The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-09-28
THE WILLIAMSON CASE.

The subjoined article we take from the
State OF Maine OF the 10Th inst. !, gives
in succinct manner The facts connected
with the ares, and Imprisonment OF Pass
more Williamson by order Of Judge Kane,
a few months ago. We have, from lime 10
time published. brief paragraphs relative to
this matter, but we DO no, lecollect OF hav-
inc given connected account OF The urrres,
oil Mr.. Williamson, and the proceedings Of
his friends since bis incarceration 10 the
cell Of ielOn. In copying this article we
capnO, refrain fom expressing our surprize
a, finding an Article Of This kind in The State
OF Maine. Fresh as we conceive that papei
10 be. from the work Of giving "aid and
comfoli" 10 the extreme noions Of the
Southern prOposandis; Of Slavery, we can.
not see wbv it should object 10 any doc;rncs
looking "towa,ds the establishment, oil
slavery by law in all The fee States.n We
sineeIly hope that the position j, now takes
may be maintained, when he hour Of ,tiaI
comes.
COL. wHEELEr-H's SLAVES & JUDGE KANE
We have before noticed The Habtas Cor.
pus case before Judge Kane, of Philadel.
phia. But, ms il is probably destined 10
make considerable figure in the politics Of
the county. il seems 10 cal! for more a,ien.
ion. II looks TO us ycry much like the ncrl
step, which the shareholders propose 10 take
TO establish slavery throughout the country,
as national institution.
On the 18th OF July, Col. Wheeler, min
iSier 10 Nicaragua, arrived from Virginia
al Philadelphia, on his way to New York,
take passage for that country, having
with him three slaves-a mother, about 81
years Of age, with two young children, o.
he ace Of 10 and Z. Al(er taking his din,
uer al a hotel, Wheeler went with hi,
slaves on board the steamer, ald Just rs the
boat was abou, 10 take her departure, Pass.
more Williamson. secretary, we believe
10 the first an,i-slavery society formed il
America, OF which DR.. franklin was the
founder, aad the frs, President, wen, or
boa, 4, and informed the woman that she
was free, and a, liberty 10 leave her maste
aud The boat il she chose. The woman
taking him ut his word, quietly walked on
OF the vessel, prelerring freedom, with nj
its cares, 10 the charms oil slavery.
A number Of colored passengers had b)
this time collected OH the deck, by whom
the children were taken, and led out OF tn,
vessel, and these Liberated slaves were pu
into a carriage, and driven of TO place o
safety. Williamson gave 10 Wheeler hi,
name, and told him that he was responsible,
lor his own actions. The whole was don,
in quie, way. without, any lumult or noise
OF ANYTHING looking like riot, nor woul,
there have been any approximation 10 vic
lence, If Wheeler had not in,eIiered, an,
stepped before the woman, and ai,empie,
10 pfeven, her leaving the vessel, when iw,
colored men took bolo OF him, and held hiu
back, and used threatening words ,owar,
him, If he made resistance.
Thereupon. Wheeler applied 10 Judg,
Kane for Wi, Of Habeas Corpus, directed
TO Williamson, ordering him TO appear, an,
bling before him, the persons OF the rescue
slaves. He appeared before the Judge. an,
made return on the writ that he had nc
them, nor bad a, the time Of issuing tn
writ, or at any other time, in his custody
power or possession, either OF the person
pamed in the wit. The Judge took lin
to consider the return, and on the 9th q
the month, when he adjunged him guilty Q
a contempt, and ordered him 10 be COMM,
, ted TO prison, and there be held without bal
or main prize, during the pleasure Of III
court, for contempt OF the court in re(us
Ing 10 make return Of the writ. The pre-
} text for this extraordinary decision was ihs
Williamson did not stale in his return a
, the circumstances connected with the tran
sac,ion, as the acts oil the persons in III
vessel AT the time, and The part they had i
the pretended rescue OF the slaves. He on
ly told some facts as legally entitled him I
discharge, but as this did no, satisfy Oh
Judge, he asked for leave to amend his re
torn. This The Judge refused, and otdere
him forthwith 10 prison.
In this Stage Of the history OF the case,
being both novel aud extraordinary Que
The question naturally arises, wha, au,horit
bad The Judge TO issue this writ of hobea
eorYus. and we believe il may be safely an
swered ;ha, he had none.
In the frs, place, the Judge holds hi
commission under the United States, ant
whatever wrong Williamson may have don,
he had violated no law Of the United States
II Wheeler had any cause Of complaint, hi,
remedy was under the law Of Pennsylvania
and not OF the United States.
Secondly. when Wheeler brought his
slaves into Pennsylvania, they became free
As soon rs they had passed the boundary oil