The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-01

sailors IN the yawl to bring off only those
who had been passengers on board the
Tesche. In fact, the whole party consist
ed of sufferers, which became manifest by
their all crowding into the yawl. could
distinguish four white men among theni
The burthen was too great for the little
vessel, though one of the largest of it's class,
and manned by two experienced seamen.
TO board us with safety, under such a load,
required not only skill in the boatmen, but
greater steadlness in the crew than could
be expected from crowd of Supplied and
aitrlghted negroes. At the critical mo-
ment when the yawl struck the Washing
ton, they rose up and seized her guard. It
was in vain that one of the sailors shouted
forth his hurried imprecation against this
lmprudent and fatal movement. He had
barely time to effect his own escape from
the fate he had just predicted. His COM
rade was about to follow his example but
was arrested by negro woman, who with
both arms grasped him round the neck, at
the moment that the side of the yawl near
est to the Washington rose out of water
and turned over on them like trap. Of
the poor slaves none were saved. One of
the white men was found alive under the
Jolly boat. Another had got upon the end
OF snag or" sawyer" it was the slave
trader. He sunk and rose, and disappear
ed, and again emerged, with the elevations
and depressions of the amphibious tenement
to which he chung with desperation Ma
ture seemed to recognize him as one of the
vlolators Of her rights. The long boat re-
ileved him from this novel and terrible PEN
ance. IL must be confessed that some
slight disgust took the place Of sympathy
when it was found that this object of our
last solicitude was no other than the selfish
and hardened retailer of the poor negroes.
He was young lawyer the son-in-
law of notorious slave dealer of the name
OF Boyce, who resides in aff1uence near
Frankfort, on the fruits of traffic he has
followed unremittingly for thirty years.
BY those who knew Robert Boyce it
was not expected that he would let this
matter sleep. His love Of litigation, his
great legal connexions, his interchangeable
perseverance and boundless prodigality in
the prosecution ofhis suits, were well known
to them but to Paul Anderson, an inhabit-
ant of st. Louis, whom he held chiefly re-
sponslble, as the principal proprietor of the
Washington, and "owner on board" these
formidable attributes were unknUv much
less the subject of measurement and appre-
hension. The latter was conscious only of
having done a disinterested and humane
act, in the performance of which, some of
It's objects from their own natural weakness
and the effects of recent disaster, perish
et almost In the moment of safety. Among
them was valuable though humble man of
his own crew. If a thought REQUIRED,
as doubtless it often did, respecting the
poor slaves, it was that of commiseraton,
softered. indeed, by the reflection, that an
infinitely worse fate had awaited them.
More than two years after this disaster,
in the fall of 1927, the writer was in Frank
fort, KY. The Circuit Court of Kentucky
was sitting in the house in which he lodged
Accident took him into the court at the mo-
ment the judge called up for trial the very
cause which had grown out of this incident.
The crowded chamber was only another
evidence ofthe interest which the people of
the slave-holding States take in the agita-
ton OF any legal question, which has refer
ence to that peculiar species of property.
In the midst of this crowd, apparently so
lnimical, sat the owner of the Washington
his QuIxotc appearance strongly contrast
ed with his adversary Boyce, stout, broad
man, weighing probably $50 pounds; his
rotundity of figure and sternness of features
indicating the prosperous but unconsciona-
BILE slave dealer; whilst his antique dress,
worn and greasy side pockets, loaded with
papers, client-like patience, vigilance and
assdulty, marked him out as the very per-
soGtcatlon Of chancery suit. No wonder
then that our owner of the Washington
had some misgivings as 10 the result, when,
IN addition to these personal advantages of
his opponent, he witnessed the display of
the learning, the zeal, and the talent which
his money elected. 1t was at this moment,
when, gazing around upon the seemingly
unpropitious faces which surrounded the
bar, as it were i'll quest of encouragement,
that the eye of the defendant met mine.
The recognition of fellow traveller was
not the less cordial, for his being an eve
witness of the scene which gave occasion
to the trial.
Mr.. A. stated that his testimony was
scattered from the Mississippi to the coast
of the Atlantic. 1t cost him much time. la
Dor and mouey to collect it. He had come
TO the trial apprehensive Of the disadvanta-
ges of trying the cause in Kentucky, but
was dissuaded from making an affidavit to
that effect by the assurance thatif the peo-
pie OF that State were sensitive and tena-
cious on the legal and constitutional ques-
tons of the rights of property in slaves,
they were in the same degree averse to the
domestic slave trade, and held the negro
trader in adherence.
Mr.. Bib and Mr.. Crittenden contended.
on the part Of the plaintiff, that slaves were
as much property as bales Of goods.-that
the slaves in question were the property OF
goods OF their client-that the defendant
had shipped his property and failed to de-
liver it at any port. On the part of the de-
PENDANT, Messrs. Duncan and Grayson re-.
piled with great cloquence and ability. 1t
was thouuht however that tho strurc, ,nJ