New-York daily tribune., 1855-08-29
n,,pE AcuMENr OF JUDGE KANE.

Having seen Judge Kane's failure to hang Cas-
par Hanway, let us next notice his success in
imprisonipg Psssmors Williamson. On the 18th
July last, STAKEHOLDER pamed Wheeler brought
with him to Philadelphia, on his way to New
York, his female slave and her two children.
A gent. emaD, Mr.. Passmore Williamson, Secre-
tary of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society
founded by Franklin, hearing Of the occurrence,
repaired to the steamboat, on board of which
were the slaves, and, in the discharge Of his
official duty, informed the woman that she and
her children were free. OF course she wished
to leave the boat, and her master endeavored
forcibly to detain her. A struggle ensued be-
tween the master aud Williamson, aided By
some negroes who were present, and the woman
and her children effected their escape. Soon
after Judge Kane issued writ of hsbeas corpus,
ost,nsby at the suit of Wheeler, commanding
Williamson to bring the woman and her children
before bin. From what We have already seen of
the ingenuity Of this Judge, in perver:ing law
for the benefit OF shareholders, aud bis ma
lienity toward AboltiOnists, we hazard little
in attributiDe to himself this astute contriTance
for recovering the slaves and sending
them back to bondage By means OF
habeas corpus The legitimate object Of
the writ is to restore liberty where 1t
has beea taken away; it was now used for the
purpose of taking away liberty where it had
been reeovere,. The peryersion of the writ to
a purpose so vile might we'll prompt and Justify
an impeachment, and yet, as we shall zee, this
a1 1xyith IA conduct
that followed. Judge Kane in his decision says
that Williamson made return to the writ, that
the persons therein named, "nor either Oft them,
care not Dow nor was at the time OF issuing
"the writ, or at any other time, in the custody,
"power, or poss ssion of the Respondent, nor
"by him confined or restrained: wherefore he
"cannOt have the bodies" &c. The slave
holder was allowed, as the Judge expresses il,
to traverse this return, and in the opinion OF
the Judge proved it to be false Evidence was
given Of the struggle on board the boat, denied
by none. The Judge, powerful in drawing In
ferences, as we have seen in his grand d,scoy'
cry of war against the United States, pro-
ceeded to draw inferences in the case before
him. Williamson aided by the negroes was too
strors for the master and secured the escape of
the slaves; and therefore these slaves, during
the two or three minutes the struggle
lasted, were in the custody, power, and
possession Of Williamson; hence he Lied
when he said they had never been in his power.
Again, Williamson is such an Influential Abo.
litonist, and has such control over the negroes,
tha. if lie pleased he could have the slaves
brought back and surrendered TO the tender
mercics of the District Judge; therefore when he
returned that be could not have their bodies be-
fore the Judge, be, Of course, lied. Now here
were two lies concealed in written docI-
ment, perfectly respectful! on It's face, AMI the
Judge inferred that such aberra lions ftom
truth were insulting TO his dignity as q United
States District Judge; and hence be inferred
AGt il was bis right and his duty 10 commit the
said Passmore Williamson to prison, there to
remain without bail or mainprize till, in his
opinion. his insulted dignity had been sufficiently
avenged. In vain did Williamson offer to purge
himself on oath of any intended contempt. He
had written constructive lie, just as Caspar
Hanway had levied constructive war; and a.
though the Judge had failed in hanging the
traitor, he would and could lock up the liar.
That We may more clearly exhibit the atrocity
of this procedure, we will admit for the Judges
benefit that Williamson had willfully made
false return, had even sworn falsely, and as We
can afford to be liberal, we will also admit, con-
trary to the fact, that the liberated slaves were
fugitives. But if fueitives, how utterly prepos-
ferrous snd Illegal WAS Judge Ksnes device for