The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-26

Office for misconduct, il teins in behalf oil
slavery thai no has ventured such loss, be
would, doubtless, Immediately DO rewarded
by the gilt Of some valuable foreign mission.
hut his tyranny, bis usurpation OF power,
his torture Of facts and Of Law for the pur-
po.e Of injustice. his oppressive insolence,
his outrage upon freedom and equity, can
not be denied nor forgotten. He has yindi-
Gated to himself, most thoroughly as his own
possession, the opprobrious character Of An
UNJUST Jupor.
There is in his whole proceeding degree
Of gratuitous insolence, injustice, and OPP
preston, that looks more like madness than
dishonesty. Though done without the
gross indecency Of oaths, il yet reminds US
OF the profane fury with which Jehries
swore ut Baxter. Mr.. Williamson makes a
calm and explicit return, without bubble or
evasion, and in manner perfectly obediens
and respectful. to the writ ot habeds corpus
served upon him by the court,
lie tells the court the simple, plain truth,
that he canno. produce the demanded bod
les because they are not, and never have
been. in his possession. And here Judgs
Kane's legal power over Mr.. Williamson
ceases. He might as well have indicted
Albert Barnes or David p. Brown, for per
Jury and contempt Of court. and thrown
them into prison as Mr.. Williamson. MIR.
Williamson had no more been guilty Of con-
tempt Of court than Mr.. James Lenox 10
his parlor in New York. But Judge Kane
passes from the Office Of Judge to that oI
accuser, witness, jury, and executive, all IN
one. Seeing that his victim is about t.
escape as an innocent man, unframed. he
accuses him OF ialsehood and perjury. de
assumes that Mr.. Williamson's return is q
false add eyasiye return, and 50 is TO be held
and punished rs contempt OF the Court
although admitted nj the same time TO DO
legal compliance with the Courts mandate
Hs charges Mr.. Williamson with iasehood
and then, without allowing him even foru
OF trial, without jury to decide upon th'
evidence. without evidence, indeed, anC
without q hearing, he thrusts him int
prison Was ever such high-handeC
outrage heard OF in our country? We re
gard il as something surprising that an,
officer could have been found to execute suct
mandate rs that OF Judge Kane's agains
this man. He had no more legal jurisdiction
over him than over any merchant or meehan
ic at his business in Philadelphia. Id
might as well have ordered the marshal o
the Court to 20 forth and seize upon tn
person OF Mr.. Matthew Newkirk, md com
mi. him TO prison, as Mr. Williamson. Ant
indeed, who is safe At this rate, on
judges are Robespierres, and have only =
illuminate an accusation, and their victim u
in their power. This contagion oil SLAYER!
against freedom Is worse than the fanatic
ism Of witchcraft The Judge accuses Or
So-dnd-so Of sticking pins into Mr.. So'dnd
so, and bewitching him and II the poo
victim denies the charge the very denial
set down rs league with tho devil an
contempt Of Court, aud the accused must b
hurried to the gallows.
What if Mr.. Williamson had made
false RETURN Suppose for the sake OF al
gument. that he had been guilty Of perjury
can he be thrown into prison without trii
for the crime Has any Judge in Pennsy
vania, or in the United States, power. unde
accusation Of contemp, Of Court, TO incarc'
rate man for perjury before he Is tried
This is like the trick Of accusing a ireema
OF stealing, in order to kdnap hun, in ord'
to get him into the power Of some marsha
lying in wait for him, who did not dare
clap him up as slave. II such JUDI
goes UNPUBLISHED, what will become OF q
peoples respect for justice low long W
II be possible TO retain even form OF reca
for judicial proceedings If such a Grim
80 public, can be committed with impunit
to what lengths may it no. be expected Il
dObauchery Of the public conscience w
r.,nt