Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-08-10
The Wheeler Slave Case.

/ uds oSCHHeu ioi sumo tHe. VIC IaCts,
as we hate been able to gather them. are
that Colonel John n. Wheeler, of North
Carolina the United States Minister To
Nicaragua, was on board a steamboat at
one Of tie Delaware " harves, on his way
from Washington to embark a, New
York for his post OF DUTY. Three slaves
belonging TO him were sitting at h's side
on rhe upper deck.
Just as the last signal bell was ringing
Pa.smore Williamson came up to the
party, declared 10 the slaves that they
were free, and, pressing Mr.. Wheeler
aside, urged them 10 go ashore. He was
followed by some dozen or twenty ne
groes, Who BY muscular strength carried
the slaves to the adjoining pier.
The slaves were borne along to a hack
ney coacl TINT was III aliing, and were
Conveyed TO 3ome place OF concealmen'.
Mr. Williamson following and urging for.
ward the mob, aud giving his tame and
address t, Colonel Wheeler, with the
declaration that he held himself respons.
iblc towards HIM for " hatcver might be
his legal rights, bu. taking no per sonally
active part in the abduction after he had
LEI, tie deck.
Ihereupon. Wheeler applied TO Judge
kne for writ OF habeas corpus. direct.
et TO Williamson, ordering him to pro-
tuce the woman and her two children.
TIE preteAt for the writ was that the
woman and her children we're in the
custody, and restrained Of their liberty
by williamson Now there is not the
slightest ground, even on the Jud &c 5
own showing. 10 pretend that they we're
or ever had been IN the control OF Wi
hanson. And the woman herself de-
cares that she left the ship freely and Of
her own choice. Bui even If they were,
wha, authority had Judge Kane, United
States Judge to interfere 1t was DOT
pretended thar Williamson beld them as
prlsoncrs, under color of United States
authority IL he restrained them oil their
liberty illegally II was a violation OF VI.
laws OF Pennsylvania and no, Of the
United STATES, aud Judge Name had no
au,hofii, to interfere. Never before have
We heard il suggested tha, the Judges OF
the United States had authority To inter.
icre in This way when nothing more was
pretended than the violation oil the laws
Of 4 State
Mr. Williamson made a return on the
writ that he hnd not the persons named
in the writ and that neiiher al them 'are
now, nor was at rhe time Of ISSUING the
wit, OF a, nnp other tine, :" the custody.
no~er or possession oil the respondent,
nor by hun confined or restrained -.
Was thu. return true or act true ! Lei
any man OF common camdor read the
Judge, s,a,emen, OF the evidence, with
the affidavit OF the woman, and bat one
answer can be gwen; an d ,e, the Judge
lhereupon committed him for conisnp,
and where was the contempt? Why,
that he was on deck with a number OF
other persons who aided the woman and
her children to escape. aad that these
which were sworn 10 b,
W heeler's Witnesses were not stated in
the reOn. Mr.. Williamson, in order TO
satisfy the majesty o: the law. reques, ed
leave 10 amend his return. This liberty
the Judge refused, and he was forthwith
TO close prison Tor contempt,
and there To remain during the pleasure
Of the Judge.
Probably under no other than Frank
Plerce's administration would U. S.
Judge have made such decision. All,
who either directly or indirectly, hold Of
fee under him or who are included in
the Bill ci Sale which he made Of himself
10 the South. seem 10 have been trans.
posed into cringing, cowardIy syeophan,s
10 fear Tor law either human or
DEMONSTRATING only les, they offend their
master Frank. or violate the contract made |
with the South.
We commend the following which we
clip from the State Of Maine, showing
Ina. even the STRAIT Wings f." Of this /
state 90 not JON inen synr-.u.-- -.
he Wells Rum Rioters in this new out.
age Of the rotten administration
I'VE forbear to make any comments
m these very extraordinary proceedings,
md leave them To the rehecii On OF the
'eader, with but one or two remarks
Beyond all controversy these persons.
hough they might be the property OF
Wheeler IN North Csrolins by the laws of
hat State. ceased To be his property and
Dec ame free persons on his brin sing them