Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-08
Prom tho n. Y. Tribune.
JUDGE KANE AND PAssM0RE WILLIAM
SON.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug &c, 1855.
The report which was published in yesterday
mornings papers of this city, and believe also
in the Tribune, of the action Of Judge Kane on
an application made on behalf of Passmore Will
hanson by his family physician for change of
apartments, is calculated, think, to make an err
roneous impression, and needs some explanation.
1t We uld seem from this report that Mr.. William
son had acknowledged the jurisdiction of Judge
Kane and was appealing to him for mercy. This
seeming is entirely without warrant in the facts.
In the first place the physician in making the
application acted altogether without the knowl-
edge or consent of Mr.. Williamson or his counsel;
and in the next place the application, rs l have
understood though on this point would not be
positive-was not made, or at least made directly,
to Judge Kane, aud it was not expected that an
answer would be received to it from the Bench
Occasion was taken however, to have the Doctor S
certifca ate read before the Court and the opportu
nifty was embraced by the Judge to give reply to
it calculated to satisfy certain class Of people
that any hardships which Mr. Williamson was eu.
during from the rigors of his confinement were
due to his own preverseness, and he might be re-
leased at any time that he should choose to make
the proper application to the Marshal
This looks all very well, and with superficial
people may serve to put the character of the Judge
for clemency in the light in which he would desire
it should appear; but the statement of few facts,
not impertinent, WILL apprehend, present the
matter in different aspect
The relations, public and personal, existing be-
tween Marshal Wynkoop and Passmore William
are not dissimilar to those which exist be-
tween Mr.. Williamson and Judge Kane. 1t was
under q warrant put in the hands of Marshal Wyn-
koop, that that dastardly onslaught was made two
years ago in Wilkesbarro the person of the
black man William Thomas an outrage which ex-
cited general horror, in this country and in Eu-
rope. The parties who perpetrated it were Mr..
Wynkoop, brother of the Marshal, and two 9TH
er persons, all three United States Deputy Mar
shal,. criminal suit was instituted against
these parties for assault and battery with intent to
kill and also q civil suit by William Thomas him
self for damages. On Mr.. Williamson devolved
the main responsibility of conducting the prosecu.
ton Questions involved in these cases came by
appeal and otherwise before the Supreme Court OF
the State and also before the United States Dis
trict Court In this way Mr.. Williamson was
placed in a position of antagonsm to Judge Kane,
and at the same time was brought into direct and
hostile collision with Marshal Wynkoop 1t is un-
derstood that from that time till the day Judge
Kane's decision placed him in his power, Mr.. Wyn.
koop has entertained toward Mr.. Williamson feel
ngs of strong personal hatred.
Now for Judge Kane, under these circumstan-
ces, of which he could not be ignorant, to require
of Mr.. Williamson, as the condition precedent OF
his having the favor of a change in his apartments
that he should personally ask it of the Marshal
was to impose upon him humiliation which to a
man of his spirit would be far more revolving than
an unlimited confinement in the narrowest and
most nosome cell.
But Mr. Williamson asks no favors of anybody.
lie never has in this asked any, except in one
instance. When the Marshal first took him into
custody after the dession, he desired to be allowed
to pass through the Recorders Office, that he might
give some directions concerning paper which he
had left there; but this the Marshal refused after
ward it is true, when they took their seats in the
carriage he proered to his prisoner all the cour-
tesies and ameliorations his case might require;
but Mr.. Williamson interrupted him, saying per-
emptorily that he asked no favors, and this is the
ground which Mr.. w. still maintains He makes
no complaints; he asks no fayors, When he found
his health was suffering from the dampness of the
cell in which he was confined, he stated the fact
to the Prison Inspectors who, it is but proper to
say, are willing to extend to him every needed
kindness and his cell was changed for drier one
on the side of the prison exposed to the sun. There
he is content to remain until his rights as man
and citizen are vindicated, until he return to
tho enjoyment of life's blessings without feeling
beholden for the privilege to the favor of any
man. fHlLADELPIlOS.