Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-11-03
NARRATIVE OF THE FACTS IN THE
CASE OF PASSM0RE WILLIAMSON.

CASE OF PASSMORE WILLIAMSON.
The Pennsylvania Anti-Slayery Society has
just published in q tract of "a pages, a narrative
of the unparalleled facts in the case of Passmore
Williamson. The narrative is complete, up to
Judge Kanc's defence of himself in his last decis.
ion. The facts are reliable and are stated in n
straightforward, clear and forcible manner. Itis
an admirable exposure of the most desperate and
audacious of the Shareholders plots now in pro-
gress, a plot to break down the laws of the nomi-
nally free states in favor of freedom on their own
soil, su2planting them by the existing laws of sla-
very in neighboring slave States. The process
now in progress for this object is here developed
in its actually existing enormi,y. The tract should
be in every family in Ohio. 1t could hardly fail
to arouse the just indignation of all who arc not
lost to q sense Of the value of freedom for them
selves or others. We trust it may be widely cir
culated and may help to arouse not momentory,
idle indignation, but wise, vigorous and systematic
action, to throw off that despotism of our south
ern aristocracy, which in order to securely hold
the slaves Of the south is steadily and surely break
in down every protection to personal liberty in the
north.
We hope to have some of these tracts on hand
soon when our friends can put them in circulation
in their respective communities. We copy the
closing appeal of the narrative:
Citizens of Pennsylvania what shall be the end
of these things? An officer of the Federal Gov
eminent has usurped authority in q case wholly
beyond his jurisdiction, ard without law, or the
shadow Of law. has immured in one of your pris.
ons, a citizen of Pennsylvania. Your own Su-
preme Bench of Judges fold their hands, and re-
fuse to enforce your laws for his protection. In
the person of Passmorc Williamson, the rights of
every man and woman of this commonwealth have
been invaded, and you now hold your possession
OF personal liberty, and its defense, the haJeas
corpus, in which you have gloried, at the mercy of
judicial tyrants who may, az any hour, summon
you into their presence, by illegally issued writs of
haCeaS corpus. and, on charges of constructive con-
tempt, commit you to prison without bail, and
without hope of redress. Will you take warning
before 1t is too late, and arouse yourselves to de-
TEND your liberties, and avert the evil which threat
ems every citizen of this State? Lord Camden,
who has been styled, zone of the 1urest Judges
who ever adorned the English Reuch," has slid
"The discretion Of a Judge is the ldp of tyr0ats
II is Arrays unhnorn. u is different in different
men. II is Casual, and depends upon constitution.
temper and feeling. In the best, IL is o(teRhmes cap
rice; an the worst. ii as ecery rice, folly and passion
10 chich human nature as TABLE,"
The slave power-of this nation. which has been
long and steadily encroaching upon the rights ofthe
North, embodened by success, has evidently re.
solved to re-establish slavery on your soil, by as.
sorting and maintaining, in defiance of your laws
the right to carry and hold their slaves wherever
they choose to 90, under the Constitution of the
united States. In this insolent attempt it seems
to have found an assistant in one of your own
citizens, who, from his seat in the District Court
of the United States, defines and tramples on the
laws of Pennsylvania, and perverts 1.-THE great
remedial process by which liberty is ciadicatsd and
restored" to the base purpose of reducing free
persons to slavery. John III. Wheeler attempted
to carry off, as slaves, from Pennsylvania, persons
wnom your laws declare to be free. and by so
doing rendered himself liable I, the legal penal.
ties which you have affixed to the crime of kid.
mapping. Judge Kane asserts that "he who unites
with others TO commit q crime, shares with them
all the legal liabilities that attend on its com mis-
SION" Out of his own mouth and by your laws
is he condemned.
If you will tamely submit to these outrases on
your laws and on your rights, what can you expcct
but that the usurped power which has stricken
down the habeas corpus, in Pennsylvania, will
rob you of the trial by jury, and of the freedom
OF speech and the press, when it shall serve its
purpose so to do. The bold wickedness which
CARED the one, will De capable of tile other. Law
not the fattering JUNCTION to your souls that this
case concerns the interests of one individual only :
it involves the honor and safety of every citizen
of the Commonwealth. While Passmore William
son is thus imprisoned, the sovereignty of the
State and the true liberty Of her citizens lie pros.
trate in the dust. On you rests the solemn re.
sponsibiilty of choosing whether your dearest
rights shall hang upon the caprice of n tyrant, or
whether you will assert the sovereignty of the
State, and teach these law-defying Judges to trem-
BILE before the indignation of a Justly incensed
people.