State Journal

OF SPEECH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
"Tell it not in Gath."

Rev. George Storrs, a member of the N. H. Conference, after delivering a lecture on Slavery, at Pittsfield, N. H. was arrested in the pulpit on the following complaint:--

To Reuben T. Leavitt, Jr. Esquire, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Merrimack in the State of New Hampshire--

Complains--

Sherburne Green, of Pittsfield, in said county of Merrimack, yeoman, and gives the said Justice to understand and be informed that George Storrs of said Pittsfield yeoman, otherwise called George Storrs, a transient person, yeoman, at said Pittsfield, in said county of Merrimack, on the thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, was a common railer and brawler, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State,--Wherefore the said Sherburne Green prays that the said George Storrs may be held to answer to this complaint and that justice may be done in the premises.

SHERBURNE GREEN.

Merrimack, ss. March 31, 1836.

Then the said Sherburne Green personally appeared and made oath that the above complaint by him subscribed is in his belief true.

Before me--

R. T. LEAVITT, Jr.,

Justice of the Peace.

A true copy--

R. T. LEAVITT, Jr.

Jus. Peace.

He was tried before R. T. Leavitt, Jr. Esq. The whole of the evidence follows, as we find it in the Herald of Freedom. Our readers may judge of the justness of the decision.

Caleb Brown was called and sworn.

Questions, all by Norris, on the part of the prosecution. Question. 'Were you at the Baptist meeting house? Answer. Yes. Q. Did you hear the discourse? A. Yes. Q. Did he say any thing about slavery existing in the Northern States? A. He said there were slave-holders in the Northern States. Q. Did he say any thing about slavery in Maryland? A. Yes. Q. Did he say that the laws of Maryland made slaves as goods and chattels? A. He did. Q. Did he say any thing of the knowledge of those who oppose Abolitionists? A. He said they might know about it if they would; their books were all about.

Thomas Swett called and sworn. Q. Were you at the Baptist meeting house? A. Yes. Q. Did the defendant have a discourse there? A. He did. Q. Did he say any thing respecting the ignorance of the opposers of Abolitionists? A. He stated they had the means of information, but did not make use of it. Q. Did he state any thing with regard to the Southern States? A. He stated he had the heads of their State governments, and stated what they were. Q. What did he state? A. That slaves were regarded as chattels.

Mr. Storrs made no defence. He was found guilty, and the following sentence was pronounced upon him by Mr. Justice Leavitt, from which he has appealed.

Merrimack, ss. Be it remembered that on the thirty first day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, Sherburne Green of Pittsfield, in said county, yeoman, came before me Reuben T. Leavitt, jr, Esq. one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county of Merrimack, and on oath complained, and gave me the said Justice to understand and be informed that George Storrs, of said Pittsfield, yeoman, otherwise called George Storrs, a transient person yeoman, at Pittsfield in said county of Merrimack, on the thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, was a common railer and brawler contrary to form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State--Whereupon afterwards on the same thirty-first day of March the said George Storrs being brought before me the said Justice, by virtue of a warrant issued upon the complaint read, said that he was not guilty of the said offence, and thereupon after having the evidence offered as well on the part of the said George Storrs as in behalf of the State and maturely considered the same, it appears to me the said Justice that the said George Storrs is guilty in manner and form as in the said complaint alleged--It is therefore considered by me the said Justice, that the said George Storrs BE COMMITTED TO THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION in said town of Pittsfield there to be put to HARD LABOR for the term of THREE MONTHS and pay the costs of prosecution, taxed at fifteen dollars and sixty five cents, from which sentence the said George Storrs appeals to the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas next to be holden at Concord within and for said county of Merrimack on the first Tuesday of September, A. D. 1836

R. T. LEAVITT.

Justice Peace.

With what scorn and amazement will such illustrations of republicanism be viewed a hundred years hence!