his liberty], and denouncing those who
execute them as no better than a Scroggs or a Jeffreys;--who stimulate
and exhort poor negroes to the perpetration of offences which they
know must bring them to the penitentiary or the gallows."

But he thought refusing to aid the deputy marshal in kidnapping was
not an act of levying war, or treason against the United States. "In
so doing he is not acting the part of an honest, loyal citizen [who
ought to do any wickedness which a bum-bailiff commands]; he may be
_liable to be punished for a misdemeanor for his refusal to
interfere_."

"But he thought the government was right "in procuring an
indictment for Treason." For "meetings had been held in many
places in the North, denouncing the law, and advising a
traitorous resistance to its execution: conventions of
infuriated fanatics had invited to acts of rebellion; and
even the pulpit had been defiled with furious denunciations
of the law, and exhortations to a rebellious resistance to
it.

"The government was perfectly justified in supposing that
this transaction was but the first overt act of a
treasonable conspiracy, extending over many of the Northern
States, to resist by force of arms the execution of this
article of the Constitution and the laws framed in pursuance
of it. In making these arrests, and having this
investigation, the officers of government have done no more
than their strict duty.

"The activity, zeal, and ability, which have been exhibited
by the learned Attorney of the United States, in endeavoring
to bring to condign punishment the perpetrators of this
gross offence, are deserving of all praise. _It has given
great satisfaction to the Court also, that the learned
Attorney-General of Maryland, and the very able counsel
associated with him_ [Senator Cooper of Pennsylvania] _have
taken part in this prosecution_."

In about fifteen minutes the Jury returned a verdict of "NOT
GUILTY."[180]

[Footnote 180: See Report of Trial of Castner Hanway, Phil. 1852.]

* * * * *

(4.) On the 29th of April, 1852, a man named William Smith was
arrested by Commissioner McAllister of Columbia, Pennsylvania, on
complaint of one Ridgeley of Baltimore. While in the custody of the
officers, Smith endeavored to escape, and Ridgeley drew a pistol and
shot him dead. The murd