In fact, the only point of the defence is, that the United States have offered no proof that Drayton seduced and enticed these slaves to come on board the Pearl; and that the prisoner’s counsel are pleased to call a gap, a chasm, which they say you can’t fill up.  It is the same gap which occurs in every larceny case.  Where can the government produce positive testimony to the taking?  That is done secretly, in the dark, and is to be presumed from circumstances.  A man is found going off with a bag of chickens,—­your chickens.  Are you going to presume that the chickens run into his bag of their own accord, and without his agency?  A man is found riding your horse.  Are you to presume that the horse came to him of its own accord? and yet horses love liberty,—­they love to kick up their heels and run.  Yet this would be just as sensible as to suppose that these slaves came on board Drayton’s vessel without his direct agency.  He came here from Philadelphia for them; they are found on board his vessel; Drayton says he would steal a negro if he could; is not that enough?  Then he was here some months before with an oyster-boat, pretending to sell oysters.  He pretended that he came for his health.  Likely story, indeed!  I should like to see the doctor who would recommend a patient to come here in the fall of the year, when the fever and ague is so thick in the marshes that you can cut it with a knife.  Cruising about, eating and selling oysters, at that time of the year, for his health!  Nonsense!  He was here, at that very time, hatching and contriving that these very negroes should go on board the Pearl.  But the prisoner’s counsel say he might have been employed by others simply to carry them away!  Who could have employed him but abolitionists; and did he not say he had no sympathy with abolitionists.  So much for that hypothesis.  Then, he in fact pleads guilty,—­he says he expects to die in the penitentiary.  Don’t you think he ought to?  If there is any chasm here, the prisoner must shed light upon it.  If he had employers, who were they?  The prisoner’s counsel have said that he is not bound to tell; and that the witnesses, if summoned here, would not be compelled to criminate themselves.  But shall this prisoner be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong?

“As to the metaphysics of the prisoner’s counsel about possession, that is easily disposed of.  Were not these slaves found in Drayton’s possession, and didn’t he admit that he took them?

“As to the cautions given you about prejudice and passion, I do not think they are necessary.  I have seen no sort of excitement here since the first detection of this affair that would prevent the prisoner having a fair trial.  Is there any crowd or excitement here?  The community will be satisfied with the verdict.  There is no question the party is guilty.  I never had anything to do with a case sustained by stronger evidence.  I don’t ask you to give an illegal or perjured verdict.  Take the