Now,
gentlemen-his honour will please observe this point-much as I may
consider the heavy loss the master will suffer by the conviction of
the prisoner, and which will doubtless be felt severely by him, I
cannot help impressing upon you the necessity of overlooking the
individual loss to the master, maintaining the law, and preserving
the peace of the community and stability of our noble institution.
That the state will only allow the master two hundred dollars for
his valuable slave you have nothing to do with-you must sink that
from your minds, listen to the testimony, and form your verdict in
accordance with that and the law. That he is a dangerous slave, has
long maintained a disobedience towards his owner, set the
authorities at defiance, attempted to create an insurrection, and
made a dangerous assault on a white man-which constitutes a capital
offence-we shall now call witnesses to prove." The learned gentleman
having finished his opening for the prosecution, sits down. After a
moment's pause, he orders an attendant to bring something "to
take"-"Similar to the squire's!" he ejaculates, hoarsely.
"Gentlemen!" says his honour, as if seized with the recollection of
some important appointment, the time for which was close at hand,
drawing out his watch, "Call witnesses as fast as possible! The
evidence in this case, I reckon, is so direct and positive, that the
case can be very summarily despatched."
"I think so, too! yer 'oner," interrupts Terrance M'Quade, starting
from his seat among the five jurors.
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