Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-08-01
From the Ashtabula Sentinel.
PROGRESS OF DESPOTISM.

A certain Commissioner of the United States, at
Cincinnati, issued a warrant for the arrest of four
citizens of Champaign county, charged with aid
ing a fugitive slave to escape. A deputy and ten
assistants made the arrest. This is said TO have
been done in a very disorderly and r%ufianly man
ner; but we regard that as of no Importance
Some friends of the persons arrested appeared be-
fore a Judge of this state, and obtained a writ Of
habeas corpus, to ascertain if the citizens were
under legal or illegal restraint. This was the un-
doubted right OF the prisoners and of their friends
1t is a right which pertains to the sovereignty of
every State, n duty which the authorities of no
State are permitted to refuse. All, so far, was a
matter of every day occurrence. The sheriff Of
Clarke county, being legally called ON to execute
this writ. bearing the authenticity of a public seal
issued by proper authority, could not lawfully re-
fuse to serve it. In the ordinary course of business
with a single deputy, he called on the marshal and
posse for the prisoners, disclosing the authority
which be held for that purpose.
The marshaPs duty was plain. lie should have
gone before the judge and submitted to the inspec-
ton of that officer, his authority for a~rresting and
holding the prisoners in custody. There was no
other proper or legal course for him. But instead
Of doing this, he and his assistant pitched into the
sheriff, beat him and shot at him.
For this breach Of the peace, this outrage upon
the dignity Of our laws, this contempt of our State
sovereignty, he was arrested and held to answer.-
Judge Leavitt, who ordered Margaret Garner to
slavery, bearing with her the dead body of her
child, a sacrifice to oppression, gravely held that
the marshal was not liable to State process in such
case, and discharged him and his assistants.
In doing this, he cited an adjudicated case in
PENNSYLVANIA where a commissioner issued a war.
rant for the arrest Of a man charged with being a
fugitive slave. The marshal and several assistants
attempted to arrest the man but was unable, and
they shot at and wounded him several times but
with his garments saturated 10 his own bIaod he
escaped. The marshal and assistants were indict-
ed and arrested under State law, for shooting with
intent to kill; but Judge Grier issued a habeas cor
pus and discharged ~them-holding that while en-
deavoring to execute process, the marshal may dis
regard and violate State laws, trample upon the
peace and dignity of State sovereignty with impu.
nifty. But the case was carried to the Supreme
Court of that STATE, all the judges being Democrats;
and they decided the action Of Judge Grier TO be
null and void, and the sheriff was held responsible
for discharging the prisoners on his order.
Judge Leayitt might have cited other cases.
though they have not been iudicially affirmed
Some fifty years since we recollect that a slayehold.
er OF Virginia followed his slaves across the river
into Belmont county, and the slave prefering liber.
ty or death to slavery, the master shot him on
Ohio soil. More recently wo were told of a sImila,
case in Highland county. In 1850 the public pres,
informed US that some democrats of Bedford coun
ty, Pennsylvania, without any authority whatever
on discovering a party of fugitive slaves shot anC
killed three of them and wounded others; anC
within n few days past r master from Missouri I:
said to have shot his fugitive slaves in Illinois.
This resort to violence and bloodshed is the sam
whether a white officer or a private black man b.
the victim. Judge Leavitt so treats il, and attompt
to throw around the crime and the criminal, tn
pr0tectian Of the federal judiciary. And tn,
question show far shall the decision of this puisn
Judge, in favor of violence and reyolyers, agairs
the dignity of our State and tho sanctity of on
laws, screen the marshal and his participatOrs il