The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-20

Inc SLAVES OF JOnatnhn Lennon.
We have already published The decision OF Judge Paine
OF the superior OF this city, in The OF eight
slaves OF Jonathan Lennon, who touched this port
his way from Virginia to Texas whittier he emigra-
ting, accompanied by his wife, children, and
he had no design 10 make any stay here. and desire
TO shore his only object being take the
quickest and most convenient TO Texas which he
understood to be by steamship from this city He
cordipgIy embarked al Richmond in steamer for this
port. expecting here to be transferred a bound
TO New Orleans. The history OF the voyage thus far
shall be stated in his own words
'On the 18th day Of October last left my home IN
Bath county, Virginia. with the view OF smgraiing to
Texas, taking with me my wife, seven children. and
eight slaves. | reached Richmsnd on the 3Ob day OF
October and remained there until the Tuesday following,
endeavorng meanwhile 70 engage passage in some
sci for New Orleans. Finding, however, that passen
leans for some three weeks thereafter. went TO Nor
folk aud took passage IN The steamer City oil Richmond
for the port OF New York. with the intention OF proceed
ing directly from New York TO New Orleans, having
idea, before leaving Norfolk that there could be any diff
hcully in going 10 New York with my slaves and pro.
cseding thence to New Orleans had been told and be-
eved that could do with entire safety
mir. Ashmead who was clerk on the City OF Rich
mond, told me on the voyage to New York that need
not be at all uneasy about losing the slaves that the
law was in my favor in New York, and was bound TO
protect in the possession and property OF my slaves
and that the mayor Of that city would that il
done, provided any difficulty should occur Mr.. Ash
NJ
that he would, Immediately after the City of Richmond
got into the habor of New York, procure passage for
myself family, and slaves in some ship going at
from that port 10 New Orleans.
Under these circumstances. and thinking that all
was right, arrived in the harhor of New York about
half past four o'clock in the afternoon. The 5lh inst
When the City OF Richmond had thus arrived al
New York; Mr.. Ashmead went ashore, telling me that
he going TO procure passage for in steamer
ready TO sail for New Orleans. Alter an absence Of
about an hour or an hour and bali he returned, and
stated TO that he had been unable to find the
whom he went 10 in regard TO obtaining the passage
but handed TO me piece OF paper which he said con-
with il 10 place in South street went there accord
ngly and at the door met man who said TO me
that he was the individual named in The paper: |
told him that wanted 10 engage passage Tor New
Orleans in vessel proceeding at once 10 that port,
upon which myself, family, and slaves could be
placed thai night He replied that be would i'm
Memphis, which would sail for New Orleans the
mex, morning | then went with him inside the Of
flee, where passage tickets were given lo me. He then
stated that he would send round for my family,
slaves and baggage TO the City OF Richmond and trans
fer everything on board OF the steamer Memphis He
and then went to the City OF Richmond and very soon
by him, and into which myself, family and slaves got,
under his direction, he saying 10 us that they were to
convey us TO the steamer Memphis The hacks then.
instead of proceeding to the steamer Memphis drove
round 10 his office in South street Here was told that
must pay our fare before being put on board Of the
Memphis. | then paid the amount. being $ldl AS
take us the steamer Memphis but carried u.s. against
our earnest protest, 10 house, No. Carlisle street,
dropped US down upon the sidewalk and drove Off 1t
was new dark aud we being utter strangers IN the city,
compelled TO stay at that place till morning. The
next morning, the 9th instant, the steamer Memphis
sailed leaving myself, family. and slaves, and whilst she
my slaves had been taken into court The resa oil the
procee iings in court has deprived OF all my property,
amounting, al least, to $4,000.
aNEw YoRV Nov IT. 1892
Ii this is correct statement, we presume il is.
shows that innocent man has been robbed Of his prop
ery. $4,000 in value, being all that he had in the
world for other offence than touching al the port OF
New York, in his transit from savehoding State TO
another savehoding State and further that the robbery
was effected by means OF an Infamous fraud Who sent
those carriages professedly take Mr. Lennon and his
family TO the steamer Memphis, but 10 reality to drop,
them down in Carlisle street. strangers in strange city
that they might not be able 10 depart in the steamer Mem
phsl Or, had the drivers been tempered with BY the
aboltionss and brbed 10 carry the strangers Carlisle
street, instead Of going 10 the dock where the Memphis
lying is clear that somebody told string OF false
hoods in order that IS, 900 robbery might be committed
under the forms Of law We hope tina, the authors OF the
mischief, whoever they may be, will be fere,ed out and
punished as they deserve
AS 10 the decision OF Judge Paine i, does no, become
the writer who is lawyer, 10 dispute its correctness
But may properly array against it the opinion OF the
able, learned and DISCRIMINATING Judge GrieT oil the Uni
ted States circuit court sitting 10 Philadelphia in October
last, who, in charging the jury in the OF Cecil Oliver
and others against David Kaufman and Others held the
following language;
/" Il has been contended that these slaves became free
by The act OF the plaintiffs, in voluntarily bringing them
into the State OF Pennsylvania.
. This question depends upon the law Of Maryland,
and no, oil pennsy yana This court cannot 20 behind
the status OF these people where they escaped. We
know OF no law or decision Of the courts of Maryland
which treats slave as liberated who has been conduct
ed by his master along the national road through the
State OF Pennsy lvsnia On this subject Lord Mansfield
has said some very pretty things, I'm The OF Somer
set) which often quoted principles of the
common law. Bot they will perhaps be found, by ex.
animation OF later cases, TO be classed with rhetorical
iourishes rather than legal dogmas Since the former
trial OF this the point has been decided in the Su
preme Court, as think But, however that may be- The
point is ruled in favor OF the plaintiffs. for the purposes
of the present desire to have your verdict on
the facts OF the case, which so much contested"
The point here made substantially the tina,
involved in the decision OF Judge Paine Judge Grer
declares, 10 effect that the slaves in question did moi be-
come free by the act OF the plaintiffs, in voluntarily
bringing them into the State OF Pennsylvania for the
purpose OF transit Judge Paine, in the case OF Lem
mons slaves, takes the opposite ground These slaves
like the others, merely passing through rather
touching at non-saveholding State, on their passage
from slayeholdng State 10 another, accompanied
by their master.
II is TO be noed, however, that Judge Paine grounds
his decision, in considerable measure, upon law OF
the State Of New York passed in stl under the admin
isration of Gov Seward, which declares that "every
person held slave, who hath been introduced or
intp State m luwa forea