This ebook retains the spelling and punctuation variations of theoriginal text published in 1836. A few corrections have been madewhere inadvertent typographical errors were suspected. Details ofthese corrections can be found in a Transcriber's Noteat the end of this text.
The Trial of Crandallpresents the first case of a man charged withendeavoring to excite insurrection among slaves and the free coloredpopulation that was ever brought before a judicial tribunal. It lastedten days before the whole Court, and was as closely contested as anytrial on record, by the counsel on both sides. Every point of law wasfully and strenuously argued, and carefully considered by the Court; andwhere no statutes have been enacted, this case may be considered assettling the legal questions touching the rights of the slaveholdingpopulation, on the one hand, to protect themselves from foreigninfluence; and the circumstances, on the other hand, which may bringpeople from the nonslaveholding States into danger of the law, by havingin their possession, showing, or circulating, papers and tracts whichadvocate the abolition of slavery in such a way as to excite slaves andfree people of color to revolt and violate the existing laws and customsof the slaveholding States. No trial has ever occurred more important totravellers from the North, or to the domestic peace of the inhabitantsof the Southern States.
Cranch, chief justice, Thrustonand Morsell, justices.
F. S. Key, district attorney, andJ. M. Carlisle,