The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-18
THE CASE OF PAssM0RE WILLIAMSON.

The reader will see in another column brie
notice of Judge Kane's decision, against the
petition of Jane Johnson to quash the writ OF
habeds corpus in the case of Mr.. Williamson.
The Judge is unrelenting. He reaflirms every
position that he has taken, and his opinions In
relation to Slavery are such as few Southern
Judges have veutured to pronounce. In the
teeth of the express declarations of Mr.. Madi-
son, of Judge Mclean, of eminent slaveholding
jurists. of the whole current of judicial decis-
ions, he asserts that the Federal Constitution
recognises slaves as property, and that the law
of nations guarantees to the stakeholder the
right to carry his slaves through any Territory
or State, whether Slavery exists there or not.
The Judge is beyond argument. So far as his
opinions can do it, he has abrogated the pro-
visions in the Constitution of Pennsylvania pro-
hibiting Slavery, and let loose the curse upon
its soil. Towards the victim of his tyranny,
Mr.. Williamson, he is implacable Public
Opinion is beginning to cry out for his i'm
parchment. 1t would seem as if no other
means were left to the friends of justice. 1t is
proposed that Congress be memorialized on the
subject.
Meantime, Mr.. Williamson suffers with noble
fortitude. He will not confess to wrong he
has never committed: he will not purge himself
Of a contempt he never was guilty of: he will
not sacrifice one jot or title of his rights and
dignity as an American citizen. May Heaven
protect and sustain him. His patience, digni-
ty, and firm resolve, must excite more and
more the admiration and sympathies of the
People. Read the following letter from him to
friend, who had inquired as to the trnth of
certain rumors respecting new efforts for his
liberation:
No. 7S, PHILADELPHIA Co. Prison.
September 30, 1855.
"DEAR Sir: Your letter of the 29th instant
is now before me, and, in reply to your inquiry,
may say that contemplate no further legal
proceedings with reference to my liberation
from this Jail, in which | am now confined. /
have now been kept here for more than two
months and can see no prospect of liberation.
| am native, and have always been citizen
of Pennsylvania; and believing myself afro
ciously wronged, | applied to the highest tribu-
nal known to our laws but relief has been with
held. | can expect none from the authority
mission. Having been guilty neither of false
hood, discrimination, nor contumacy, am sure
that it is no case for a degrading capitulation.
Such course would bring with it diminution
of selfrespect more oppressive than the power
now seeking to crush out the highest attribute
of State sovereignty by immuring me within
these walls.
Accept for yourself and communicate to
others who favor me with their consideration,
my most grateful acknowledgements.
Respectfully yours, &c,
"P. WILLIAMSON
On the little slate that hangs by the door of
his cell, containing record Of committals, is
the name "Passmore Williamson, committed
for contempt, July 9th, 1855" Immediately
preceding his name is that of A" - -, COM
mitted for Mef," and following it, that of e
-, committed for murder!"