New-York daily tribune., 1855-08-28

stem forget1ul OF iA existence. Let the people
refresh their memories by demanding Of the
House OF Representatives the impeachment Of
Judge Kane for the Illegal and arbitrary impris-
orment Of Pnssmore Williamson. Even fe.
petitions for this object woald excite sslutary
alarm among our Pro.Slavery judges, and warn
them that there are limits to their power which
they cannot prudently pass. Three or four
hundred thousand petitioners will be heard BY
their Representatives, and this lawless Judge
will be required to answer at the bar of the
Serate for bis reckless arrogance and tyranny.
Does he deserve impeachment To this ques-
tion we intend giving fall and we trust salts
factory answer. But before exhibiting the
atrocity of his late conduct, and which conduct
can alcne be the subject of an impeachment, we
ask attention to former memorable display
both Of his ignorance and his malignity. True
it is that former Ofenses afford no legal evil
dence Of present guilt. but they may well prompt
and just fly an effort TO bring to justice man
who becomes hardened by impunity, and who,
a, he advances IN years, grows more needless of
eecency and of duty. Let Us then leave Pass
more Williamson for a while in the dungeon to
which Judge Kane has consigned him, and recall
to the recollection Of our readers the earnest,
but happily abortiye, effort of this same Judge,
to bring numbers Of his felow-men to the gal
lows, by most absurd and impudent peryersion
of law and common sense.
In September, 1851, Maryland STAKEHOLDER
named Gorsuch obtained from the notorious
Edward d. Ipgraham, the Philadelphs slave
catching Commissioner, warrants against four
alleged fugitive slaves. He proceeded with an
armed party and deputy marshal to Christiana,
and besieged house in which the slaves were
said to have taken refuge. Intelligence had
been received of the approach Of the pirty,
and the slaves msnfully resolved to defend
themselves, and, if possible, to achieve their
freedom. Some of their colored friends gal
lantly came to their aid and generously shared
their Danger. Gorsuch, the slave hunter, aud
the marshal entered the house but were repalsed,
each party firing at the other, bat, as appears,
without effect. The beseigers called for assist
ance, and meeting Caspar Hsnway, white
man, on horseback the marshal, as authorized
by the fugitive law, commanded his aid in ar
resting the slaves. Mr.. Hanwsy, as became
republican and Christian, refused obediencs
to the infam GUS mand.s. In the meantime the
negroes made, it would seem, sOrtie, adyanc-
ing on the enemy. Hanway called to them not
TO fire. His exhortation was unheeded. Cor
such was shot dead, another was wounded, and
the residue of the slave. catchers sought safety
in fight.
No sooner did the news Of this riot reach Phila-
delphia than great was the tribulation Of the cot
ton gentlemen, and how again to save the Union
became the subject of their most anxious cogita-
tions. A number of the fraternity, gentlemen of
property and standing" addressed letter to the
Governor, expressing their horror at this insur-
"rectionary movement" and intimating that a
military force should be sent " to the seat Of the
" insurrecton." The Governor Indignantly re-
piled Permit me, gentlemen, to suggest that
" the idea of rebellion, insurrectionary move
" ment in the County Of Lancaster, or anywhere
" else in this Commonwealth, has no real founda-
[" ton, and is an offensive imputation on large
body of our fellow w-citizens There is no insur
rectionary movement in Lancaster County, and
there would be no occasion to march military
|" force there, as you seem to DESIRE and inlame
"the public mind by any such strange exaggera-
tiop."
But Judge Kane, in his study, knew more
about the state Of the Commonwealth than did
it's frat executive officer. The Concentrating
pie soul-was ignorant Of any rebellion or insur-
recton in Pennsylvania, while the learned Judge
discovered from his English law-books that ,car
had been hred against the United States; that the
hostile army, consisting of Americans, had all
incurred the guilt of treason and had forfeited
their lives to their offended and wronged coun-
try. This wonderful ard startling intelligence
was communicated By his Honor to the Grand
Jury of the United States District Court. After
reciting the facts as they appeared in the news
papers, he added, that it was reported "that
for some months back gatherings of people,
strangers as well as citizens, have been held
" from time to time in the vicinity of the place
"of the recent outrage, at which exhortation,
" are made and pledges interchanged to hold
81 the law for the recovery of fugitive slaves as
" of no validity, and to defy its execution" In
other words, Anti. Slavery meetings had been
held in Lancaster County, IS in other parts Of
the Free States and in these meetings one of
tAe most dete.table acts Of modern legislation
had been denounced as cruel and unjust, and the
people in attendance had expressed their deter
mnation not to participate in slaye-hunts. We
shall presently see how adroitly the Judge
slipped the halter round the necks of the at
tendants of such meetings, whether in Pennsyl-
yania or elsewhere.