The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-08-11
EDITORS And. PUBIISuERS.
From our Philadelphia Correspondent.
rHiLADEI.PuIA, July 2s. 1855.


The deci~ on of Judge Kane in reference t,
the case Of Passmorc Williamson. who wa
charged with contempt OF Court and perjury
in making an. alleged false return in answer
to writ Of habcas corpus requiring him t.
produce the bodies Of the slaves of John IL
Wheeler. taken from his possession about q
week ago. was gwen yesterday.
|! Considerable excitement has existed in ree
erencc to this affair. The particulars of it
you have no doubt seen, hut we may concisely
state them in this letter "a AL item of news to
some of your readers
| Col. Wheeler is North Caralonian and United
States Minister to Nicaragua. At the time his
slaves were taken. he was on board of steam
| boat at Walnut street wharf. about to depart
for New York. where he intended to set sail
for his post of duty. While on the upper deck
OF the boat in company with his slaves few
minutes before the hour for starting he was
approached by AIR. Williamson. who requested
the privilege Of speaking to his slaves. The
request was granted. when he made known to
them that by the law of Pennsylvania they
were free and at liberty to leave their master
at any moment. 1t is said the woman said she
iccted around and the negroes who came on
board. Immediately hurried them of and placed
them in carriage. when they were driven at
rapid rate up Dock street. since which time
those claiming ownership in their bodies have
rot been able to discover their whereabouts.
Mr.. williamson WAS arrested and writ OF
habcas corpus served upon him demanding the
delivery Of the bodies Of the slaves before the
Court. Failing TO DO this, and affirming that
they were not in his possession and never had
been, be was bound over ii five thousand dol
lars bail to appear and answer, on the motion
OF Mr.. Vaadyke, District Attorney, for con-
tempt OF court and perjury.
The dccision of Judge Kane is that Mr. Viii
Hanson has not returned truthfully and fully
to the writ OF habeas corpus and therefore must
stand committed for contempt Of the legal
process Of the Court. After the decision,
Marshal Wynkcop took charge Of Mr.. William.
son and lodged him in Moyam .nsing prison
and thus the matter stands for the present
The grounds upon which Williamson acted
are found in law passed by Pennsylvania in
ls46, which expressly forbids masters from
bringing Slaves into the State and holding
them as such "for any period of time what
ever" Whether law Of the United States.
passed since that. makes it void. will we sup.
pose be decided in the termination of this
affair.
The weather has been intensely warm for the
last ten days. the thermometer ranging from
ninety to, nipety- seven. AT intervals there
has been considerable rain, but it has not ten
ded to make the ar any cooler. =.
The main line of the Public Works Of the
State were offered for eslc on the 9th inst,
but no bid was made Ter them. Very few were
in attendance at the Exchange at the time, and
although it was known that they would be
offered at that time, the matter seemed to CON
mand little attention.
The corner stone of the new Academy of
Music was laid ON Thursday afternoon by Mayor
Conrad and others, at the corner of Broadway
and Locust streets. This building, when com
pictcd. will be quite an attractive one, anu
tend very much to infusc new spirit among
The muse loving part Of the community.
The Councils are discussing the propriety OF
efftcting loan to pay off the City debts. !
aou.d certainly indicate more wisdom wer.
hey t. discuss the propriety Of curtailin
o,.e Of The useless expenditures.
Our markets are filled with every variety o
iruit almost. and in the greatest abundance
Peaches have made their appearance. and the
indication is that the crop will be very large.
Flour is selling It 50 for shipping brands, and
So SO to $l0 for extra. Southern and Penn
sylvania Wheat from 81 80 to 81 30.
PENN.