Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-23
DA1l ESTEC.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer, Of .71s. 49,

sbeeYH ET@EES.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer, Of .7ug. 49,
TUMULT AT BURLINGTON-SLAFE CASE.
We reqret 10 record the following account OF scene
OF excitement and umult at the hitherto PeaceI"' enc
aIwavs DELIGHTFUL little city of Burlington, n. }. The
circumstances which formed the quo ammo OF the pro
ceedings both sides, somewhat singular and IL
presenting them 10 readers, We have
keep in view the maxim of " auds atternm Partem
About II wears AFRO, a muatto arrived in the vicinity
of Burlington who called himself " Severn Martin" -
He soon obtained employment was industrious, and
married coloured wife, by whom he had one child,
who is now alive He worked las we are informed for
yera years under Mr. Emily, brick naker, near bor'
dsntown During this period his wife ded-and ne
married another, also cooured woman now living and
by whom he has no children BY course OF INDUSTRY
and frugaty he saved from $500 TO $780, and had pur
chased small piece of ground and cottnge ut Three
Tuns Village Mansfield Township Burlington Co.,
where he resided with his family For some years the
world went well with Severn Martin-when unhapply
for him, q man who had known him in Virginia. found
him out and informed his old master of his where-
abous" His old master then wended his way to New
Jersey found the report correct and in due form of Law"
made claim upon Severn Martin, under his old name
of " Negro SAM"
The proprietor of Severn Martin alias Negro Sam.
gentleman Of high responsibility in the State OF Fir-
pnia, "Colonel William Christian. File brought let
ter of introduction from Mr.. Wise, member OF Con.
gress from that State, to MIR lngerso Of this city
Colonel C. stated that he had purchased 'Sam, not so
much from motive of requiring his services-but be,
cause Sam had married female slave on his estate by
whom he had eight chdren-and his old wife and tamil
" were there now lie paid $3.50 for Sam, but had re.
ceived very little advantage from his abour as the said
Sam after ran away. The reason OF his leaving
was not account OF hard work or Ill usage put be,
cause he Jealous of his wife-as he Col ChrIslian
had every reason to believe, without any just grounds
The circumstances have detailed them, now be-
came matters of public notoety and as Severn Martin
alias Negro Sam, had conducted himself well, great e1
element prevailed
On Saturday last the case was heard in the Mayors
Court before his Honor John Larzaere, ESQ., Mayor Of
the city. The particulars investigated in the most
impartial manner-the Mayor postponing the court at
one stage of the proceedings for two honrS, to enable
Sans friends to bring forward some papers Ill his favour
An old paper was accordingly produced, but it had no
bearing whatever upon the question Two witnesses 7p
peared who sworc to Sam, and he was farther identified
by two large natural white marks on his body there was
third mark which he admitted without examuat:on.-
Col. Christian addressing him. said: &c SAM you know
abused you-that you were never l.trcaedTn ny
employ, but made comfortable. Was it not SO :" Sans
silence gave assent Colonel Christian observed, that
Sam used to make Shoes and otherwise employed in
handicra trade, in which occupation he had rendered
himself useful His age is 4S or 30. The case being
very clear judgment given in favour of the clannant
and Sam was 10 leave his cottage and return
10 Virginia and 10 slavery.
The next business was to remove him; but this was
easy matter crowd of at least 500 PERSONS white
well colored, had assembled the wharf.-the
great majority Of whom declared that he should nut be
taken away. We say the great majority because our
informant states, that there amongst them in
favor Of the master. We also learn that strong party
were anxious 10 have the heard before some other
aud future tribunal, in the hope of pleading his cause
with such effect TO his detention. This might
have been no more than ruInor But that being
threatened and the excitement and alarm which every
moment increased being bn too manifest il naturally
became an object with the proprietor to Sam
SPEEDILY as possible.
The State Rights, steamboat, observing the mob ap.
proach towards the edge of the wharf-wen aer way
lnFnr Il
then attempted put him the ferry boat but the boat
man would not receive him, and defending himself
against the party with log of wood, pushed off into the
sream and crossed without taking the captured slave
amongst his passengers BY this time the Lnnnus
alongside, and determined endeavor made to
place the constable and negro board which was as de-
termnedy resisted, the mob becoming furious. Sam
looked wobegone and wretchcd TO degree and in the at
tempt person living in the city, whose name we could
enton struck him, by way Of keeping the party back
We hope the confusion of the moment will be admitted
excuse for this act-as otherwise, to strike
negro in custody, s-bu we will say no more on that
part of The story negro attempted 10 strike kick
MIR. John Hancock, constable who Immediately drew
pistol; but gentleman behind him moved his away
Or acting from the sudden impulse of anger and per.
haps of Duty the might have been
Another negro was furnishing drk-but the Mayor
ordered him of, and he quilted the ground Meanwhile
the Lnneus left amidst the huzzas of the mob.
Sam was now mai ched 10 the front of the City Hotel.
and placed in dearborn wagon; but the popuace
more becoming furious, the Mayor assembled some steps
and addressed them to the following effect:
"FELLow-CIrzESs There are laws for protecting
savehoders in their rights, i'll this Stale. Such
being the case, it not for 10 inquire whether those
laws right wrong; but Magistrate it is my
bounden duty to carry them into effect, which
olved to do, as far as in my power lies AS good c,-
Gems, it your duty also to obey the laws of
try. warn you that the penalty for attempting to
scue slave under these circumstances is $1,000, in
prisonment; and if any of you brought before
charged with the offence, shall do my best to that
It is enforced. Let therefore exhort you TO respect
the laws, and retire peaceaby.'
ihe crowed then dispersed, and with little hooting |
and shoutng-"Negro Sam was conveyed away in the
dearborn We understand there general impress
sion amongst the crowd that Col Christian object was
TO get both the man and the property-we have it from
the best authority that the Cooners observations upon
the point were that if there were anv children he
would not touch the property but leave i for ic;r sun
port Butt there were not that then he consider cd ;
self entitled TO it, if the law so viewed tba s
for the loss of his $3.50 Sans ser.r.s
and the II years interest Of the money Bes;ds En
thought it right that Sam should return TO his wife md
family.
We cannot close this account without OBSERVING tina,
the conduct of the Mayor firm, credi,able and er
emplcry;-nether will leave Burlington wi,hou,
adding that the beautiful promenade Of the Bank"
with its cool shade and green velvet sward-as we'll
the many rural and sylvan walks in the vicinity were
never visited by respectable strangers than a, the
present time.
HONORS TO Mr.. MADISON