The southern press., 1852-04-13
anti Slavery Agitation at the North,
By The Newspapers Of all Factions.-V iolenc
Against the Fugitive Siaue LdW.
From The Albany Epening Journal Wing, ThwlO,o
Need, editor Aprit3.

| From The Albany Epening Journal TVhig, ThTLou
Need, editor, aprti3.
NEW YORK MARKET, APRIL 2.
NEGRoEs.-Prime quality, 800 $1,000
holders firm.
You will find on reference to record drawn
up on July the 4th, l776 that one Horace
Preston was born free and equal with his fellow
men, aud was endowed at his birth with an in
aenablo right of life, liberty, and the pursuit OF
happiness. 1t seems that he must have had some
mixing of this fact himself, for about five years
ago he settled in Williamsburg, on Long Island,
and commenced pursuing his own happiness, en-
Toying his own liberty, and living his own life.
II was u peaceable, honest Christian life, by all
accounts, spent in earning maintenance for
himself and his wife, helping his neighbors, and
dealing fairly with the world ut large. They
were poor people, and they made no great noise
in the world; but, Notwithstanding, we have
reason TO believe that they hid in their quiet
way as strong an appreciation Of happiness, and
as keen sense of misery, as he best of us.
One fine morning this week. policeman Mar
tin, of the sixth ward, in New York, walked in
and informed Preston that he was charged with
stealing Stealing! There must be some mis-
| take What, or from whom! But upon these
points he got no information, and knowing his
innocence, and not doubling that it would APP
pear on the trial, he submitted to be arrested,
| and was marched of to the police Office.
Antiquarians relate that curious old doeu-
ment, which they have discovered, was once held
III high Tepute in these parts, especially by police
men and United States commissioners. In 1889
il went by tie name Of the Constitution of the
United States. Doubtless, by way of joke,
the policemen and United States commissioner,
who had charge of this stealing case, pretended
that they would be guided by it now. IL pro-
vldes that no person shall be deprived of liberty
without due process Of law. This they carried
out by cheating this person into an unlawful ar
rest for an imaginary offence, with no other pro-
cess than the. lie by which they did it, 1t pro
vides that in all criminal prosecutions the &C
cused shall enjoy the right TO a speedy and public
trial, by an impartial jury. This they carried
out by hiding him away out of sight, and bring
ing him privately before a single judge. II
provides that such persons shall have the assist
ance of counsel for his defence. This was
carried out by refusing to let counsel see him,
and turning them away from the door Of his
prison. IL provides that they shall be entitled
to reasonable ball. and this the factous function
aries were likewise guided by so far as to refuse
him any bail at all.
On the trial, II came out that the crime with
which Preston was charged was that Of being
an 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 CON-
mssioner's Office, whether the life, liberty, and
happiness Of Horace Preston belong 10 Horace
Preston, or 10 William Reese, Of Baltimore.
Ifthe suit shall terminate in Reese's favor, there
l I,,,kglo.a 10 81 H..
| ty Of the fugitive slave law, and another piece
Of merchandise in the Southern market; there
will be a vacant house and desolate woman in
Williamsburg, and an unhappy wretch in the
brickyard nj Baltimore. But Of such is the
Foundation Of our glorious Union.
=. S.-Preston has been declared 10 belong
not 10 himself nor TO his wife, nor 10 his child.
rem, but 90 VIM. Reese, OF Baltimore, and has
been "taken off" accordingly.
From the NsW York EU,ning Post (Ertesoil Dem.
wv Cullen Bryant, poet editor, } April 5.
THE LAST FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE.
The case ofIIcnry Preston, who was sent back
10 the South as fugitive slave on Saturday, IL n
very hard one, as, in fact, are most Of the cases
which arise under the present law.
Preston escaped from the service Of bis mas
Ter four years ago In this city he bad formed
domestic ties here he married a woman who
appears 70 have been devotedly fond Of him, a
| light colofed muatto woman, whose little
daughter, by former husband had been adopted
| by him, and chefsbed towards him all the fond
ness Of child for parent He was suddenly
poupced upon by a pettifogger and police off
Ger, who seized him and dragged him 10 prison, on
some pretence Of larceny, for il 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
I strength Of her attachment TO him. and Of the
suffering she must endure at separation. On
| Saturday he was torn from his family, WIN
elung to him with despairing fondness, and
! e. -ried back TO his alleged owner in MARYLAND
The circumstances Of their parting, which were
truly affecting, are related elsewhere in this
sheet
Great terror is expressed at the African slave
trade even by shareholders. We remember
that President Tyler, in one of his messages
spoke Of it as a cruel, atrOcious, and accused
traffic, lavishing upon i epithets Of the most
vehement denunciation. The cruelty and afro.
city Of the slave trade consists mainly in tearing
4 men and women from their families and homes
in separating those whom God has Joined, and
sending ts victims 10 hopeless servitude. The
fugitive slave law brings the barbarities Of that
trade 10 our doors. Instead Of being perpetra.
ted by pirates, armed with pistols and cutlasses
theyare computed by lawyers, policemen, and
deputy marsbals, eho plead the law as their
warrants, and instead Of taking place on a coast
inhabited by savagethbcs, they are inflicted in
a cchntry claiming 10 stand in Che 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
squeamish on the subject Of the slave-pens
where men snd women were bought aud sold
like oxen 10 sight OF Ire capitol, but they felt no