New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-21
sLAyE.TRADE TRIALS.

The accounts in the Charleston papers of the
srsume nts of the prisoners counsel In the Echo
csss, show that they were allowed to argue to the
Jury both their right to judge of the law and that
the act under which the prisoners were indicted
was unconstitutional. The ground taken as to this
point was that the Constitution, in giving TO Con-
sress the right to punish piracy, INTENDED only
piracy in the ordinary sense of that term, namely:
robbery on the high seas, and that it did not give
Congress any right to apply that name to slave
trading, or to the transportation of persons with
view 10 sell them. In the trials at Boston, grow
ing out of the Sims rescue, Judge Curtis held that
the Jury had no right to judge Of the law least of
all on q question Of cOnstitutionality; nor would
he allow tho counsel for the defense TO argue
this question of eonstitutionsty to the Jury.
The defenders of the crew Of the Echo did not,
however, confine themselves to this point of law.
They Insisted that the Government had not sufh-
cienty made out case. The evidence offered to
prove that the Echo belonged to Capt. Townshend
Gt being necessary for the United States to
show that the Echo belonged to citizen of the
United Stated was bill of sale by which the yes
eel was conveyed TO Townsheud, the authenticity Of
which WAS shown; but this bill Of sale, is was
argued, was no. sufficient for that purpose, as
against these prisoners. IL was also contended
that there was no proof that the Townshend seen in
port at Boston and recognized as citizen OF Rhode
Island. WAS the same Townshend mentioned in the
bill Of sale of the vessel; and further that there
was 20 evidence where those negroes were taken
on board, and of the intent to mske them slaves.
II must have required very willing Jury, how
ever. TO give weight TO these suggestions.
Another similar trial is expected to come of
about this time before the United States Court for
the Southern District of Georgs, sitting at Savan-
nah. This is the case of the three sailors Of the
Wanderer, against whom, as we'll as Capt. COrrie,
bills we're found in February last. Corrie cannot
be tried at this time, being in jail at Charleston,
and the Judge Of that district declining to hand him
over for trsl at Savannah. -Four bills have also
lust been found aganst the notorious c. a. l..
Lamar, one for aiding and abetting in the slave
trade and three others for having in his possession
or claiming Africans recently imported. Mr.. c.
A. l.. Lamar has in the mean time taken the ofien-
siye. II will be recollected that some weeks since,
number Of the Africans imported in the Wan
derer, while passing through Worth County, in
Georgia, were stopped BY Deputy Marshal,
assisted by number Of respectable citizens, and
were committed for safe keeping TO relfslr jail
till word was cent TO the District-Attorney.
The Di,trictAitoraey declined to have anything
to do with the affair on the ground that he
had repeatedly written and telegraPhed to Wash
Dston for instructions, but could get none; where
upon the Africans we're given up to those who had
them in charge, and were allowed to depart. Some
of the persons concerned in this arrest, having
lately visited Savannah, Mr.. c. A. L. Lamar vent
before Justice of the Peace and made oath that
they and other persons, in Worth County, hsd
stolen from him sundry negroes Of the value Of at
least 81, 600; ard upon the strength of this CON-
paint the Justice Issued warrant for their arrest,
and bound them over 10 appear at Tao October
term of the Worth Superior Court 70 answer to