The Kanzas news., 1857-08-01
Anecdote of Harrison Gray Otis.

Anecdote of Harrison Gray Otis.
On "a cold, rainy Sunday morning in
October, several years ago, Hon. FL. G.
Otis found himself travelling through the
State Of Connecticut An important cause
was to be argued by him, on the next Mon
day morning, in Boston, and he had start
ed from New York ON the previous Satur-
day, and had rode all night In order to
meet his legal engagement.
After he had finished his breakfast at his
hotel, and was about proceeding on his way,
useless to attempt to drive through the State,
as he would certainly be stopped by the
lynx-eyed sstiding man."
Connecticut was of old avery pious State,
and her rigid laws against travelling on the
Sabbath have made her puritanic morality
notorious: But Mr.. Otis was inclined to
try his shrewdness against the anti Sabbath
breaking officer. Accordingly he went to
the Office of friendly barrister in the town
where he breakfasted, and asked of him the
favor of loan of his copy of the Revised
Statutes of the State until he should be clear
ly beyond her borders. The attorney COM
piled, and Mr.. Otis, with gig and law book,
proceeded on his journey:
He had scarcely turned the second corner,
when, as he and every one else expected, a
grave-looking puritan, a tiding man, took his
horse by the head, and coolly informed him
that he was prisoner-suggesting at the
same time, that he had better attend him to
the next Jail. Mr.. Otis, nothing daunted,
and assuming his legal dignity, replied:
'tSir, respect the day and the law, but
I shall be obliged to break the Sabbath, the
law, and your head, if you don't quietly re-
move yourself from my path
But the pious officer was not to be bluff
ed bs this, and again repeated his command.
Mr.. Otis saw that nothing could be gained
by intimidation, and that he must fall back up
on his last resource. He accordingly be-
gan looking around him for the Revised Stat
utes.
''Well, my friend,' said he, cit wont do
any hurt to look at the law a little which
puts me so completely in your power; for
you know it is a good old legal mxaim that
no man shall be condemned but by the judg-
ment of his peers and the law of the land
Mr.. Otis opened the Statutes and turned
ing. "You find itall there" said the officer,
idea of nabbiHg and penning person whom
he now discovered to be live attorney
Mr.. Otis proceeded to read:
eff any person shall be guilty of break
ing the Sabbath, as aforesaid, it shall be lawful
for the tiding man to arrest and stop him." &c.
The eye of the great lawyer slyly sparkled
as he read the statute, though with rather a
doleful air he added, cit is true, sir, the
law is against me, and I must submit
''Well, then," rejoined the tiding man
you must make up your mind to quarter in
the lookup till tomorrow; SO, if you please,
we will ride back together.
''Oh, .nol'' retorted Otis; s'that will never
do. I don't intend that you shall ride back,
or with me, either-to-day! The statute
reads-mind you-that you shall arrest and
stop. That is all. You can stop me as long
as you please. But this is the extent of
your power, The law says nothing al all
about your carrying me off to the lookup,
nor of your riding in my gig on the Sab
bath, either!"
1t was terrible stormy day. The poor
tiding man was already completely drenched;
and the prospect of standing by the gig all
day and night, in muddy road, was by no
means either pleasant or compatible with the
dignity of his Office.
Mr.. Otis again repeated, 81 still wish you
to consider. sir, that am your prisoner
for SO reads the law-nothing more You
can go back if you please, but [ intend to
stop where am;" and accordingly he drew
his robe around him, and made preparations
for quiet snooze. till Monday morning.
The officer looked as blank as piece of
marble, and felt as uncomfortable as young
gosling in a shower. He gazed moment
or two upon the composed expression of the
learned advocate, and-sure enough he did
go back. Mr.. Otis stopped-just long
enough to allow his legal friend to get COM
fortably out of sight-and then he quietly
proceeded on his way, reaching the line with
out further molestation.
The fame of this illegal quirk'' soon
spread, and in few weeks nothing was
heard or seen of tiding men stopping trav-
elers under the statute