and secured the escape of the
intended victim. Not weapon had been pro-
vided, not a wound was given yet the rescue
was boldly proclaimed by Mr. Webster, Secre-
tary of State, TO be an act Of treason, a levy
ing of war against the United States
THE CHRISTIAN AFFAIR.
On the 18th September, 1851, more seri-
Gus affair occurred An armed party, headed
by deputy marshal, attempted to arrest some
fugitive slaves in Pennsylvania The fugitives
aided by some others, stood on their defence
The claimant Maryland STAKEHOLDER. was
shot in the ARRAY, and the fugitives escaped.
Five days after. the Governor of Maryland was
officially informed, from the Department of
State, that the District Attorney was special
" instructed to ascertain whether the facts
would make out the crime of TREASON against
the United States, and, if 40, to take prompt
measures to secure all concerned for trial for
that OFFENCE" Faithfully and zealously were
the orders from Washington obeyed lncredi-
BILE as it may seem, a grand jury was found
with consciences sufficiently plant to present
no less than seventy eight indictments against
thirty mine persons, alleged to have been con-
cerned in the riot All were indicted for TREA-
son, AS well as for various crimes of inferior
grade.
Let it be recollected that the Constitution
to prevent tyrannical prosecutions for construc
tive treason declares Treason against the
United States shall consist ONLY in levying war
against them, or in adhering to their enemies,
| giving them aid and comfort Ii may well be
supposed that the Government selected for the
commencement OF the prosecutions the strong
est case of the thirty-nin 90 the 25th of No
vember, Cashier Hanway, white man of ire
proachable character, was placed at the bar.
charged on the oaths of the grand jury, that on
the nth September, 1851, "HE DID wIcSEDLy
AND TRAIToRousLY LEVY WAR AGAINST THF
UNITED STATES The only offence proved
against him was, that he was near the scene Of
action, unarmed, and on horseback and that
when ordered by the deputy marshal to aid
him in capturing the fugitives, like an honest
man, he declined rendering the required assist
ance The presiding Judge charged the jury
|
do not think the Transaction with which the
prisoner is charged with being connected rises
to the dignity of treason OF of levying war; "
and verdict ofnot guilty was returned without
hesitation. This verdict led the Government
to abandon all the Indictments for treason,
among which was one against Samuel VIII
liams, Il colored man, for levying war against
the United States 10y giping notice TO The tugt-
tues that a pdrrdnt had been ISSUED for their ar
rest But still an effort was made to punish
him for this act of benevolence and he was
tried ON an indictment for misdemeanor, under
the Fugitive Act, for obstructing the arrest by
his notice, and for which, if convicted, he was
liable to fine not exceeding one thousand dol.
lars, and imprisonment not exceeding SIX
months. The trial by jury was again vindca-
ted by verdict of acquittal. All the prosecu-
tons were then abandoned in despair; and, il
the gallows and the prisons were denied their
intended victims, the Government could al
least beseech the shareholders to accept the
will for the deed especially as it is said no les
than seventy thousand dollars were expended
on these prosec utions from the public treasu
ry.
: CoERCING PEOPLE or COLOR.
In connection with the Fugitive Act, we as
your attention to the renewed efforts to trans
: port the free people Of color to Africa. w
: freely acknowledge not only the right of thes
people to seek more favorable home tina
this country affords but also the right and dut
, of others to afford them, according to circum
stances the aid they may desire for this purpose
But the American Colonization Society protfer
: them undesired aid and some colonzati0nist
recommend their removal to Africa, as render
ing slavery more secure and more profitable
and relieving tho country of population
which they represent as u nuisance" To in
duce them to accept the proffered aid, thu
expressions they here suffer are excused anC
often justified while attempts to render thei
condition here more tolerable, by promoting
their intellectual improvement and enlarginl
the field OF their industry, nrc often dlsconn
tenanced. In short, the whole tendency of til,
Society IL, by rendering their condition here
| intolerable, to ext0rt their consent to go u
Africa. We nil know the extreme anxiety o.
the shareholders to expel the free blacks from
within their borders. Says "a late South Caro-
lima papers recommending the State "to
ship her free negroes to another land :" The
very condition and the circumstances that
surround the free negro are IN direct hostility
and didmetr,caiy opposed 10 the institution "
Slavery Mr.. Webster in his memorable
i bDcccU vi 1tu IooOi uuIbltlJ TcCOui-
mended himself to his new patrons by declar-
ing that EIGHTY MILLIONS had been received
from the sale of lands ceded by Virginia and
that "if Virginia and the South BEE fit To
adopt any proposition to RELIEVE Themselves
from the free people of color among them, they
have my free consent that the Government
shall pay them any sum OF money out of the
proceeds which may be adequate to the pur.
pose And again: If any gentleman from
the SoUTm shalt propose scheme Of colonial
ton, to be carried on by this Government upon
large scale, for the transportation of her
cOored people to any colony or any place al
The icorid | should be quite disposed to incur
almost any degree Of expense TO accomplish
the object OF course, the Secretary OF State
il willing to tax the whole Republic to any
amount not exceeding eighty millions, not to
benefit the free people Of color, not to civilize
| and Christianize Africa, but 10 Danish to any
part of the world hundreds Of thousands Of has
own c0untrymen, solely and avowedly to reIiere
the shareholders, and give additional security
and permancnce To the system Of human bond
age and this gentleman il now the public
champion Of the American Colonization So
cicty.
DELINQUENCY AND DUTY OF THE CHURCH
We have in our country population, free
and bond Of between three and four millions,
who, merely on account Of their complexion,
are treated with an almost total disregard OF
that justice and humanity cnjoincd by the re-
lgon we profess The A. and f. A. s. Society
are laboring to secure ~ them that Christian
treatment to which the gospel Of Christ entities
them. Ia this work OF mercy, they invoke,
and have right to invoke, the countcnancc
and aid Of the Church We are not uncon-
scious that the Church has, in past ages, been
frequently faithless to her high mission of
cultivating peace and goodwill among men /;
and he is but little acquainted with passing
/ ~ h. Ia .1.ua.aa llai Tho