Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-08-01
WHERE ARE WE

The decision Of Judge Leayitt at Cincinnati, dis
charging from the custody OF u State Sheriff pris-
oners held by him under a States Warrant upon
the charge of shooting alta Sheriff while IN the
discharge of his duty as such, is followed by its
natural consequences. lcuABOD CuRwlN, OF Ur-
bana, one of the ablest and most os ccned young
lawyers of the STATE, has been arrested and held
to bail for attending to the execution OF A writ OF
habcas corpus in behalf of his clients. In Ike
manner the respected Sheriff LEWIS OF Greene
county has been arrested and held To- bail Tor the
execution of the writ. And this is followed by
the arrest Of Judge BALDWIN, Champaign county,
for issuing the writ-of Senator Band OF Mr..
HAWKE, the prosecuting Attorney OF Clarke coun
ty of Sheriff LAYTON Of the same county OF
Mr.. COMPTON, Deputy Marshal OF Springfield !;
OF Justice CnRisTY and of many other citizens
of character and standing, all on charges noto-
riousiy founded on their participation in the OK
ecutiUn of State process.
These things may be profitable for Federal
Marshals and their satellites, for Federal Commits
sionors and for officers Of Federal Courts, but, if
endured, must prove fatal TO the liberties oil the
people of Ohio,
Just think Of it. There is in nearly every coun-
ty Of the State, one, and in most of the counties
more than one, and in some, many Federal officials
styled Commissioners. Their original duty was to
take Acknowledgement of bail and afidayits to be
used in Federal Courts. They derive their APP
pointmcnt from the Judges Of the Federal Circuit
Court, and hold their Offices during the pleasure Of
these Judges. OF course they are mere depend
ants OF the Federal Court, doing its pleasure and
echoing its opinions.
Step by step their powers have enlarged by one
Congress after another servile to slavery and heed
less OF dangers to liberty
Under the Fugitive Slave act, in fragrant con.
tempt of the Constitution, they were invested with
judicial powers, and authorized to decide without
appeal the greatest question which can possibly
be submitted to the Judgment of an earthly tribu.
nal-tho question of personal freedom or slavery
Now, according to Leavitt's decision. if one OF
these commissioners issues n writ for the arrest oil
any citizen of Ohio, no matter who,- governor,
judge, legislator, sheriff, farmer, mechanic the
Federal Marshal may seize any OF the designated
citizens upon any pretense, however frivolous, how
ever illegal, however unconstitutional, ami drag
him before this petty Commissioner and there Is
no power in any State Court which can protec:
him from the outrage. This is the naked, mon
strous doctrine of Leavitt's decision.
No conductor of a public press in Ohio can he
faithful to his duties, who docs not sound the
alarm.
We talk of outrages in Kansas. Here they arc
at home. We talk Of the deeds of wrong and VIC
lence perpetrated under the %pretence of federal
authority beyond the Missouri. Here VIC have
them on the shores of the Ohio. We talk Of Lo-
compt there. We lave Leavitt here.
1t is not long since this same Judge, by n writ
Of habeas corpus, took Margaret Garner out of the
hands OF the Sheriff of Hamilton Co., while in Gus.
tody for the crime of murder, and handed her over
to the Federal Marshal to be conveyed beyond the
limits of the State. So sudden and unexpected
was this act, that no opportunity was given for the
interposition of the State authorities.
In this action Judge Lcavitt has not been sus
tanned, we believe, by single opinion, respectable
or otherwise, of any lawyer or any Judge. Il
was clear .usurpation. If Judge Baldwin then car
4 be arrested for issuing q writ of habeas corpus anC
discharging from restraint the parties brought be
1 fore him upon it. much more might Judge Leavit
/ be arrested as an alder and abettor of tho escapl
? Of Margaret Garner.
Would it not be well to give to these Fedora
? officers a taste of the cup which they are holdin,
9 to the lips of the Judges, Sherifs, Lawyers an
D citizens of the State? We hope this thing will b.
e inquired into. and that ali proper legal steps vii
be taken to compel Federal officials to respect tn
S rights Of the people of the States.