The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-10-06
iIFrom TIE Christian Inquirer September %
KANE. WHERE Is THY BROTHER

kANI. NIIENI - lily BKOIHEt
Pas.morc Williamson is still in Movamen
spe prison. lie has violated no law: he ha,
Been convicted OF no crime he is not even a
waiting trial. lie simply performed an
act OF humanity, in letting poor black wom-
an. who hal been held As a slave. know that
brought within the limits of A free state. she
was thencetorth free woman. owner OF her
self and her children. And She. desiring a.
bOve all things to be a free woman, and rcas-
onably distressing her former masters word
that he would give her her freedom if she
would remain with lin. preferred 10 make
her liberty sure. by takin" her rights and
children and going her way.
Her former master, to get back his slaves, ap-
pcals to the .Jud.c of he United States Court,
writ of liberty into an instrument OF slavery.
ani requires Mr.. Williamson TO produce be
fore him the ho,lic, OF Jane johnson and her
children. Mr. Williamson returns answer
that they are not and never have been in his
possession. and that he knows not where they
are. This was the simp lc truth. The United
States Attorney chooses to declare it false
hood. and moves the court that Mr.. William
son be committed for perjury and for con
tempt.
judge Kane, after drliheratio:, construcs
the true statement to be a LEGAL tai>ch0od,
and defiance OF the court, grants the mo-
ton, and commits Mr.. Williamson to prison
for contempt, g without bail or mainprizc. =
Had he committed Lin for perjury, he might
have had trial as it is he can have none ;
the Judge is Jury too, and c>pot-sentences
and condemns to An imprisonment without
limit and without relief Without limit save
as he NAV choose to use his ccmency; with
ont relief save bv unmanly submission and
dishonest rctraction, on the part of the pris
Oncr.
He cannot purge himscitrom contempt "
so long as he keeps ali honest mar contempt
for perjury. Aud 50, for the simple acts OF
humanity and ,ruth-tel.ing, Mr.. Williams
Is imprisoned during the viii and at the mer
cv OF one man, for simply pleading not gull
" to achar.e made by asaveholder.
But surely there must be some remedy
Surely there mus. be some power in free,
civilized PENNSYLVANIA which can interfere
to arrest such tyranny, and right such
wronr. The state courts will protect the cit
izens of Me state yes, even against attorn-
cv>. and iuI.cS and ministers Of the nitcd
States. The appeal Is made to them From
his prison Pa>>nore Williamson reaches out
his hand and asks for Justice. 1t l. refused
The Supreme Bench with noble excep-
tion. that of judge knox.) declares that it
will not interfere The question Of contempt
is delicate question it is the duty OF the
cour. 10 discourage all such contests with the
lcna tribunals of the country Mr.. William
son carries the key Of his prison in his own
rocket: he can come ont when he vii. con-
form and make terms with the court that sent
hin here.
50 the state courts will not interpo>e.-
Ihcr, remains no remedy but impeachment
Meanwhile Villa ll>on lies in Movamenslng
prison. and Kane is his brothers keeper.
SO. in this our tlay and land, is '.iudgment
turned away backward" We look for JUS
iicc aud 10, oppression for righteousness but
behold a crv :" And this is our slavery
What spectacle before God, and a world
looking to Us tor the nohle instance of liber
,v. In free and republican America. min
lster OF the government proceeds to repre-
sent u. abroad with slaves III his tram.
On the way a countryman OF Penn and
Frank lin acco>tS them. no; to set them free.
but simply to tell them that they are arrad,
legally so. For this, through a constructive
charge government Judge imp,iSon> him
And there Is no remedy except through the
impeachment # that Judge before republl
can senate. half of whose memlers are slave
holders,
How fast slavery is ultmaring itself, ard
showing in unmi>takal'e fruits what its gen
,iine spirit of tyranny is
We hope we shall hear no more of slave
ry> bcin. wrong IN the abstract" so fast it
embOdips itself in ever new and more hide
ous shapes The car GER canro, be hi llen.-
Will men begin to boast of its beauty: We
hope We shall hear no more Of siavcry's be
ing "a thing with which we here at the North
have nothin. TO do" 1t has ovcrleaped the
borders
1t stands in nortkern Boston and with its
gaunt hands puts chains round the Court
House, and on the limbs Of the uack man.
and hurries him through hedge of havonetS.
each red with the blood Of Liberty, subsidz-
ing government ships and government gold
to accomplish its victory.
In northern Kansas, armed with revolver
and bowieknte. it invades the polls and
tramples upon the franchise: shakes its insult
ing fist. with oaths and threats. in the face
of frecmen deiicS and elects governors: and
seated in the legislative halls, issues laws
furnishing free speech with imprisonment, and
humanity with death
And now, in northern Pennsylvania, it
mounts the bench, and binds the Judges hands
and seals their lips. while it turns the key OF
Passmore William>on's prison and stands
guard at the door And the North has moth
ing to do with it, Nothing but to submit