Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-02-19
An EtrOr--.JCrTy Trials,

On authority Of the papers which reported
the trial of Enoch Reed, VIC last week stated
that he was condemned under the .Gayi,irc lat
Of 1903. This was mistake. Determined to
have a conviction at all cvents-and thinking
that the popular prejudice against color would
materially aid their purpose, the prosecutors
took colorcd man first, as presenting a case
most easy of conviction. Still further to facil-
tate this purpose they abandoned all attempt
to convict under any law having reference to
slavery or fugitives, and planted themselves
upon general law, passed in 1870 to meet
cases Of resistance to the execution Of process
generally. For violation of this lar, Enoch
Reed was convicted. The sentence has for the
present been arrested. What the penalty is,
wo cannot state. Evidently the prosecutors
with all their zeal and long preparation, feared
failure, and hence their cowardly resort to the
charge of resistance of an officer.
Their fears were realized in the second case
tried, that of w. l.. Salmon of Oswego. lie
was arraigned under the law of 1850. From q
hasty glance at the testimony in the case, We
should think the fact of his particpancy fully
made out, and yet he was acquitted. How this
occurred We don't know. The Carson League
glories in it as the result Of a determination on
the part of the Jury to trample the law under
foot. They would not convict under it.
Now We rejoice in that sentiment, ndividu-
ally or collectively expressed which treats this
law with the EXTREMIST disregard and contempt
but we cannot approve of that morality which
twcars to execute the law by faithful verdict
according to evidence and then screens the
Better refuse to serve upon jury, and pay no
respect in form, to the outrageous enactment,
than deliberately to commit perjury for the
sake Of releasing the accused or contemning
the law. 1t may be as the League snys that
the jury proposed to defend and acquit inno-
ccnce." But that was not what they were
81 .r. to do. They were sworn to bring in
,.,ct according to evidence. They brought
N q verdict in the face of evidence The law
and their oath contemplated the punishment
of innocence, nay, Of positively virtuous act
The evidence required them to aid in its punish
ment by giving their verdict against IT, What
business had they to take this oath to punish
innocence and virtuei The League is the ad-
yocatc of righteous civil government, but to
US Il seems that there is a more righteous way
of sustaining and executing governmental
righteousness. That our readers may Judge
for themselves. We give what the League has
10 say upon the question:
"After ten hours discussion, and being sent
out several times by the Court, the jury return
ed verdict that Reed did "resist an oGieer.
Had he been tried on a count for rescuing a
slave, they ,could hare acquitted him; for his ia
norcnce ronid hare shonr IN proportion 10 he
eieayness Of the pro2f to sustain The indictment.
so 1t was in tho case of W. l.. Salmon
After Reeds counsel arrested his sentence on
motion, (Which there is hopes may be sus-
taincd } the District Attorney aTraignod W. l..
Salmon. He was tried under the fugitive law
of so, and acquitted, although the indictment
was clearly sustained by proof; and because
fhe indictment was clearly sustained the jury
considered he was clearly innocent The law
proposes to punish innocence, and the jury
proposed to defend and acquit innocence.
''W. l.. Salmon is glorious fellow. lie
threw of all disguise at the rescue. lie seized
the Marshal by the throat in the face Of day,
and in the presence of the court, and if he had
kicked him into the street, jury would appro-
we'd the act-snd when they returned poor Jcr-
ry to Houses office, Salmon camo before tho
crowd with open brow exclaiming "Old oswe-
gois present '-"Go-ahcad J" He seized the
great plank with other brave fellows and broke
down the inner partition and brought out Jerry
and bore him in triumph through the city. thu
sublimest sight under heaven. The oficia
knaves and kidnappers and towards who arr
vainiy seeking jury to condemn these brav'
men. crawled trembling into hiding places t'
escape being rode on rail. OF dragged in th'