The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-01
No. GA.


1.-The arrest fDr. Breed was due, apparently,
to the paragraph which appeared in our issue
of Wednesday, which, attracting the attention
of Justice Dom, who on further inquiry deem
ing the matter one of great importance at the
present time, and demanding judicial investi-
CATION, procured and placed in the hands of
officer King a warrant for DIR. Breeds arrest,
which resulted in his being held to bail to ap,
pear for the examination had yesterday.
" DIR. Breed, unattended by counsel, made his
appearance punctually at the hour named, and
inquired of the Justice why special warrant
had been issued in this case, and expressed a
desire to have the examination before Justice
Holingshead.
I" Justice Dom explained that no improper
motive influenced HIM in making the warrant
special, and remarked that he was prepared to
conduct the examination with strict impartial-
~ and, better to insure it, he associated Justice
Gberson with him.
d" DR.. Breed then requested to know under
what special law or act he was arrested.
Justice Dom replied by saying, that though
he thought there were no statutes in force in
the District in respect to sedition, such as
alleged, yet that Chap. xxi, Sec. 1897, La
trobe's Justice covered the case.
The section referred to provides for process
in view of possible or prospective breach Of the
peace, and is of latitudinous construction.
"The justice then informed him he was ar
raigned on the charge of seditious language,
melting 10 rebellion.
"Dr. Breed, referring to his former>desire to
have the case ruled before Justice Holdings
head, waived that point and was willing the
examination should proceed.
"Dr. Van Camp, being now called and sworn,
testified that he was introduced to DIR. Breed
on Tuesday, and had had no previous acquaint-
ance with him that they engaged in CONVEX
sation on different subjects, and at last on that
of Harper's Ferry, wherein DIR. Breed used the
precise language, and maintained as proper
the sentiment with which he was charged in
the paragraph before alluded to, in our Wednes-
days issue.
He consequently looked on DIR. Breed as a
man dangerous to Southern community, and
an that view had given that language publicity,
though denying then and afterwards that he
had first sought its publication in this journal.
"Dr Breed at different periods of the examin.
alton, thus far and afterwards, exhibited much
ingenuity, and an apparently retentive memory,
by his cross examination of the witness, and in
his attempts and apparent desire to make all
that transpired on that occasion public.
He viewed the conversation in its inception
as ola friendly nature, in which each party had
a clear right to discuss and maintain, under
the circumstances of its occurring in private
room, bis views on the question at issue.
"Dr. Van Camp, on the contrary, looked upon
such opinions as of the most infiammatory de-
scrption, destructive of the safety and rights OF
Shareholders and told DIR. Breed, on that oc-
casion, that be, expecting some slaves soon,
would advise him not to visit his house.
after good deal of cross firing between the
gentlemen, who were both much excited, DR..
Breed asked the witness if he (Dr. W did not
observe that both himself and Mr. Stabler were
Quakers, who were generally known as peace
able characters, not prone to fighting ex-
pressing the opinion, moreover, that DIR. Van
Camp would be much better at fighting than
he and ending with the suggestion that they
should bury the hatchet,' shake hands, and
90 home and that they then shook hands and
separated ?
DR. Van Camp could not recollect as to the
conversation generally, but was positive there
was no shaking of hands.
after few remarks between the two, DIR.
Breed was understood to propose to discuss the
subject with DIR. Van Camp in court, so as to
show that, if be was criminal the other was
equally so-a proposition very properly mega
tived by the court.
"Mr. Stabler, being called and sworn, stated in
substance that on the evening in question,
whilst DIR. Van Camp was in his room, DR..
Breed called, and soon engaged in conversation
with DIR. Van Camp; that he Is. was sitting
at a table, writing, and did not pay much At
tention at first to their conversation, until tia
Harpers Ferry and John Brown topic was in
troduced, when he heard DIR. Breed make the
remark that he beliessd Brown and Cook had
done right that Van Camp then asked Breed
If he endorsed Stewards statement, but did not
recolect the nature of the reply. He considered
then they were both too angry and excited to
know what they we're talking about, and that
the subject was so foggy he could not keep
track OF it. So much was said about Addition
ism, John Brown, &C., he found it impossible
10 put the subject together.
- lie formed the opinion that DR.. Breed, in the
heat of the discussion, lost, or came near losing,
all his Quakerism, and reiterated his belief that
neither party knew what he was talking abont.
He testified very positively that both gentle
men shook hands at parting, contradictng
very fatty, in this respect, the evidence of DR..
Van Camp.
Or Breed nov discams all thought or inten-
ton at any time of using any such language
attributed to him outside of a private room.
Michael Green being called and sworn, Jus-
tice Dom asked him if he had seen DR.. Breed
in conversation at any time with one of his
slaves, and Green replied that he saw DR.. B.
talking 10 one of his boys once.
1.-The question was put, when was this p
and answered, About FIVE years ago. &c. ;
when, it being found he knew nothing of more
recent date, his further examination was sus-
pended.
"The Justices here declared the examination
closed, and, after brief conference, held DR..
Breed to bail in the sum of s., 1000 to keep the
peace and be of good behaviour for the period Of
twelve months.
"Dr. Breed and his brotherin,law, S. ].
Bowen, Immediately gave the required sacIrity,
and left the court.
"The courtroom, of limited capacity, as well
as the sidewalk in 'front.' was densely crowded
during the investigation, but the concourse
quietly dispersed as soon as the decision was
rendered"
Brooks was fined three hundred dollars Coz
making a murderous assault upon a United
Northern man is held to bail in the sum of two
thousand dollars, and, but for the presence Of q
friend, would have gone to jail, upon charge
of using " seditious language" he might have
blasphemed God, or threatened to dissolve the
Union, with IMMUNITY; to speak against Sla-
very is the objectionable sin.
More ISCENDIARIsN.-The States and Union
keeps up its vile and incendiary appeals against
this Office, in its issue of Monday, as follows:
= The police should have a scFptinizing eye
on all suspicious, evl-looking persons who may
take shelter in the city. The railroad depot
should be closely observed. The incendiary
~ l.. III Tha
devils den,' or Black Republican Association