Another Slave Case

The slaveholders seem determined to test theefficacy of thelaws to the utmost. A(i iiitereetinp case hus lately been decided in the Morgan Circuit Court in Illinois. IndictmeHts were found by the Grand Jury agaiust J. A. Willard, oud Samuel VVülurd, charging them wilh hurboring and secreiing a colored girl named Julia: that the said Julia was a slava to Eli8abeth W. Lisie of Louisiuna, and as said Elisabeth was jdurneying frorn Kcntucky through Indiana to Louisiaha, Julia escaped from her misi ress, and was liarbored and secreted by the delendants, knowing her to bo a fugitivo slave. The action was brought nnder the criminal code of Ülinoífí whicli makes any person se creting or harboring a fugitive siovefrom ani part of the Uniied States, li'ible töa fimeof $500, or less, or imprisonment 6x inonths.- The defendani't) counsels entered a demurreï to each count, nnd contended that as pluvery was local, it conld not be knovvn under thö consliiuiion of Illinois: that the State Jawwaa void brcause Congress had jurisdlction alonei that the righl of recaption is liniited by the Ordinance of 17C7 to the thirteen original States; and as the counts showed no escipo fiom the Original States, the indictment showed do crime: and that the voluntary intro duet ion of a slave into a state whcre slaverv is prohibited, niakes the sl.ive free.The Conrt took time; oud afier due consid orntion, held the five fust couuts to be delictivo, iinputing1 no ciinio, and susla:ned the detendant's deinurrer. Tho Court over-ruled the demurrer to Mie sixth count, deciding that, by the comity of States, the Hght of transit by u masler wilh his slaves was toleroted, nnd the freedom of the slaves not thereby efFected. The Counsel for the dcfence inlormcd the Court thnt they wonld stand by their demurrer, nnd asked the Court to reinier judement Oieroon. The Court a cc o rd ing] y assessed a fine of twenly dollars, remarking hat the dsfendarit supposed hc was doinj; no act that wns criminal. The cuse will go to lüc Suprenie Court.