Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-10-10
II LENNON CASE.

This case, instituted to secure the right Of slave.
holding in New York was before the court in the
city of New York last week. Mr.. Lcmmon whose
eight slaves were emancipated by a New York
court, it seems received full pay for these slaves
and signed a deed of emancipation. So that the
only question to DO decided by tho court, is
ono of the right Of slaveholding in the stote and
no question of property or of personal liberty
to those eight individuals is concerned. The sole
obiec, is TO establish slaveholding supremacy on
New York soil,
Speaking of the case in progress, the New York
Tribune says:
Towards tho close of his speech in the Lennon
case yesterday, Mr.. Eyarts drew a vivid picture
of the consequences which would inevitably
result from the recognition of the relation between
master aud slave as existent, for however short q
period, under the laws Of New-YOrk. Wherever
the status of Slavery exists, it exists to all intents
and purposes. An abstract relation, disconnected
from the rights and duties growing out OF that
relation and requiring enforcement, is an absurdity
anywhere out Of the region of hypothesis. u the
slave be a slave, he is, in virtue OF beng q slave
property the owner of which is entitled TO protec
ton of all the rights Of ownership. Should the
master, who is IN tranSitu with his slave through
the State, die, his slaves are o part OF his assets
and must be administered on by the Surrogate
Should his creditors attach the slaves with bis
other property, they must be sold on execution
Should his orders be resisted by one Of "his fam
ly," and he carry them into effect by blows, per
haps mortrl, he can plead in bar to punishment
for his conduct the slavery of the chattel. Should
a slave mother bring forth n child upon the soil o
this State, such child would follow the law OF TIT
parent, and be u. slave also. Should a slave comm
murder and be hung, the master would be entitled
to his value under that clause Of our Constitution
which forbids the taking of private property 10
public use without compensation. Judges WouI'
be obliged to grant writs, in pursuance OF who's
requirements whipping should be inflicted at tn
public whipping-pcst, and wives torn f1om thel
husbands, and mothers from their children. Ih
declaration that Slavery exists for an instant Is
declaration that the natural and necessary inc
dents of Slavery exist with it. Nor can we $40
here. Having no system Of law OF our own appl,
cable to this status, what system is to be enforced
That which is common to all the Slave States
Why stop with that, supposing 1t to be a pracilco
BILE rule for our guidance, which 1t is not? In til
case of q Virginia master and slave, why not CT
force Virginia law? In the case of a MississlpI
master and slave. why not enforce Mississippi law
The comfy which leads US to regard the relatio
at all, should also lead us to regard 1T as 1t exlst'
In our own statutes we find no guide we mus
therefore look elsewhere for one, unless we pass
code ourselves. Hence not only the natural an
necessary incidents of the relation-if such ther
be-but whatever artificial ones have been enacte
in any locality must be practically reen0cted !
this State.
The numerous absurdities and uncertGintit
which q Judgment that Mrs. Lennon may {
with her slaves from Virginia to Texas via Ne'
York unavoida5ly creates, are u sufficient reaSc
why such Judgment should not DO given, were a
others wanting.