Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-09-14
(Fro,r The .Nc,c York Ga-etie, Of Sept 10
AROIITIONISM IN PRACTICE.


The citizens Of New York, and the entire American
people, are in fair way Of understanding the character
and tendency oil Aboitionsm, by the light thrown upon
the subject By passing events The New YORK Non'
ini,ee of Vigilance which, it will he remembered IL
made up of white and black men, led on by the nfa-
nous David Rugges, their negro secretary and agent
10 avowedy acting in the name and by the sanction ct
the American AnlSavery Society, and Is the subject
organ
il is but a few days since a worthy and respectable
white man, the Cap,ain OF vessel which arrived mere
from Africa arrested the oath OF this negro Rug.
giles on the charge Of kidnapping fout Africans and
bringing them into this country as slaves; and by his
means and by this committee, the Captain was pursued
into one Of the Eastern States imprisoned as ielon,
released only upon enormous bail, and obliged to
defend his immense expense before our courts
Meanwhile Ruggles and his clan appealed 10 the public
for funds carry his prosecution and large amount
was obtained from the abotionss for the purpose But
no sooner was the brought 10 trial than the court
dismissed the wholly g,oundless and vexatous
suit and the rascal Ruggles and his party escaped with
impunity, because Of their pauperism.
But now we have another more fragrant example oil
the vainy of this committee of vigilance, which ought
10 open the eyes Of citizens in the North well as
the South to the enormties of Abolitonlsm. gentle
who arrives here with his confidential servant TO
whom be en;russ all his property and Of whose attach
ment 10 his person and family he has ample evidence
finds that abducted by candestine means, toge.
Their with 1000 dollars and concealed by this committee
of vigilance until 81 900 reward Is offered tor his arrest
and the recovery OF the money Then forsooth friend
of this Ruggles after frequent interviews with him. as
he admits under OATH visits the gentleman robbed and
offers the money, on condition OF The tree
dom Of the servant the 900 reward, and the pledge
mol 10 prosecute either the thief his accessories; and
BY way of proving that he could produce part of the
money he pays 10 him between one and two thou
sand dollars AT subsequen. interview, he pays some
two thousand more, and when arrested by the police,
he gives up thousand declaring that thlsls all
he has YET been able to recover, thus admitting either
that hns to the thief that the stolen money
IL in the hands of accessories, probably those OF The
Committee Of Vigilance, Of which Ruggles is The prn-
cipul.
In the mean time, Rugges goes 10 the master for the
clothes Of the slave whom he represents 10 have gone TO
Canada but since denies knowing any thing about HIM
Still, however, portion OF the money is not recovered,
though the whole Of the parties as lar as detected are
now before the police ind Rugges together with his
white friends under bail for their appearance at The
Sessions for trial. and WILL it is 10 be hoped, receive
their deserts.
During the examination at the police, several of the
leading Abolitionss sworn, but they all had the
Gift Of ignorance. One of them, who acknowledges
that he lives NEXT door the house here TIE robbery
committed and that bis basement occupied by eOored
family while he passes for white estes that he
heard his wife say that Tom the thiet was in the base
ment Of his house, having run away from his master,
but processes know nothing more about him. None
OF them will tell where the slave is concealed, where
they have obtained the money or where the rest OF the
sum to be found There cun be little doubt that Tom
could be forthcoming, there would be disclosure of
and persons pcsted in this abduction and rob-
berry, which il is deemed vastly important TO conceal,
hence they have strong motives for putting poor Tom
out of the way.
The aspect Of this case, however which is most i'm
portant, is the eKemp6cation it gives of the practical
tendencies of Abolitionism. The Committee of Vigil
lance boast that they have already sent off to England
and Canada 200 fugitive slaves and they are even
proclaming their readiness 10 conceal and send off all
such who may reach New York thus inviting the here
for the purpose Many of these have been seduced from
their masters while here VISIT passing with their
.syvsnts hrouu the city and doubt many of them,
before running away rob their masters II possible
that this committee find the spoils useful in their
ton, they would have been in The present case but
for detection