Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-27

The Corrie Slave Case.


The Corrie Slave Case.
A series of extraordinary proceedings be-
fore the Z. s. Circuit Court in Charleston, in
ference 70 the charge OF piracy against Capt
Corrie, of the Yacht WdzdTer. was brougbtto
Close on "Wednesday last Al The last term,
the Grand Jury. GU their oaths. ignored bill
found against the defendant and the latter
was set at liberty. The next day The same
Grand Jury begged that the bill might be
again submitted TO them for the purpose OF
reconsideration. but upon the same testimo-
ny. TIE Judge aud L. s. Attorney. both. II
we recollect Alright. consented to The arrange
ment- and accordingly true d1H for piracy
WIS forthwith found. The motive of this pro-
cednre as understood by every body at the
time. was TO keep Core out of the bands of
the U. ;. authorities in Georgia. by whom
sue bill had becn previously found. and an
order issued for his arrest.
At the present term of the Court, the case
was called up. and the u. S. Attorney NOV,
TO nal pros the bill, stating that the motion
WAS made in accordance with positive lnstruc-
til ns from The AttOrns y-Gneei al of the United
States. Judge Magralh. after several days
7, rejection, has set aside the motion and order
Cd the case 10 proceed. The CDai lrston pa
pers OF Thursday publish his decision, which
is very elaborate, and, said 10 be, very able.
We copy from the Coayier thef flowing pro-
ceeding which followed The reading OF the
opinion OF The Court:
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT-HoS. A q.
M4GRATH PREs IDIAG.-On the opening OF the
Court IN Wednesday morning, Judge Ma
gath Ttad the opinion in the case Of the
UniIrd States rs. William G. COrric.
After the reading OF the opinion, the Hon.
Henry Y. jackson, OF Savannah, Ga, rose
aud said that, be was almost entirely
stranger in the Court Room, it might be ne
cessary tor him 10 say that he was a pracii-
toner OF law in The United States Courts,
having been admitted in the Circuit Court
for Georgia.; that as such be had been asso
ciate counsel OF the United States in the pro-
seculioHs bringing out OF The voyage OF the
Wanderer. from their carly inception. and
was associated in the prosecution oil the one
before this Court; q hat this fact was known
20 the District Attorney, and that IN this ca
pacity lie had been allowed to address the
United States Courts in Georgia. he would
not presume, however, Ignorant OF what might
he The rules Of proceeding III has Honor
Court, to intTude any remarks whatsoever.
without his HOnOr's permission, but would
silently take bis seat.
He then proceeded to say that the pro-
foundly elaborate decision just pronounced
by bis Honor had thrown flood OF light upon
the case as pending before him, and upon tue
relations OF the parties to 1T That he appear
ed not as repre- senting the Government IN
reference to tie law-this be would not pre-
tend to do, that duty devoIving upon the
learned District Attorney-that he would
speak for tue Government simply so lar as
the evidence was concerned, having been Ia
miiariZ d with ii from his very long connec-
ton with the prosecutions; aud, speaking in
that capacity, he Ielt ii due, not simply 10 the
Government, but to the accused, to make a
simple statement OF fact.
He remarked that fatal mistakes are some
az I.v~ Slarr ion
well as by others, in reference TO the motives
that &C tuate Government that they are i'm
pressed with the idea that Government Is The
enemy Of persons whom it may be called upon
to prosecute; whereas. In truth, the IndIvld-
uals composing the Government, III Its yarl-
Gus branches were bound 10y their oaths TO
discharge their respective duties in the pros
ecIfion of parties charged with crime; that
the President had his duty TO perform, and
his responsibility TO assume--so had the AT
torney Gcnergl-so had the Dist let Attor-
ney--end last, but not least, so had the Judge;
and that each officer must be content when
he had fixed the responsibility upon that
branch OF Government authorized 10 assume
and to bear 1t; that in the present case, his
Honor had fully assumed bis responsibility;
and that 1t was due TO his Honor and 10 the
accused TO say that not only had the Govern
ment Hn evidence against Captain COrrIc, To
BLOW iudb IL Hdu ldIut SpoI INT OOoSt va
Africa, aud iorcibly seized, or that he had
fraudulenily decoytd from the African ceast,
the negroes III question; but, on the contra
ry, had in lis poss, ssion what must have been
The receipts given To Corrie for payments IN
the purchase OF the -Atrcans--proOlS positive
under the cOustruc ion given by his Honor
to the law OF 1920, OF COriicis innocence He
submitted whether, under such cIrcumstan-
ces, II was proper TO proceed further with
the Prosecution.
After Mr. jackson concluded. Mr.. Conner.
United States District Attorney for South
Carolina. rose aud said: The learned cJun-
sci informs The Court that he has b, en- assO-
ciatcd with me in the proceedings here, and
that information 10 that effect had been sent
to me from Washington. As tue learned
counsel makes the assertion as of his own
knowledge. | have no doubt the fact is so,
but no notice has as yet reached me. l have
received 10 instruction to confer with any
one.
| admit the force of what has been said 10y
tie learned counsel, that each one in this
Cause has his own measure Of responsibility.
/ recognise and appreciate mine. and l have
determined on the course | shall pursue.
Your Honor has delivered the jud gment of
the Court refusing leave Ia enter the Not.
Pros. As lawyer, and still more as the
pros, cutting officer of the Court. it becomes
me respectfully To submit to the rulings of
the Court. The position l occupy is embar-
rassing. On the one band. / have the in
sructions of the Attorney General to enter
the Mol Iros.. and On the Olh,r hand, there
is the ruling Ct the Court refusing the entry
TO be made. | shall not d. eide this question
unaided, Lut shall enclose to the Attorney
General copy Of The opinion of the Court
just delivered, and statement of the present
position Of the case.
The Court then inquired what disposition
should be made of the Grand Jury. Mr.. Con
ner moved they be discharged upon call. No
OF ctiou being made, the Judge 80 order
ed it..