Slave Case In Indiana

The following is from a communication in the Liberator, by George L. Harding, of Milan, Indiana: I have been, for some time pist, a close examiner of passing events; and miiBt say, (well knowing what I do say,) that 'legitímate aboliiionism' was never on the look up more than at the present day in this part of the world. Al u late term of ihe Jefferson Circuit Court, (of which the city of Madison is the seat of juslice,) there were two convictions for kidnapping a negro slave, who had cscaped from the 'refuge of oppression' to this State; and partially by force, and partially by stratagem. was taken to Kentucky. It was entirely a r.ew case, and exciled a tremendous interest. The counsel for the accueed offered to prove that the negro was a elave. The justice told them that 'such proof could notbe heard; that we in the free States know nothing of the institution of slavery; that we are bound to suppose that all men are free; that his being a slave by a foreign local law, did not heip the case hcie, more than if he were white and free;' 'that we are bound under the Constitution of the U. S. to give the man -hunter jast as much, and no more, than was there conceded; aud that concession, beiiiij n.gainst strict justice, admitted of no latitude in favor of slavery, bot must be ronstrued strictly;' 'that any other person, other than the viaster, or his special agent, aiding and abetting in the recapture of such fugitive ölave, or holding him, when so captured, incustody; is a trespass; and if an wjury was done the slave,. by sucii persons attempting to capture him, an action accnied to tlie slave, and not lo the viaster; and that any person arresting a runaway slave, ytber than the master or his special agent, is [piilty of false Imprisonment, and liable to the ilave for the injury.' This, it will be seen, is i new doctrine in this part of the country, uid one of incalculable importance to the anlislavery cause. Madison is a place of much commercial importance, and on the Ohioriv3r; acrosd which, you may see the blue smoke ;urling from the humble dwelling of the 'cursed race of Ham .' When his benighted soul áhall be expancled with the 'light in the world iiow,' which no eflbrts can extinguish; when he shall comprehend the hearings even of that üecisioE on his destiny, when once on the (light, how will he go down to the water's sdije, and there, sealed at twilight on some tnossy stone, looi; even to indiana, and reckon íiis chances for escape. But I had nearly smitted saying, that ihe charge to the jury from his honor, M. C. Eggleslon, in the above :ases, feil on the 'owners' of men from the ather side of the river, hke molten lead. The judge furlher remarked, 'that the slave was perfectly jnstified in attempting his escape irom his master.1 A deep growl carne from some parts of the lobby, like the suppressed t'engeance of the desperate! and one of the :ounsel for the accused (I am informed) at:empted to créate an excitement in the city by ;aying that the judge haa prsached msnrrecion to the bkeks. But he preached no such loctrine, unless it is insurrectionary to doclare :he law. It being the first indictment of the kind, hejury retumed a verdict of guilty; and besides a fine to a cunsiderable amount,condemn;d the accused to only two yeafs imprisoument n the penitentiary, at hard labor. Some others were mplicated in similar ransactions, viz. the honorable businesg of )oluntary, 'not special' agency, in pursuing he fleeing slave; and from the 'sign3' about Ihe court-hovse aad jail, concluded that it kvoukl be better 'to go to parts unknown.'