The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-01
NO. 461.
FREEDOM OR SLAVERY IN PHILADELPHIA.
From the Philadelphia Gazette, October p.
WILIIAMSON'S CASE.

From the fhllaueipnia Gazette, OCTOBER y.
wILIIAMsoNs CASE.
United States District CO,rt-Jtdge Kane
Yesterday morning, William M. Meredith and
Charles Gilpin, Esqs., appeared in Court, and
offered to read a petition from Passmore Will
hanson.
Judge Kane said, the Court cannot hear an
application from party in contempt, except
10 abSolye him. | understand there is an APP
plication, by petition, in the name of Passmore
Williamson, which is not to relieve himself from
the contempt, but
Mr. Meredith then remarked something in an
inaudible tone, and Judge Kane said: Let us
not be misunderstood-I am not prepared to re-
ceive an application from Passmore William
son. who is incarcerated for contempt of this
Court. unless such petition be to relieve him
self from contempt by purgation. l am of
opinion, unless otherwise instructed, that that
is an independent preliminary to any other ap-
plication from him.
If therefore, the counsel arise to present an
application from Mr.. Williamson, 1t must be
for purgation. The counsel do not inform the
Court whether they are here to purge Mr.. Will
hanson from the contempt As at present adj
vised. have no power to hear their appEca-
ton. whatever it may be, in his behalf.
Mr.. Meredith said there were two kinds of
contempiS one of personal insult to the Bench
I
with which Passmore Williamson IS not con-
cerned: but the contempt consisting in not
making a proper return to the process of the
Court.
Mr.. Meredith then proceeded to argue that
such a contempt could be purged by making
an answer TO the Court and paying the costs,
which he was now prepared to do.
Judge Kane said, that up to this moment
there has been, on the part Of the individual to
whom the function Of the Court has been dele
ra.ed and exercised in this matter, not a sim
lie particle of conscious excitement. He did
not believe il was in the power of the entire
press of the United States, after he had honest
Ii administered his duty to the best of his abil-
ily, to give him a pang, or produce one excited
feeling; therefore, now, as heretofore, he look
FL upon the question as one that has no feel
ing on the bench.
If he understood the remarks of Mr. Mere
lith he meant TO say to the Court that Pass
more Williamson WAS DESTROYS of testifying now
his willingness to obey the exigences of the
writ Of ha6eaS corpus. If SO, he had simple,
s,raightforward, honorable course to pursue
lie has no need Of making narrative of facts
OF arguments of protest; let him come forward
into Cont, declaring that he is willing to obey
the writ issued by this Court and when he has
done that in the estimation OF the Judge, he is
plrged Of his contempt.
Nothing on his part Of personal offence was
cvinced Ia the Court his demeanor was entire
IL respectlul but he failed to obey the writ
Which the law issued to him and when he has
ahprel that writ, it will be the duty Of this
C.n-, to free him. What is understood by pur-
raion is not simply mere form of words. 1t
matters not about that, provided he received
from the party who is in contempt for having
li;,beved the process of the Court, the assn
rance that he is nonprepared to obey such pro-
c,ss. and, until he is prepared to announce his
disposition to obey, he could not hear him upon
ary other subject which asserts that the Court
has erred either in point of fact or law, or has
Exercised {. jurisdiction which does not belong
it. He said he would hear the counsel upon
the question whether the Court can legally
h.ar any other petition than the one of purga-
ton.
Mr. Meredith said that he deplored the ex-
element agitated outside a court room upon a
question pending before the Court
The respondents counsel then proceeded to
ar,He the right of the Court to hear a petition,
"her than of purgation, from Passmore Will
amson.
The argument was opened by Mr. Gilpn, and
followed by Mr.. Meredith. 1t was necessarily
one OF precedent and law. Mr.. Meredith will
continue this morning.
Philadelphia, oct. 27.-The argument COM
menced yesterday in the case of Passmore
williamson, was concluded this morning, and
Lad re Kane will give his decision as to the Pc
ti,ion on Monday.