The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-07
ANTI-sLAvERY AGITATION
~ o R y II /,
ny THE
NEWSPAPERS OF ALL FACTIONS.
Violence Against the Fugitive
Slave Law.
~ THE
NEW YORK MARKET, APRIL 2.


You will find on reference to a record drawn up on
ysly 4th, l776, that one Horace Preston was born
free and equal with his fellow men, and was en-
dowsd at his birth with an inalienable right to hfe
aberty and the pursuit Of happiness II seems that
he must have had some inklng of this fact himself
for about five years ago he settled in Williamsburg,
on Long Island, and commenced pursuing his own
happiness. enjoying his own liberty, and living his
swn life. 1t was peaceable, honest, Christian life
NY oil accounts, spent in earning maintenance for
Almself and his wife, helping his neghbors, and
dealing fairly with the world at large. They were
poor people, and they made great noise in the
world; but, notwithstanding We have reason TO be-
Geye that they had in their quiet way strong an
appreciation of happiness, and as keen sense of
misery, az the best ofus.
One fine morning this week. policeman Martin,
sfthe Sixth ward, in New York, walked in and in
formed Preston that he was charged with stealing.
ftfahngi There must be some mistake What,
or from whom! But upon these points he got no
information, and knowing his innocence. and not
osubting that il would appear the trial. he sub
nitted to be arrested, and was marched of to the
police Office
Ant9uarians relate that curious old document,
which they have discovered once held in high
LePnte in these parts, especially by policemen and
United States Commissioners In 1850 it went by
the name of the Constitution of the United States.
Doubtless, by way OF joke the policeman and
y. ). Commissioner who had charge Of this steal
Dg ease, pretended that they would be guided by it
now. 1t provides that no person shall be deprived
Of liberty without due process of law. This they
arrest for an imaginary offence, with no other pro-
cess than the lie by which they did it. 1t provides
that in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall
enjoy the right to speedy and public trial, by an
impartial jury. This they carried out by hiding
him away out of sight, and bringing him privately
before a single judge. 1t provides that such per-
sons shal have the assistance of counsel for his de-
fence. This was carried out by refusing to let
counsel see him, and turning them away from the
door Of his prison 1t provides that they shall be
entitled to reasonable bail, and this the facetious
hnctOnaries were likewise guided by, so far rs to
refuse him any bail at all.
On the trial. il came out that the crime with
which Preston was charged was that of being
honest citizen of Williamsburg. that the theft for
which he was arrested was that of his own body
and soul. The issue was therefore made up, and is
now under trial, at the Commissioners office, whe-
ther the life, liberty, and happiness Of Horace Pres
ION belong to Horace Preston. or to William Rees,
Of Baltimore.
IL the suit shall terminate in Rees favor. there
will doubtless be another guaranty of the nalty of
the Fugitive Slave law. and another piece of mer-
shandise in the Southern market; there will be a
vacant house and desolate woman in Williams
burg, and an unhappy wretch in the brickyard at
Baltimore. But OF such is the foundation of our
glorious Union.
P.S.-Prcston has been declared to belong not to
himself, nor to his wife, to his children, but to
VIM Rees, Of Baltimore, and has been taken off,
accordingly.
THE LAST FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE.
From the New York Evening Post. free soil dem, VIM
Cullen Bryant. poet editor.) April D.
Ibe case OF Henry Preston, who sent back TO
Abe South fugitive slave Saturday, is n very
hard one, as, in fact most Of the cases which
arise under the present law.
Preston escaped from the service of his master four
years ago. In this city he had formed domestic ties:
here he married woman who appears to have been
devotedly fond of him, light-colored mulatto
man, whose little daughter, by former husband,
had been adopted by him, and cherished towards
him all the iondness of child for parent. He
suddenly pourced upon by pettitogger and police
officer, who seized him and dragged him to prison,
on some metence of larceny. for it seems that the
law, in most cases. cannot be executed without the
help Of falsehood A brief examination followed,
during which he was constantly attended by his
wife, who gave the strongest tokens of the strength
Of her attachment to him. and Of the suffering she
must endure at separation. On Saturday he was
torn from his family. who chung to him with a de-
sparing fondness, and carried back to his alleged
owner in Maryland. The circumstances of their
parting, which were truly affecting are related else
where in this sheet.
Great horror is expressed at the African slave
trade even by Shareholders. We remember that
President Tyler, in one of his messages spoke oft
ms cruel, atrocious and accused traffic, layishng
upon il epithets Of the most vehement denuncia-
ton. The cruelty and atrocity of the slave trade
consist mainly in tearing men and women from their
families and homes, in separating those whom God
has joined and sending its victims to hopeless SER
vitude The Fugitive Slave law brings the bar
barities Of that trade to our doors. Instead Of
being perpetrated by pirates, armed with pistols
licemen, and deputy marshals. who plead the law
as their warrant. and instead OF taking place on n
coast inhabited by savage tribes. they inflicted
in a country claiming to stand in the first rank of
civilization. and to be the freest in the world,
This is the principal difference in the cases.
The same Congress which passed the Fugitive
Slave law, enacted law banishing slave trade
from the District Of Columbia. They were squeamsh
on the subject of the slaye-pens, where men and
women were bought and sold like oxen, in sight OF
the capitol, but they felt no scrupe in legalizng
within the boundaries OF the free States, of the
worst enormities which make that traffic 50 abomi-
nable.
1t is known to our readers that many Of those
who favorable TO law for the reclamation ofiu
gitive slaves, yet shocked at the operation OF
the present statute, in breaking up families, and
dragging men from their wives and children; and
earnestly desire that there should be some limitation
oftime beyond which the slave shall not be reclaim
ed If the proprietor, they say, cares 50 little for
the recovery OF his slave not to pursue him forth
with, but chooses to lie in wait until, in the course
Ofyears, some agent or attorney is found willing
omake the experiment Of specializing on the hui
lnanity Of the community and to carry him Of from
his family in the hope that his neghbors will raise
large for his liberation he certainly deserves
no assistance OF the law.
All these considerations, however, are answered
by the advocates OF the compromise, with clamor
against the enormy Of agitating question already
peacefully settled The agitation, in truth, comes
from the other side. Every attempt TO reclaim
slave under such circumstances, is new agitation
u
atrocities ofthe law-iorces them spon the public
attention, and compels their discussion. Frequent
complaints arise as TO the manner in which the law
is administered The true ground OF complaint lies,
we conceive in the law itself. Ii cannot Do 30 ad-
minstered not to revolt the better feelings OF
mankind; it cannot be 90 administered as not to
disgrace our national character and our insi-
buttons.
TIE LATE sLAyEcAsE
fFrsm the n. \. Tribune. (wbig Horace Greeley. rhls
man. editor April 81 /.
We have already commented on the extraordinary
features attending the commencement sf the slave
case decided in this city on Saturday. The e,rcsn
stances attending i. esnelssiOn ara even more 70.
msrkskle.
The ease was eonsuctsd before Hon. Gesrys W
Morton, United States Commissioner, and We Gao
Truly say that more extra ordiosry legal proceed
Ings were never heard Of in sivl,sd country. The
duty Of the Commissioner, rs he himself stated IT,
was to satisfy himself whether there wa sufi. ient
evidence to prove the mas dave. TIE process son