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New Jersey

New Jersey image
Parent Issue
Day
2
Month
June
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

i he antislavery question comes up under the new Constituüon in a most impori tanïshape. The correspondent of the N. Y, Herald thus states the nature of the important legal question now pending. "The Supreme Court of New Jersey, now in session at Trenton, have had petitions preserited to ihem this day, togrant writs of habeos corpus, directed to persons who claim to hold certain other persons as slaves, who were bom before the 4th day of July, 1804, and also claim to hold the children of these slaves, bom since 1804- the males till 25, and the Jemales imtil 21 years of age-under the name ofapprentices. These writs of habeas corpus 6ave been allowed by the Court to-day. These writs will, as we understand, bring up the cases of those who are held as slaves, and those who are kept as apprentices. In fact, they cover the whole questiotï of slavery, root and branch. Alvan Stewart, Esq., of the state of New York, was admitted as counsel for the petitioners, by the courtesy of the Court. Mr. C. B. Palmer, Esq., acts as an attorney for these applications. Mr. Stewart stated in his application for the writs that his object was to ovcrthrow slavery and apprenticeship by virtue of the new constitution of this state, under the first section of the said constitution of this state, in these words - "All men are, by nature, Cree and independent, and having certain inalienable nghts, nmong which are those of enjoying and defending life and property, and of preserving and obtaining safety and happiness." Mr. Stewart stated there were about 700 persons held as slaves in this state, and between 2000 and 3000 human beings, born of these slaves, held as npprentices, whose condition, until their time was out, was the same as fhe slaves, and were regarded as personal property- The Court have fixed Tuesday, the 20th, when all of our five Judges of the Supreme Court will be present and listen toMr. Stewart's argument in behalf of this long neglected portion of the great fumily of man. No doubt the subject will beone of absorbing interest, and a zroat anxiety is feit in the result."

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News