Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-04-06
Justice in Tennessee .

Some time since, there came to our residence a
Young coored woman, whose husband had been
arrested in Nashville, and cast into Jail, on susp-
cIon of being runaway slave. She showed us
letter which she had received, dated Nov l"th,
from which we extract the following
81 remain in prison yet, and don't know when
shall Get out The people of this place took me
up on suspicion of being runaway from some
person in the lower country. But they have not
found any one to claim me, and never VIII.
NV lawyer came to see me three times, and OF
fercd to attend to my case for fifty dollars, but
had no money to offer; so | have not seen him
since have been in prison so long, that my prs
on fees amount to hundred dollars or more, ana
they say that if | am in prison twelve months, l
will be sold out for jail fees"
His name is Alfred Peeett-married only few
months-had been running on the river the last
ten years His wife was much distressed, ana
and wanted to know what could be done. We adj
vised her to get a copy of his ''free papers" from
the Clerk in Cincinnati, and we would do all we
could. We opened at once corresdondence with
highly respectable lawyers in Nashville, and for
warded the papers Their answer was, that they
had examined Peelett, and did not believe he was
free-that his story was contradlctory-that some
person there said that he once belonged TO a lazy
in Louisiana. They therefore thought HIM no
worthy of the attention bestowed on him. Hi
ail fees they said amounted to sos, and he Woult
he sold to pay them. No claimant had appeared,an
it was clear that he still was retained on mere sus
= picion We forwarded another letter, askln
= them whether by the payment OF his jan ices n
could not be released; and if so, whether the bus
= ness could be transacted by correspondence
S answer they say, that s'tha there seems to be n
!, doubt that he can be proved slave, but he car
If not be sold before the month Of April next. IN
n fees will amount to something like $780, but Il
Is cannot be released by paying them, as our law
require that he should be sold for what ne wi
- bring, and if he sells for than the jail fee
- the remainder goes to the county"
n The facts, then, are these. Alfred Peeet,
j., man who has been running on the Western waite
- the last ten years, and has his free papers recor
: ed in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, was seized la
e Aprl in Nashville on suspicion OF being run;
h, way. and cast into Jail, where he has lam eV
h. since: 'sthere seems to be no doubt that ne can
w proven a slave,'' though no person has appear
y to claim him duing the eight or nine months
~ has been incarcerated and no proof has been
~ fered he is to be kept in jail till next April, WI
=" his fees will amount to 5000, and when he Is to
sold for the highest price he will bring, the 81
ST. plus over 5000 going to the county; and all this
ne the teeth of the free papers, bearing the pro
rs' seal of Ohio-wthout clalmant-Wlfhout
re- single article of evidence to prove that ne IS
LY slave, but on a bare suspicion, and because
Nv seems that he is!
BY Such are the atrocities of slaveholding law, 81
n its cool disregard of the authority of the free 81
of Ohio. This coIored man was a resident
adj this State, and has the certificate of his treeat
en- stamped with It's seal. And yet mere hearsay
- suspicion, and an IL seems so are to weigh N
IDS, with the Shareholders of Nashville, than the
he c"l act e of the. sovereign Stare of Ohio; qnd
His man whom she is bound to protect, is to be
,tad into eternal slavery to pay his Jail fees, and to
ler- the county bonus for deprivng him of his III
are ty! r. -,
ia The case of Alfred Peeett is but one OF m
tu- of the same kind.-CinCinnGtl HerGtd