The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-08-03
Tie Philadelphia Slave Case.

We publish this morning, the opinion in
full of Judge KANE of Philadelphia, upon the
motion of the District Attorney to commit
Mr.. Passmore Williamson for contempt of
Court, and for perjury, in making false re-
turn to the writ of babeas corpus, requiring
him to produce the bodies of the slaves whose
abduction from the Hon. Mr.. Wheeler had ia
ken place under his direction. The decision
is clear and temperate, and carries with it the
conviction of its justice. 1t states the facts,
as related heretofore in our paper, that the
servants of Mr.. Wheeler were approached by
Mr.. Williamson, who pushed their master
aside to approach them and tell them they
were free-that, under his supervision they
were then seized and, against their wills, ex-
pressed not only in words, but struggles for
release, taken away, put on board the steamer,
and conveyed to some preconcerted place OF
concealment; and that when a writ Of haGedS
corpus was issued for their deliverance, it was
returned that they had never been within his
power, custody, possession or restraint at any
time sohdte0er! Mr.. Williamson attempted to
defend himself from the charge of contempt
something on the same principle that the
leader of a mob, because his hands weres not
colored with blood, might excuse himself from
the punishment in store for those who were
urged on to bloodshed by his excitement. But
Judge Kane was Justly of the opinion that
the great remedial process Of hGJeas corpus, IN
whose principles are involved 1.-THE dearest
interests of life, personal safety, domestic
peace, social repose-all that man can value,
tolerates no language in the response which it
calls for, that can make subterfuge. His an
swer must be interpreted in the language In
which it was given, and in that language be
had put himself in contempt of the process OF
q Court whose action was inevitable. And SO
Mr.. Williamson was committed.
With regard to the possible objection that
the persons named in the writ were not slaves,
Judge Kane replied, that he knew of no stat
ute bearing upon the case that authorizes the
forcible abduction of any person or thiHg, I'M
less in aid of legal process, and that, admitting
the slaves in question TO have been free, it was
absurd to assume, therefore, that they might
be taken away against their will.
Practically, however, remarks the Charles
ton Standard, this decision is of no Importance.
1t may assist to show what we have no reason
10 doubt, that there is portion of the commu-
nifty at the North who are willing to resist the
influence of that comprehensive philanthropy
80 improbable to all others than those who
have it in possession, or rather, who have not
vet acknowledged a faith in all the require
ments of negro hilism. But, as we have
heretofore had occasion to remark these are
powerless to resist the deluge of fanaticism
which is now sweeping over the North. Nor
are they going to make themselves unhappy
for our sakes, even if any thing could thereby
be accomplished. Moreover, the decision OF
itself is unimportant to the South. Mr.. VIII
hanson is not sent to Jail for stealing slaves
from Mr.. Wheeler, but simply and only for
contempt of Court. The same might have
happened if the worthy gentleman had been
arraigned on the charge of picking pockets
The laws Of Pennsylvania remain unchanged,
and whoever at the South shall be so indis-
conS;;,o lake with him bin is qls heretofore
liable TO a loss of iis property, without the
possibilitv ~, either his own State or the
Feleroy government can assist in its recovery.