, 1861-11-12
COL, e. d, BAKER.
His Conteat with a Slaye-Uatcher.

An ex editor from California communicates
the following to the New York Etent,1g Ibst:
Nor was 1t only as politician that Colonel
Baker cVinced his devotion to freedom and his
81 mpathy for the oppressed. About four years
since great excitement Was produced in San
francisco BY the rescue from the custody Of
his master Of slave named Archy Lee, The
case had previously been before the Supreme
Court at Sacramento, and in selfstult1tyiug
decision the Chief Justice had given the Gus
10Y Of the slave to his master, BY whose act,
In bringing him into the State, the slave IN
questionably became free. This consequence
MAS admitted in the judges published opinion,
which, after several dozen pages Of foolscap
proving that the master had no right to Archy,
concluded BY saying that, notwithstand-
the court was that the slave should be given
into the custody Of his master, because the
master Was 5tou1g man and srarelsng for his
hath. ''-
With the view oftakIng Archy east,his mas.
ter then brought him to San Franc:sco, where
eequently re-arIested and brought before q
United States Commissioner, under an issue
growing out Of the Fugitive slave law. George
Penn. Johnston (Who subsequently killed ststo
Senator Ferg guson In due1) Waa the Cummis-
eioner:-a man of strong southern sympathics,
candor and inpaztia11ty for which, considering
the sociEl pressure brought to besr on hin. r.,
deserves great credit, Baker and TompkIas
we're engaged - counsel in behaH Of Archy,
j. a. Hardy {who has since distinguished him
self By presiding over tie farce Of trying
Terry for the murder Of Brode,iek) waa en-.
gaged BY the claimant Of Arcby, The extraor.
diuary poeition was taken by the claimants IN
the outset, that by the terms Of the Fugitive
Slave law, AIchy had no light toabe heard BY
counsel In his own defence that the Commits.
steiner must make his decision On an IL pqrte
statement. Those who have eheardB Baker speak
csn readily conceive the hot shot with which
this position was aGsatled, as well IS the ironY
and rai1e1y with which the supreme Judges
ineonsequent opinion WIS favored.
During the trial Tompkins allowed himself
to become excited, and on his repeating Ironi.
cally ono Of Hardy'e expressions, tha latter
burst forth with ~s'You Ne". Tompkins 70.
epcnded In kind, when both rose from their
seata nnd rushed toward each other, Hardy
stretching his hand behind him and exposing
aIeyolver under his coat tail. For amoment
all Fas confusion, and the Commissioner in
vain 7ociferated foF order. Several southern
ess were seated near Hardy, aud from their
| movements conflict W2s imminent, Baker
1853 with more coo1nees than il accurdant
With bis temperament, and laying his hand on
advancing On Hardy. ~ COX out, -Colonel,' p
shouted bJstaoder. 'sthe d-d villain has got
revolver sluDg to hlg hack-7, Baker Id
| vanced o1e stride, Forward, then throwing
back his coat and erecting hts head, hecrled,
f!sLet him. ehoot, I desire no better Death
a Mpre noble sight one might not wttneas IN
his thin gr1y hair falling In disarrarged lock-
over his placid brow, beneath which, in
strarge contrast With its serenity, fairly alazed
his, Expressive eyes The bully paused, -
I well he might; for never had he met foe tbs
peer Of him. who now coufton+ed him. No
mere brute courage VIZ that Hhlch nov dared
him to his utmost It was tbs intrepidity D!
an intellect that had measured yet scorned
the danger; moral courage TINT did NOT ig:
more the risk, but uerved the. nan to brave
1t. It would be no ANAL hrihe that would
teHpt the writer to blot that scene from hi
| memory. -. :,
Tbs scc1e In the court house ended blood
I lessly. But for weeks a{terFafd (ss tho inYes
t'gsticr resulted N The release Of ArcaJ) the
community or San Frxneiaco weza at interval:
excited hy 1uNoEs Of personal violeaee de