The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-01-23

| AydOn yt0lOeO, ana ne became, from she
purest motives of benevolence, the pro.
prietor of human chattel.
The relation proved happy one fol
some time, until the eloquence Of Meth.
odist itinerant affected the supposed con.
version Of Nelson, and the latter turning
preacher himself, astonished the commu.
nifty by the marvellous exhibition of his
powers. But, unfortunately, his spiritual
father privately indoctrinated the slave in
the gospel of abolition, more thoroughly
than in the simple creed Of the Apostles
and the result was evident, when one night
the servant stole his masters horse. sad
die, and pu'se. and suddenly disappear.
ed. .g-g. RS
It would be easier TO imagine than des-
cribe the dissppointment. and even con.
sternasion, of Alfred Lytton and his fam
| lily. They felt themselves ruined beyond
hope or relief. Their herds had gone,
and their farm must soon 90 to pay the
mortgage, and all for this viper-like in
grate-for in such detestable light they
very naturally viewed the fugitive.
A week subsequently,, neighbor. who
had been travelling in the state Of ILL.,
nois, brought back the information that
he had met Nelson in the Grand Prairie,
riding the stolen horse, and boldly avow-
ing his determination to seek freedom,
fortune, and fame in the genial climate of
Canada. The irritated master instantly
adopted purpose that seemed as wild as
it was desperate. He first sold his home
stead, and realized sufficient sum, after
liquidating his debts, to undertake long
journey. He then preferred complaint
against his slave before the grand jury Of
the county. and had him indicted for lar
ceny. ......ae...,..E -.... &c..
| Armed with copy Of this record, au-
thenticated by the signature of the gov
ernor, and the great seal of Arkansas, he
started in pursuit of the refugee.
The object appeared truly hopeless.
since at that time no treaty had provided
for the extradition of criminals between
this country and the British dominions |;
and hence, all such questions necessarily
devolved on the local authorities, to be
solved according to their loose and dis
crctionary Interpretation of the conflicting
dicta in writer's on the law of nations
Nevertheless, in the present instance, the
claim of the governor of Arkansas prov
ed successful, and Alfred Lytton return.
ed with his slave, and delivered him up
temporarily to legal custody. >..
| h> Is "a
Court, the accused was placed at the bar
for trial and although the evidence as to
the theft could not have been more clea,
or thoroughly conclusive. he managed his
own defence with such consumate ability
that the jury wavered for hours, before
bringing in their final verdict of guilty
l have listened to the dry dialectics o.
Garrison. the frantic denunciation of Phil
ips, and l know not how many female
pipes of squeaking treble, in the attempt
ed demonstration Of the dogma predlcat'
ing the natural right of universal liberty
and equality; but l never heard anything
SO powerful as the plea Of the slave Nell
son, urged in his own behalf on the occa
sion referred to. He showed that his Ia
Dor had paid for the horse and money
which he stood charged with stealing, ter
times over. and proved, by the most fault
; less process of deduction from abstrac
principles found in the Bible, and espe
cially in the Declaration of Indepen
dence," that it is the birth-right of every
human being to inherit freedom. Finally
he closed with this awful sentence, shoute(
in tones terrible as thunder:
Condemn me, If ye dare, for an &C
which one and all would have done in tn
same circumstances then go home AMI
tell your children that every liberal consti
. tuition in the world is lie Preach tn
doctrine till ye fall asleep in your graves
and. after that, l summon you to meet m.
at the bar Of the General Judgment, AMI
settle the question before an equal Fathe
: of our race r. As the last words rever
! bratsd round the walls of the courthouse
the excited orator sunk down and burs
. into paroxysm of tears.
The award of the panel was, that th,
fslon should receive thirty-nine lashes Of
his bare back. without imprisonment.-
The sheriff hastened to execute the sen
; tence, which he did with al the strength
of . nervous arm and the sun of the fol
lowing morn saw Nielsen on his way il
chains for the slave market of New Or
leans.
Now, supposing that the unquali6et
metaphysical right of personal libert,
is inalienable and absolute in this case,
entered into conflict with the equal It'll
: Of property; and which ought. in reaso'
and Justice, to prevail? ? Alfred Lytto1
had created his money through years 0
toll as wearisome as the work Of any slave
: Under the sanction of the constitution an,
! laws Of the land, and urged by the press
! ing entreaties of Nelson, he had investe,
) all his money in this man. Was he sin
I ner because he refused to beggar his Wit
and children from pure benevolence t
another, . stranger to his blood and aHec
ton, and ono who proved himselfunworth,
!. Of all favor by his ingratitude and dis
5 honesty !?
Abolition would, doubtless. be glori
/ GUS thing If it could be consummated with
! out robbery. ruin. and the bloodshed {