Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-08-31
From the Erie (Pa.) Observes.

Election, as was developed BY q case
heard before Judge Sterrett on Thurs.
day Of this week. The facts are about
these: A gentleman from Mississippi
who formerly resided here, came on tc
visit his relatives, and has been staying
among them several weeks. With him
for domestic purposes, he brought a
negro nurse, who is slave. As the
gentleman's relatives are all, or nearly
all. rampant Abolitionists-one of them
having edited an Abolition paper here
it became standing joke among the
political wags about town, that although
the country was absolutely ruined by
the passage of the Nebraska Bill, il
was all right for Abolitionists to hold
slaves. OF course, we have colored
population, who, hearing the jokes upon
this point, began to pick up their ears
and scratch their wool, and wonder il
there really was 'niggar in the fence.
So, on Wednesday, 'colOred person,
more courageous than the rest, deter
mined that he would try the virtues of a
writ of habeas corpus. The writ was Is
sued, and the owner of the slave brought
forthwith before our anti-Nebraska CO.
temporary of the Gazette Judge Sterrett.
G.. W. Kelso, Esq, one of the gentle
men put down in the bills for the anti
Nebraska meeting next week, appeared
on the part of our 'colored population
J. B. johnson, editor of the Constitu-
ton, an anti-Nebraska paper, appeared
for the gentleman from the sunny
South
Our readers will see from this, that
all the parties, judge lawyers. defend
ant, and complainant, belonged to
the political household of anti-Nebras-
ka. The case was opened by Mr.. K.
in flaming Abolition speech. When
he had concluded, our friend, the Shan
ghai of the Constitution, opened himself
out like a Barlow knife, and went in
lemons tooth and toe-nail, spurs,
feathers and all. The hits back and
forth between the two anti-Nebraska
lawyers were excellent; in the language
of another. they were sweet, delicious,
and tastefully ornamented' with per-
sonalties. Then the Judge decided
that Mrs. Dina must be forthcoming.-
But Mrs. Dina didn't obey the order of
the court, for the reason that Mrs. Dina
wasn't in townl. Then there was a scene
worthy of Cruikshank. The plaintiff
the darkey-looked black and the
darkey's counsel stormed. The defend
ant looked defiant. but promised that
Mrs. Dina should be forthcoming the
next day at IL. The Judge then ad-
journed the court. and the parties re-
tired to sleep and breathe.
At the hour named, Mrs. Dina and
her master, and all and singular his
Abolition relatives, were on hand; so,
also, were our colored brethren; so was
the judge, and so were his free and in
dependent constituency. Again the
lawyers had war of words, and again,
metaphorically, each made the fur fly
like couple of cats in dark garrett
The one contended earnestly that the
Niger wanted to be free, but was
cowed down by the presence of her
master. At this the Barlow knife
opened itself, looked savage over its
spectacles, and responded:
It's not so, your honor; know it's
not so, for 1 myself have interrogated
her; l have been with her alone, when
her master wasn't within twelve miles;
1 have been with her in the street, in
the bye-ways, and in the alleys and in
the lanes, 1--WE hope the darkey's hus-
band won't be jealous, for the honora- !
Bile counsel was only speaking in
Pickwickian sense, and know she is
not restrained; l know she wishes to re-
main with her MASTER
The judge then informed Mrs. Dina
that she was free; she could do as she
chose; if she wished to stay here she
could and if she wished to return with
her master. she could say so. Then up
rose the darkey. the observed of all
Observers well, boss,' said she, i
jist tell yer what it am; l jist warnt to
go back to Mississippi, and dat's all rs
got to say
That was plump and plain, and the
court so understood it and adjourned.
The master then took her by the arm,
when the 'colored gentlemen present
made a rush at him, and there came
very near being an Abolition riot
Bowieknives and pistols, flew from
their hiding places, while the uninteres-
ted spectators, as well as some of the
interested, not liking the looks of such
came flying through the
courthouse windows into the srteet.-l
Among the latter, the junior of the
Constitution the man that has been born
three times, made most excellent time.
Close upon bis heels, like a section of
hose unwinding from cart, came his
senior. Just as he landed, he clapped
his hands behind him, very much as
though some fellow had been applying
a piece of sole leather to his person.
A wag in the crowd, however, who wit
messed the performance, and who, per-
haps, might have been little dry. very
drily inquired if he had broken his task.
Our contemporary didn't have time to
reply; for Just then two 'coIored ladies,
foaming at the mouth with rage, landed
plump at bis side through the same hole,
and he left like quarter horse at the
rate of $40,