Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-10-19

~ ,upnpTaNT AND POWERFUL DOCU-
MENT.
", make no apology for devotins so much space
J., 49,, decision OF Judge Kane in the U. s. Distric
,,,rt At Philadelphia delivered the petition Of
,nns Johnson, one Of tho slaves forcibly abducted
from Mr.. Wheeler by passmore Williamson. The
pcnnsylvanian does well and exhibits its manly de-
vo,ion to constitutional right when it advises all citi
zens to read the decision carefully "the production
OF master jurist on an important question of law,
arising incidentally out Of breach of those relations
of good neighborhood which it should be the object
of citizcus now, in the earlier aud purer days Of
the Republic, TO maintain between the States.
1.-The power of Judge Kane to issue tho writ-for
false return to which Mr.. Williamson stands impri.
.oned for contempt-having been questioned, the
Judge enters fully into vindcaton Of the jurisdc-
on of his court in doing which he traces in most
interesting manner the history of the hdse0s corpus,
from its remote origin in the Roman Republic, lts
introduction into Britain at the time of the Roman
INVASION its deduction from Magma Chartn, ITS char
acter at common law, its recognition by the Const'-
tuition of the United States, down to tho law of Con-
rress which gives the District Court the power 10
;ssue il and other wrlts Of kindred character Tins
is clear complete and satisfactory lie htSt gives
narrative of the acts of the Court and the conduct I'll
Mr. Williamson and his advisers, which resulted u"
his commitment for contempt 30 lucid dispa'Sioha'o
and Convincing as to lenve room for doubt upon
anv unbiased mind of the r.prehensihle c"h'"'
macy Of Williamson and tho inevitable duty "t me
Court
"passnc from this, Judge Kane takes up, from "
oh nf hIs cusp
two important propositions contained IN the i"o"'n7
paragraph \ know Of no statute OF pennsylvania
which affects to vest the rights OF property u
citizen of North Carolina, acquired anu "sser'eu ui
der tho laws Of that State because ne .as fouE"
uecdful or convenient pass through Tie territory o'
prn.Xlvania. and am not aware thar any such sta-
,,. e sncb , one were shown. could be recognized
A. valid in court OF the United States.
u1h;s mart Of the decision is deliberately sinted'
ard d.msnd, the full and candid consideration ot on
p.op,c. as containing dcta upon the present cohdi
,r ,f tb. law in relation 10 slaves in transit within
! the territory Of Pennsylvania
"Thi. leads naturally to Tho conclusion Of the area
nen. which is devoted to the application Immediately
bof,rs the court viz to enter upon the files the re
ton of Jane johnson TO quash the writ heretofore is
| guel at tne rclhlluH VI 'hSSiSi, ""'N' N~
fused, the Judge remarking that Jane johnson 'had
n, Status whatever in the court, and that tile rc
cords cannot be opened TO every stranger who volnn
teers suggestion as to what may have been our or
rors and how we may repair them"
Torrents Of abuse have been poured by aboIlilon
lists upon the able and upright judge Kane, simply
because he maintained the majesty of the law alit
the rights OF citizens under the constitution. IL |:
but proper therefore, that all patriots and especially
the whole South, should aid in Swing full circulation
To Judge Kanes positions aud TO the impregnaOie
| grounds upon which he bases his vindicaton II wi!
power in defining the rights Of Southern men in their
property in their passage through other States, and
that, with direct reference to the plain meaning Of the
constitutional bonds Of union, he detcs all efforts 10
rob Southern men Of their property. His doctrines
40 clearly and boldly laid down, shed flood Of light
upon the gross injustice Of the Lennon case and VIII
20 far to form Northern public sentiment upon
question of vital importance to the South and to the
genial workings Of confederacy Of equtI and sove-
reign States. The subject ia fraught With momen-
tous bearings upon future events. Aslovers OF the
Constitution and the Union, we heartily thank Judge
Kane for his manly and upright course. and we once
more invoke the earnest attention Of tle whole peo-
plu to his lucid, powerful and unanswei,be argument
| o. nd dsosion