The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-18
From the Christian Inquirer. Sept. sSd.
Kane. Where is thy Brothers
Passmore Williamson is still in Movamen-

Kane. where is thy Brother
Psssmore Williamson is still in Movamen-
sing prison. He has violated no law; he has
been convicted of no crime; he is not even
awaiting trial. He simply performed act
of humanity, in letting poor black woman,
who had been held as a slave. know thai.
brought within the limits of free State, she
was theneforth free woman. owner of her
self and her children. And she, desiring
above all things to be free woman and rea-
ssonablv distrustng her former masters word,
that he would give her freedom. If she would
remain with him, preferred TO make her iher-
ty sure, by taking her rights aud her children
and going away.
Her former master, to get back his slaves,
appeals to the Judge OF the United States
Courts, who grants a hateas corpus. parvert-
ing that writ of liberty into an instrument of
slavery, and requires Mr.. Williamson TO pro-
duce before him the bodies of Jane Johnson
and her children Mr. Williamson returns an
swer that thev are not, and never have been.
in his possession, and that he knows not
where they are. This was the simple truth.
The United States Attorney chooses 10 de-
clare il iaschood, aud moves the court that
Mr. Williamson be committed Tor EerJury and
for contempt OF court.
Judoe Kane, after deliberation, construes
the true statement to be legal fasehood. and
defiance Of court, grants the motion. and
commits Mr.. Williamson 10 prison for con-
tempt without bail or mainprlze.' Had he
committed him for perjury. he might have
had a trial; rs it is he can have none; the Judge
is Jury. TOO, and despoi-sentences and con
demns to an Imprisonment without limit aud
relief Without limit. as he may choose
TO use his clemency; without relief, save by
unmanly submission and dishonest retraction,
on the part OF the prisoner.
He cannot .'purge himself from contempt
50 long as he keeps an honest mans contempt
for periury And So for the simple acts of
humanity and truth telling. Mr.. Williamson is
imprisoned during the will and At the mercy
of one man. for simply pisading not guilty to
Il charge made 5y a Stakeholder.
b., surely lLere must Be some remedy
Sureh there must be some power In free, civ
ilized Peuns ylyania which can interfere To ar
res. such tyranny. and right such wrong. The
S.a.e courts viii protect the citizens OF tie
STATE: YES. even against attorneys. and judges.
an minis ers, of the United States. The APP
peal Is m l,ie to them. From his prison Pass
more Williamson reaches oui hl> hand and
asks tor justice. l. is refused
The Supreme Bench with a noble excep
ton, that OF Judge Knox, declares that It will
Pat in-anfrra- The a.n=siIe-, - a.,
fel;caie 9nestinn !; IS the duty OF the court
10 discourage all such contests with the legal
tribunals of the country; Mr.. Williamson car
ries the KEY of his prison in his own pocket;
he can come out when he will conform and
make terms with the court that sent him here.
So the State courts will not interpose. There
remains no remedy but impeachment. Mean
while Williamson lies in Moyamensing prison,
and Kane is his brothers keeper.
So, in this our day and land. is Judgment
turned away backward We "look for JUS
tice aud 10, oppression; for righteousness. but
behold, crvl" And this is our slavery. What
spectacle before God, and world looking to
Us for the noble instance of liberty In free
and republican America, minister of the
government proceeds TO represent US abroad
with slaves in his train.
On the way, q countryman of Penn and
Franklin accosts them, not to set them free.
but simply to tell them that they are already
legally so For this, through constructive
charge, government Judge imprison him
And there is remedy except through the
Impeachment OF tLat Judge before republ
can senate, halt of whose members are slave
ho1lers
How fast slavery is uitlmating itself, and
showing IN unmistakabe fruits what its gem
uine spirit OF tyranny Is,
We hope We shall hear no more Of 'slayery's
being wrong in the ABSTRACT" SO fast it EN-
bodies itself ever in new and more hedious
shapes The cancer cannot be hidden. VIII
men begin to boast OF its beauty? We hope
we shall hear no more of slayery's being "a
thing with which we here at the North have
nothing TO do 1t las overleaped the bor-
ders
IL stands in northern Boston, and with its
gaunt hands puts chains round the Court
House, and on the limbs Of the black man,
II I tI-,. ~, bal of ha
e4ch red with The blood OF Liberty. subsidizing
government ships and government gold to ac-
complish lis victory
In Northern Kansas, armed with revolver
and bowie knife, it nvades the polls and tram
pies upon the franchise; shakes lis insulting
fist with oaths and threats. in the face Of
freemen; defies 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
stands guard at the door. And the North has
nothing to do with Il, Nothing, but to sub
NIT. 20 God, how long" How long shall
we be paralvsed aequiescent timid and
bounde How long shall we shield ourselves
from our duty and the voice of Gcd, by the
evasive question, Am l my brothers keep
er.''
~PESALTIEs penalty of buying
cheap clothes, is the same as that of going TO
law--certainty of losing your suit and having
to pay for IT
The penalty of remaining single. is having
no one who cares button for you, as IS
abundantly proved by the state Of your shirt
The penalty ofthin shoes, is cold
The penalty of a pretty cook, is an empty