The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-03
re OPENING OF THE ABOLITION AGITATION.
N~~~>>~>>~>~>~~~N~~~-
Revival Of war Against the Fugitive
Slave Law.
nj Probable Independent Nomination Of General
Scott by the Free Soil Wings.
Movements Of Senators Seward and Hale,
&c, Sc, &c.
New York Slave Catchcrs.

New York Slave Catchcrs.
Prom the New York Tribune, April 2
n is but a few weeks since, Mr.. Secretary Web
stsr stood up before audience in this city, and
with all due solemnity and impressiveness declared
10 the listening thousands that the American con-
stitution is founded the basis of equal rights
Ne provisions secure perfect equality and freedom
10 all; all who live under it are equal-al enjoying
the same privileges"
LEI few facts serve by way Of commentary on
this lofty oracle =
A black man named Horace Preston. residing in
Williamsburg, and earning an honest living by his
own work, married to woman most dcvotediy at
tachcd to him, was arrested the other day by
member Of our Sixth ward police, named James
Martin The arrest was made on utterly frivolous
pretext; IL was charged that he had committed
a larceny, that the witnesses against him
would be forthcoming and accordingly he
wac incarcerated until they might be produced.
But that nothing might occur to render imperfect
this illustration Of American equality before the
law. and American respect for personal rights. he
was hustled into the lookup Of the Sixth ward
station in the lower part of the Tombs, not under
Abe control Of the regular warden of that prison,
and kept there in a manner which might not dis
grace the justice Of Persia Tartary. but is foul
Blot on New York. The offence charged was bail
able one; ample bail was offered but it refused
The worst Of criminals-a pirate, murderer, n
violator Of helpless woman--s allowed to see coun-
sci and prepare for his defence; legal gentleman Of
The highest responsibility having, after long Search
discovered the place ofthis mans sequestraton, went
turned away from the door, and not even allow
cd 10 sec the warrant upon which he was immured
Ouch is the justice in New York melted out. Such
= the respect for personal rights which officers
OF the law here exhibit Such that equality of pri-
SHeges Of which Mr.. Webster SO pompously boosted
But the morrow developed new phase Of the
Affair. The charge of larceny was laid aside, to
give place to the charge Of slavery, The alleged
fheft OF other peoples property was supplanted by
Abe theft OF his own person and his own freedom
The man was a slave, and had stolen his liberty
That was all. And in order TO gain time to seize
him for this offence. the charge of stealing had been
tsumped up, and the had been grabbed and
created worse than he had been guilty of the most
internal and unnatural crimes: and finally he was
fakcn before Commissioner Morton. in out-of the
way place, near the United States Court Rooms
where pile Of wood nearly blocked up the entrance
and there the examination commenced with no
counsel present to protect his rights. Mr.. Culver
afterwards arrived TO undertake his case. but no
tine was allowed him to consult with the negro.
TO examine the papers on which he was held. The
slaveowner had rights, but the presumptive freeman
meme
ness were Policeman Martin and one Richard Bus
teed. lawyer.o this city. They had tracked out
the fugitive, and had informed the man, Rees, Of
Baltimore who claims to be the owner of the negro.
that his chattel was here, and could be caught.
They telegraphcd to him that the trap was ready.
and that he must be the spot to take the prey
whoH it was ensnared. More than this. Busted
himself. in order to make sure of his reward youu
affidavit on which the man was held as fugitive
slave. Not content with the part of slayeowner's
counsel and advocate-of itself sufficient one would
suppose to satisfy ambition of ordinary score in
the way of meanncss and dshonor-he must put
himself forward the primary evidence in the pre-
mises. And in this afidavit-drawn with his own
hand, IL we mistake not--he swore to the whole
claim Of the alleged owner, not matter of hear
say or opinion, but absolutely. and Of his own po-
sitive knowledge. And yet il did not appear that
he had, at the time of swearing any other proof
The subject than the statement of Mr.. Rees that he
was the owner of such a runaway. Suppose Rees |
had claimed TO be the proprietor Of any other free
man?
But enough Of SEch HoCdhor,dS and jackaHs Of |
stac0s. Enough Of beings so miserably mean and |
Inhuman as to make business of seeking ont men |
engaged in honest pursuits, tearing them from |
heartbroken wives and children. and sending them |
into bondage. Enough of Martins and Busteeds, |
creatures that crawl so low that public contempt
cannot reach, public disgust and aversion affect
them The STd,c, Of an Infamous statute, they do
the arork fer trich has ongeaderod and produced
fhtm. But we. who believe in liberty, who talk Of
its blessings. who descant the glory Of its attain
ment, who declaim the equality Of rights and
universal justice establishes ought at least to see
that these slave catchers do not succeed in prostut
ing all other laws and overriding all the barriers Of
justice, IN the prosecution OF their accursed trade.