Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-02

the prisoners until the question could be
thoroughly and legally tried, and, accord
iDgly, wrote to Mr.. Chase, who was then
Governor OF the State, 10 ask what course
l should pursue. He Immediately answer
ed that he should held the custody Of them
until the question could be tried fully,
and that be would render any assistance
in his power, TO hold them until the ques-
tion Of conflict could be decided. A writ
Of habeas corpus was then sued out by the
Marshal before Judge Leavitt, Of the Dis
| trict Of Ohio, and Governor Chase render
ed every assistance in his power 10 have
the question fairly heard, by Offering any
counsel 10 assist in the case. The ques-
tions we're elaborately argued on tie part
Of the Sheriff by Judge Hoadley, Cover
nor Ghase's former law partner, (whose
abilities are we'll known here,) and was
taken under advisement by Judge Leavitt,
who, on the 29th Of February, 1856, decid.
ed that the parties were in the custody Of
the United Sta .es Marshal, and were un-
lawfully taken from his custody by the
Sheriff to deliver them into the hands of
the Marshal Immediately upon this de-
cision the owner Of the slaves, in open
Court, stated that be would hold them in
Ksntucky subject to requisition from the
Governor. Governor Chase was immedi-
ately notified of that fact, and sent his
private secretary, Mr.. Rice, to this city, to
attend to it. made out full statement
Of the case, and attached to it copy Of
the Indictment upon which Cor. Chase
issued requIsition on the Governor Of
Kentucky for the return of Margaret as
furitive fran justice. This Governor
Chase sent 10 Frankfort by b special com
missioner, who was also accompanied by
another gentleman with $500 TO give to
the owner If he would msnumit Margaret.
The Governor of Kentucky promptly is
sued his warrant, after submitting the
question TO his Attorney General whether
she was 8 fugitive from justice under the
meaning Of the law, and Immediately tel
egrsphed to the owner, who had taken
Margaret TO Louisville, not TO remove her
from the State.
The Commissioner went to Louisville
and there learned that Margaret had, in
defiance Of the Governors telegraph, been
shipped On the steamer Henry Lewis for
Arkansas, which had been burned or sunk
while on the passage That Margaret,
hsndcuffed as she was, had grasped her
Cnllu III uoE arms uhu jumper ONbtDOdEO
and was drowned. 1t was subsequently
learned that Margaret had been rescued
and sent to Louisiana.
My own feelings were intensely enlisted
in her behalf She had no conceslment to
make Of her attempt to kill her children,
but told me freely that it was her frm
determination TO destroy them al, and
herself also, rather than again to return
to slavery. 1t was my duty t. prosecute
her for the offence, and though feeling it
doubtful whether any jury in admiriDg the
heroic spirit of the mother, who could kill
herself and offspring rather than suffer
the degradation Of slavery, would find in
her case that malice which is necessary to
establish murder, felt it my duty to
shield her as much as possible from fate
which she dreaded more than the punish
ment of the law. When she was taken
from the State By the authority Of the
United States Court, the only remedy was
by requisition on the Governor of Ken
lucky.
La every step found Governor Chase
prompt aud Efficient symFathizing deeply
in The case, and ready to render any as
sistsnce in his power. .--..--.
JOSEPH cox.
CEcISNATI, November q, 1863.