Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-13

The Committee believing that the resolution
referred to them originated imm ediaiei! on. ~
the apprehension and imprisonment during the
las, summer Of man Of colour calling himse"
Gilbert Horton, in the county OF Wasnins'oa'
as fugitive slave. have considered Il their Gu
~ to ascertain CORRECTLY all the facts connected
with the case. 1t appears by the warrant Q,
commitment. furnished to the Committee, ana
by the affidayits of John Edds and a. n hrnoia
the latter police officer, that on the 22o Gay
Of July last, Gilbert Horton was ABOUT inc
harves Of Georgetown, strange negro VIII ~
GU, any evidence Of his being free man. ne
was suspected ofbeidg fugitive siave,oy Euas
who in company with Arnold the oficer, caiiea
on said Horton; upon examination iouna 'na'
he had no evidence Of freedom, and that his sto-
ry Of himself was contradictory and evasive;
inquiry was made Of the Captain OF the vesse'
in which Horton came to Georgetown; whose
information only strengthened the Suspicion OF
his being fugitive slave. He was accoi DING
" apprehended as such, carried before James
Gettys, a Justice of the Peace, who, alter Que
investigation, committed Horton as runaway
by his warrant. The official persons IN the
District Immediately opened correspondence
with persons named by Horton, residing near
Peekskill, New-York, to ascertain the TACT OIL
Horizons right to freedom. Upon producing
evidence Of the fact. Horton, by warrant from
the Mayor of Washington, dated 2sth OF aug.
last, was discharged, after {. confinement Of 20
days, without being subjected 10 any charge or
expense.
Il appears that on the 2lst day OF October
| last, Horton wasaeain suspected Of being fu-
gitive slave, apprehendcd, bu, was on the same
day discharged, the magistrate before whom ne
| was taken being satisfied of his right to free
dom, and is now enjoying an uninterrupted
| residence within the District Of Columbia. Al
though in the case and cases OF similar char.
acter in the County of Washington, fees and
charges for maintenance have never been ex-
acted; still by law persons thus situated are
subject to such charges, and are generally un-
able to pay them, thereby subjecting the mar
shall Of the District to loss represented by him
as amounting TO $500, within the last years.
The Committee recommend such an altera-
ton Of the law as will make such charges pay
able by the corporation Of Washington County.
Be IL enacted, &c. That whenever any person
shall be apprehended or committed in the City
Of Washington or Georgetown, or in the eoun.
~ Of Washington, as runaway, and 1t should
| appear upon examination, that the said person
is entitled to his or her freedom, the Jail fees
and other legal expenses Of such apprehension
or commitment, shall be chargeabls upon the
corporations of said towns and county aforesaid,
as the case may be, and collected and paid o.
| yer in the same manner as other public charges.
Sec. .. lind be it, further enacted, That so much
of the 2lst section Of an act of the State Of Ma
ryland, passed in the year l7l5, entitled ian
act relating to servants and slaves" and now IN
force in The county Of Washington in the Dis.
trict Of Columbia, as authorizes the commit
ment and sale Of free persons Of colour for pris-
on fees and other charges apprehension, up
on suspicion of their being runaways, shall be
and the same is hereby repealed.