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The "U. G. Railroad." - A serious mishap has occurred on the Underground railroad, at Petersburg, Virginia. It will be remembered that a few days ago the schooner Keziah, Capt. W. B. Baylis, of Brandywine, Delaware, was overhauled by a steamer, and taken into Norfolk on suspicion of having fugitive slaves on board. Notwithstanding the captain and male asserted such was not the fact. 5 negroes were discovered among the cargo. The case of Capt. B. having been submitted to trial, sentence was passed, and is thus reported by the Petersburg Express:
Upon the opening of court, the prisoner was brought in under the charge of the Sergeant, and placed in the docket, when, upon being commanded to stand up, he was addressed by Judge Nash, in effect as follows:
"William B. Baylis - I have caused you to be brought into this court, this morning, for the purpose of hearing and receiving the judgment which the law has provided for the offense of which you have been found guilty. I need not tell you that the crime of which you have been convicted is one which strikes at the security and peace of our whole slave population and which, from its extent, and the covert manner in which it has been carried out by vessels trading to our ports, has compelled the Legislature to pass laws upon the subject of the most stringent and rigid character. Yet, in the face of these laws, and with a full knowledge of all the consequences of their breach, you have had the rashness and folly to violate them. We have nevertheless, given you a fair trial and you have been convicted not only by the proof in the case but by your own confession, both in and out of court; and there is too much reason to fear that this is not your first offense, as the interior construction of your vessel would seem to indicate that it had been built for that purpose. The people of our State can respect the opinions of our own Quaker friends, and the virtuous and patriotic men of the non-slaveholding Sates, who are conscientiously opposed to slavery, and who quietly entertaining these opinions, seek not to interfere with the rights of their neighbors. But they will not tolerate the insidious acts of wicked and bad men, who, coming amongst us under the pretense of commerce or social intercourse, undertake to disturb the peace and security of our slaver property; still less will they tolerate the wicked acts of those, who, from the low and morbid purpose of gain, seduce our slaves and entice them to run off, under the delusive promise of bettering their condition. It is your misfortune to have been guilty of this crime, and to have been detected in the act itself. I trust therefore that the heavy punishment which awaits you may deter others from the commission of a similar offense.
By the laws of Virginia, the vessel is confiscated and the captain and mate compelled to pay a fine of $500, and be sent to the penitentiary, on each indictment, for a term of not less than three nor more than ten years.
