Pennsylvania Governement Miscellaneous News
John Spayed Resigned Office of President of Courts
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, June 22, 1809
John Spayed, Esq., has resigned the office of president of the courts of common pleas of Berks, Montgomery, Northampton and Wayne counties, and Robert Porter, son of the surveyor general, has been appointed by the governor, his successor.
BRITISH DESERTERS
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, September 20, 1809
On Friday morning last, at 9 o'clock Chief Justice Scott, attended at the court house to receive the return of the Sheriff in a habeas corpus issued yesterday by the Chief Justice to bring before him seven persons* who had alleged in a petition that they were illegally confined; by the return to the habeas corpus, it appeared that these persons were arrested in virtue of a written order from the British Consul residing in this city, as deserters from the British frigate L'Africaine, then lying at Annapolis. The Chief Justice sent for Mr. Wood the British consul, at half past 8 o'clock this morning, to request his attendance. An immense crowd of people filled the courthouse, taking possession of the Jury boxes, the bar and the judges seat, to the very elbows of the Chief Justice.
When Mr. Wood appeared in court, it was stated to the Chief Justice, that he wished his counsel might be sent for, and two gentlemen of the bar were pa med whom he wished to consult; the counsel for the prisoners urged that they should be immediately discharged; that even admitting them to be deserters from a British vessel and British subjects - no person whatever could have a right in this country to arrest or detain them for that cause; the Chief Justice however, sent for one of the counsel named by the consul who immediately attended, and when informed by the consul of the reason for requesting his attendance he stated to the court that he was engaged in a case of considerable importance in the district court then sitting, in which the other counsel was also engaged, which would necessarily prevent an immediate investigation of the question, whether the prisoners could lawfully be detained under the authority of the consul; that he perceived the habeas corpus had been granted without any affidavit as to the illegal confinement of the prisoners, and understand that objections were made to the formality of the order under which the arrest had been made; but as the prisoners were now before the Chief Justice, who had full power to enquire into the circumstances and discharge, admit to bail, or recommit them, as he might adjudge to be proper; as the case was of great public importance, and the detention of the prisoners for a few hours would not be attended with much inconvenience; he therefore requested the Chief Justice would consent to hear the counsel of the British consul in the afternoon of the same day, and defer his decision until that time, The Chief Justice stated, that the opinion of the Secretary of State had satisfied him, that deserters from British vessels ought not to be arrested or detained under the authority of the government of the United States, for the purpose of delivering them up to the officers of the British government, he therefore ordered the prisoners to be immediately discharged. The audience expressed their approbation of his decision by three loud and tumultuous huzzas and execrations of the Tories, and carried off the deserters in triumph!!
*John Nowland, William Whokes, Dennis Murphy, Richard Hughes, John Earp, Jacob Lamb
James Engle Resigns as Speaker of the House
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, February 14, 1810
On the 30th ult. James Engle, Esq. resigned the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives of this state; and the same day John Weber, Esq. of Montgomery County was elected to fill the chair.
Former Gov. Richard Penn Dies in England
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, July 31 1811
Died in Richmond England on the 27th May, Richard Penn, Esq., formerly governor of Pennsylvania.
Legislature Ratifies Bridge Over Delaware
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, May 8, 1811
Trenton, April 8
Bridge over the Delaware
The legislature of this state having at their late sitting, passed a law authorizing the building of a bridge over the River Delaware, between Black's Eddy (above Bull's Island) and Well's Falls, and appointed on the part of this state, Isaac Mickle, of the county of Glaucester, Jacob Hasey, of the county of Salem and Caleb Newbold, of the county of Burlington, commissioners for the purpose of fixing upon a scite (site) for the said bridge. The legislature of Pennsylvania have assented to and ratified said act, and have appointed on the part of that commonwealth, John Barclay of the Northern Liberties, in the county of Philadelphia, Amos Slaymaker of the county of Lancaster and John Holme of the county of Bucks, commissioners to join the commissioners of this state, to fix upon said scite.