Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-08-18
@ SALEM ooIibiBANA COUNTY ONO ITURDAy AUGUST s
SALMON P. CHI

--..lt--
SALMON P. CHI
s --------
10 nc Editor Of the M II
SIR: The present positio4 h Senator Chase
ip the third State Of the Unl akes any rem-
dents, At the present III BIZ ,amo represents
the Anti-Nebraska- Kansi ati1&c &cnt Of his adopt
ed State, and i is agael B ~ sfme interest here
lately how early he bey( b shvEy aotspoken hos.
Etility to tho peculiar Mutton Which Missouri
Iruaianism is chaini the Mmbs Of new re-
public. ~ sSsRN IS
In January, 1851 man not named "IIaly," but
inalhbut the taY@ ornaments of that hero he
might hove sat to 4lrs. Stowe the original OF
that woil .was taking a slave named Watson
from AlssoufftA Virginia. = He was aboard one Of
the CINCINNATI and 50, Louis steamers, md as such
the boat in due time was tied to the Cincinnati
wharf By what influence moved know not but
by some means or other Watson concluded to go
ashore without leave His master pro tenn. deci-
ded the move to be one unoalled for, and proceed
cd to catch him. lie got Ohio officers to assist him,
and was hurryng his victim over to q Kentucky
Jail, when some kind angel served out writ of
Habeas Corpus so as to have the matter tested
whether Watson was right in thinking himself
free. The writ was returnable to Judge Reed OF
the Supreme Court of Ohio. BY some means or
other Watson had heard of young lawyer named
Brney son of James c., and sent for him; and
Z.
to aid the man in asserting his freedom. That ex-
citing trial before Judge Read | attended, and
heard it all. The scene made an indeliblc impress
sion.
The man Watson was dccent-looking mulatto,
but evidently very uneasy at the proximity OF a
very remarkable man who sat n few feet distant
from him. He was middle-szed man as to stat
ure, with an immense muscular development. lie
was not heshy, but could not have weighed less
than hundred and seventy pounds. Ills face
was nearly dark as the mulatto on trial. His
eyes were black and indicated great frmness. The
lips were pressed together, and the whole face
showed sullen, dogged resolution such as one
may notice in the countenance of bulldog. This
man sat with his eyes constantly fixed on Watson,
reminding one of the manner in which the lion is
said to watch his victim hour after hour.
The witnesses were few The fact admit
ted that Watson was put on that boat and brought
to the Cincinnati Wharf without his own agency
or will. 1t was also proved that the boat was
thirty feet inside of lowwater mark and tied to
the Ohio shore. On the other hand it was admit
ted that Watson had gone ashore without consult
ing his driver, and that he did not wish to return.
L 20 young lawyers by the name of McLean-l
think one of Judge Mclean of the United
States Supreme Court-ably, and with good tenn
per, asserted the rights of the master; and Messrs.
Birney and Chase the rights of the man claiming
to be free. Birnoy examined the witnesses and
Chase argued the case. The three points which
ne argued Win cOnSutnmlte learning ana aplllty
are now clearly before me. |. The Treaty by
which the United States gained the Territory of
Louisiana expressly stipulates that all the inhabi-
tants shall he admitted to the privileges and rights
of citizens of the United States. This, Senator
Chase contended, as an organic law of the Terri
tory included in that treaty, gave Watson his free
dom the moment he landed in Ohio. 2. Our State
officers have right to arrest and try men alleged
to be fugitive slaves. 1t was most trying ordeal
through which the unhappy officers there present
were taken by their adversary On this occasion,
and the fellows wriggled and writhed as does an
eel fayed alive, or as one held in unpleasant near
ness to roasting fire. In that speech Chase un-
folded all the principles of law on this point as
now commonly held in the Free States, and that
in vein of irony which delicious to every
body but its victims. 3. Watson did not escape
into Ohio, hut brought there, and de facto.
tree. And under this head the pro-slavery Demo
crat presiding over the Court was put on the rack
for torture for his procivities were well known
In some former trial ). and without ever intending
that his decision should reach such as this
Judge Read had solemnly decided that the juris
diction Of tie State Of OHIO erteads 10 loo mate,
mark in the Ohio Rirers and now if he sends this
man bask 80 slavery he must do it in the face Of
his definition of that boundary of Ohio! Chase
made the point very strong, and then closed with
an appeal to the Court the general principles oi
each mans naienable right to liberty, his love Of
liberty, and the terrible fate of being deprived oi
lit. That appeal was such one no mere plat
form speaker however gifted--Wendel Phillips
for instance-can make at an anniversary, for the
simple reason that the latter talks about princ
pie, while Chase had living, agtated, trembling
bject in the man Watson. Oh, how grandy did
our Declaration of independence sound as he un.
folded and asserted its immortal principles, and
sought to bring their application to bear on the
case of Watson! Hitherto he had expounded the
law Of the case, but now he came to the heart OF
the business--gave himself up to the lordly sweep
of his Christian feelings, and swept the cords OF
Freedom in every soul. His softest whisper could
be heard, so anxious was the hush in that hall
but when he closed his glorious appeal tho delight
ed audience yociferatcd their applause. 1t was q
memorable scene which ought not to be forgotten
for do not believe that in the United States SEN
ate, which ho adorned, did Mr.. Chase ever utter
profounder arguments, clearer logic more humane
and moving eloquence than in this defense of Wat
son in l845.
But the presiding Judge. with the capacity of q
legal or rather political anaconda, swallowed the
argument and his own previous decision, and re-
manded the man back to slavery. The moment
this decision was made, the slavedriver, whose
snakelke eye was riyeted on Watson made bound
like tiger and seized him. An attempt was
made to run the slave OF, but he was held by that
dark man as in vice. As soon MS the tumuli
subsded, Watson turned to his counsel and in.
qured anxiously, "IIava you done everything
Can nothing farther be done for me :" Nothing
more" was the reply, and sad reply too; God
Almighty bless you, them" exclaimed the poor
fellow, piteously. "Ill never forget youp
A multitude attended Watson, who was conduc
ted to the ferry-boat by the Ohio officers. That
night he slept in the Covington Jail, and is now
probably expendng his unpaid sweat on Louisi'
ana sugar plantation, it is we'll known that such
is the usual fate Of slaves who attempt to claim O
right which God gives every man to freedom.
! i never hear or SEQ Salmon p. Chnse of Ohio
without thinking Of that scene, and experiencing
glow of satisfaction at the honors already be-
slowed on him, and the further honor to be con
ferred this Fall. AN AMERICAN.
| KIDNAPPING CAsE.--Some months ago an old
Frenchman, who resided Mt New Orleans manu-
mittad a family of slaves and sent them to Cncin.