The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-23
The Lennon Slave Case.

The New York Commercial Advertiser of satur-
day announces:
THE decision OF Judge Paine has been appealed
from, and the case carried to the supreme court,
by ee1fiorni, granted by Justice Edwards. The
Journal Of Commerce says that except that a for
NAL REIMBURSEMENT of Mr.. Lemmon's claim at
this time would make it impossible to test the legal
question involved, shat gentleman would have no
objection to relinquish all claim to the slaves after
receiving the indemnity money which is in process
Of collection
MIR. LENNON takes occasion to say in q card that
he does not impute wrong to Mr.. Ashmead, clerk
OF the steamer City Of Richmond, for his part in
the transaction by which he lost his slaves
The Baltimore american remarks:
owe intend soon to present our views the
principles involved in this case, but we shall not
, do until we have had time TO examine IL fuilv
by the aid of such lights as the law may afford US
Until the opinion Of Judge Paine is reversed, or
the law OF New York is altered by positve legis
iation, this system of recompense by voluntary
subscription may do very well. But il will not
answer for all cases; for the one hand it might
prove bad dependence for southern slave holders,
while on the other 1t might serve excellent
means oil selling a large portion OF worthless pro-
perty. We know many persons who would be
~lihng TO manunit slaves provided they could be
UNIDENTIFIED for the loss of service and tDere salts
fed that the Liberated negro ioould be comfortable in
has acquired freedom. But this monetary, com
mercial lberaIity-as described by the Tribune
is not likely TO become a permanent law. The
South is not to be deuded by such spasmodic
qualms. II there is, in truth, any ground Of in
demnlty Tor 1885, 1t ID in consequence OF the COM
mission OF an absolute wrong; and therefore it is
best either to nulify the judges decision or to
tablish permanent State fund in New York
! whence a regular draft may be made in behalf of
southern emancipation.
"Aside, however, from the peCunary aspect of
this case, we must say to our New York friends
that the spirit Of Union, which happily Exists at
present, can only be preserved by RETAINING from
legislative discrimination among the States as to
property which is unqucslonably acknowledged by
the Constitution. The Fugitive Slave law Is
merely remedial act 1t does not define property,
or alter the relation between master and slave,
but 1t gives the owner a means of recovering his
servant eutry,ohere within national boundaries
simply because that servant is his property"
The following statement of Mr.. Lemmon's coun-
sci ia published in the papers:
"Havng observed, from the comments of por
ton OF the press, that considerable misapprehen.
we sought to protect clients rights respecting
his property, consisting Of eight slaves, we take
this opportunity to correct that Misrepresentation
On the argument before Justice Paine, we opposed
the discharge of the slaves the ground, first,
that by reason Of the comfy existing between the
several States Of the Union, the citizens of slave
State have right to take their slaves through a
free State, in transitu, to another slave State.
owe cited various decisions in which it was ex-
pressy adjudicated that this right exists Not an
American authority was cited to the contrary, for
the reason that none could be found. Secondly,
on the ground that the statute of New York, pro.
vidng that the slaves shall not be imported or in
troduced into the State, has application to this
case. The statute, when interpreted by the ordi.
nary rule of construction applicable to all Statutes
we contend, contained nothing more than pro.
hibtion against the introduction Of slaves into the
State for the purpose of remaining or residing
here e Their permanently or temper arily. We do
not desire to speak disparagingly of the eminent
judge by whom the slaves were discharged. We
ask however, for the suspe Of public opinion
in regard to our propositions until we be heard
before the supreme court on the appeals which we
have taken from the decision of Judge Paine.
"NEw YoRK, November 10. 1852.
"HENRY D. LAPAUaH.
"HeNRY L. CLINTON"