Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-04

would be convicted of kidnapping. 1t was asked
where this would end. 1t was probable that all
slaves were descended from maternal ancestors
who had been reduced to slavery originally by
violence in Africa, and jury might find that the
original enslavement being unlawful and forcible,
that all descendants of persons enslaved must be
free.
The defense pressed upon the court that the Or
phans Court of Frederick County was a court of
competent jurisdiction, having authority to order
negroes manumitted by Wills to be sold for pay
ment of debts, il necessary and that that Court
having ordered these negroes to be sold, its judg
ment could not be impeached collaterally, but must
be held conclusive evidence that the negroes
held in slavery at the time of the passage of the
der, and that therefore their capture by Myers was
legal and that he could not be convicted
But the Court instructed the jury that the ques
ton for them to determine whether the negroes
were legally held in slavery in Maryland before they
escaped. That the order OF the Orphans Court
was conclusive evidence only that they were ordered
to be sold slaves, and not that they were in law
saves-for if they were rot slaves before the order
could not make them slaves That under the law
of Maryland legacy freedom is specific Legacy
10 which the assent of the Executor gives the slave
a perfect title and makes him free That if the Ex-
ecutor suffers him to go at large he gives such as
sent aud that the manner by which they were to
dete, nine whether such negroes were free was to
find whether they had actually gone at large before
the time of their running oft For this law the
Codrt relied on the case of Fenwck VS.. Chapman,
decided as the law of Maryland by the Supreme
Court of the United States. The defense showed
that this mad been overruled by Cornish and Wilson
in the Coart of Appeals.
The Jury went up Oh Friday night, and on Sat
urdav rendered a verdict of Guilty" THIS con-
victiol makes MyerS liable to not less than five nor
more tnar ten yeas il ti;e Pententary, and foe
Of not less than $500 for each ot the Two negroes
/ ALLEGED to have been kidnapped
This is the most impOrtant case tried, invov ag
ihe constitutional rights of the South that has yet
occurred II it is law, the right to retake slaves de-
clared by the Constitution and The Supreme Court
is dead letter. 1t is null, void and of no effect.
Ii might aS well be stricken from the constitution,
for no master or his agent will arrest runaway negro
and run the risk of Northern Jury finding that he
had no right TO hold the negro slave, but that
he was entitled to his freedom. If this can be done,
the right of every slave in Maryland to his freedom
can be determined collaterallv by Northern court
and iury in the absence Of his master; and IT h S
master attempts to recapturc him. he will be pun-
ishei for assault and battery, false Imprisonment or
kidnapping The object of this prira'e prosecution
was to forever prevent masters or their agents from
taking up runawavS without having recourse TO the
fugitive Slave law, which it is well known cannot
! be enforced, and in great part of the Union IS
! nGll and void Tue act of Congress- has been nut
lifted evaded resisted, until it now secures nc
! terly destroys the right TO rctakc fugitive slaves
without legal process The act of Congress, the
! Constitution and the Supreme Conrt are all thus
J trampled undcr foot In addition TO this the de
creeS and orders or MARYLAND courts held not tC
decide upon and prove the title add right 10 slaves
but courts and iure> Of other States 1t is decided
can rquire into them if they are legal, and de
tcrmine whether any negro held in Maryland for any
length of fine, as his ancestors were before him, Il
| entitled to'hiS freedom.
If this is law then slavery will shortly be abOl
Shed in the Union bv the acludcations of Northern
courts who will decide every such question as thu
jury has done in the Of Myers The question
thus raised is paramount one. 1t is vital to to-
| rights the interests and the honor of Maryland
What will her sworn guardians do in the premises
| -Frederick (-Hd.) Citizen.
We understand that subsequently the owners @
the slaves bad 10 g;ve Them 10 e", rc'y. and los
their value. in orde" to relieve NJ. Myers i.Om bc
ing imprisoned by tbe abOliionis,s.