Pardoned.
--Two slaves, named Jack and Ben, owned by F. N. Fitzhugh, of Caroline co., who were condemned to be sold and transported beyond the limits of the United States about two years since, by the County Court of Caroline, for setting fire to a barn, were pardoned by the Governor on the 21st, and restored to the agent of their owner. The pardon was granted in pursuance of an act of Assembly passed at the last session. The circumstances attending the case were, in brief, as follows: On the arrest of the negroes their owner suddenly disappeared. It appeared on their trial that they were incited to the commission of the offence by him. After condemnation an order was given by Fitzhugh for the payment to an agent of the amount of the assessed value of the negroes. The Auditor of Public Accounts refused to honor the draft, a law having been passed to meet such cases many years since. If the judgment of the Court had been allowed to stand, the State would have gotten the two slaves for nothing, which the General Assembly did not think was exactly in accordance with justice, so they authorized the Governor to release them. Fitzhugh is said now to be in Texas.
