Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-05-03
The Fugitive Slave Case.
Under our Telegraphic head appeared
on Saturday morning. the following an
nounccnent:
Excitement ut neutrality-suspicious.
Threatened.
NASuINGTON.

WASHINGTON. April 20.
1.-THE fugitive slave case has produced
great excitement The office Of the Ma
tional Fra has been threatened witt, d
mob. but Law has thus far prevailed"
i Thus was news received by lightning
while its herald was plodding on behind
in coaches. We had not heard of she
fugitive slave case before Saturdays
mail. however, brought us Washington
and Baltimore papers which detailed a
fugitive slave case. which. we presume.
is the one referred TO. The facts of the
case may be given in short. thus:
The Schooner Pearl. Of Whi'eh'l, \
j., which had brought wool to the CITY Of
Washington. left that place on Saturday
night. the fifteenth. and sailed down the
Potomac. carrying off II fugitive slaves
-thirtv-cight men. twertv-six women.
and thirteen children. On Sunday morn
ing when the fact and the mode Of their
escape became known, great excitement
prevailed. and company of thirty armed
men under command OF Maj. Williams.
started on board the steamer Salem in
pursuit. The subsequent events are thus
given in the National Intelligenccr of
Wednesday:
1t appears that the Salem discovered
the schooner living in Cornfeld harbor, at
the mouth Of the Potomac, about two
O'Clock on Monday morning. The fugi-
tives. seventv-seven. in number, were all
fast asleep bhlow. and Ed. Sayres. the Cap
tain. Chester English. a white boatman.
and Daniel Drayton were also below
The Salem being Immediately run along
side the Pearl. the Georgetown party al
most instantaneously boarded her. fasten-
cd down the matches, and secured the flu
gtives and the white men on board. The
movement was il rapid and successful one.
and all on board the Pearl were thus
made prisoners without bloodshed. al
though it was evident that the slaves would
have resisted iftherc had been any chance
Of escape.
On the arrival Of the Salem and the
schooner at the steamboat wharf yes ter
day. large number Of persons were as
sambled. some of whom used very treaten-
ing language towards the white men who
were brought up prisoners; and if the lat
ter escaped without serious personal in
jury, it was owing to the prudence and
iirmncss of the guard by whom they were
attended. and their being quickly convey
ed to Jail in a coach which was pressed
into immediate requisiton.
We called at the jail yesterday. after
The safe Judgement Of the prisoners and
the fugitives. and we learned from the
commitment of Justice Williams. who
went down the Potomac in the Salem with
the pursuing party. that Edward Sayrcs.
Chester English, and Daniel Drayton
have been committed for further examina-
ton on the charge Of aiding slaves to es-
cape from their owners.
The white men and slaves were all in
prison at last accounts. Among the flu
gtives was girl belonging to Mrs. Mad
ison.
final examination Of the parties was
to take place on Wednesday at O'Clock.
Mr.. Giddings offered. in the House Of
Representatives. a resolution TO raise a
committee Of investigation, but the propo
sition seems to have met with no favor.
Dai. Gin. alias.