Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-05-20
The Runaway slaves.

The case the Runaway Slaves at Wash
Iington--cr as it is now generally stated the
abduction of slayes--has excited unwonted
interest, both in Congress where the subject
was introduced by Mr.. Pafrey, and among
the citizens of the District Of Columbia -
The authorities at Washington have taken
measures TO prevent threatened outbreak
and mob; and at the last accounts there
was prospect that the pence of the city
would be preserved. 1t is not YET proved
that the escape of the slaves was a case OF
Illegal bduction--certainly they were not
forced away againstthe consent and wish
es. The fact undoubtedly is, that they had
secretly, among themselves, made prepare
ton 10 escape from bondage; and that, by
concert with persons out Of the District,
they were enabled partially to carry out
their design. The assistance thus given To
the slaves was illegal, unnuestionably, and
the abettors will be, as they should be,
amenablc 10 the laws which they have vio-
| lated But who will blame the slaves -
The excitement on the subject nj Washing
ton, and the threats Of riot and blood shed i,
do not proceed from the friends of these
slaves, not from The enemies of slavery; but
from the advocates and supporters of that
nstitution-pcople who are proverbalIy
impatient of taking into their own hands
the ADMINISTRATION Of the laws which sustain
the inquitous system. Believing, or ieign-
Jog TO believe, that the anti-slaycry paper nj
Washington, The Era, has had direct IN
1uence in the dissatisfaction of the deport-
ed slaves, the owners of the slaves and
slave-owDers generally, have directed their
-revengeful feelings against that establish
menf, aud even demanded, with threats Of
violence, its removal from the city. Calm
Judges, However, assert that the paper has
been conducted with proper temper and
moderation, and that il could have had no
agency in this conspiracy, or in any unlaw-
ful proceedings. The paper itself disayows
any such agency, and the National Intclli-
gencer expresses full confidence in its dec
larations. Whatever may be the result Of
of the affair, some good may come out Of
III. II may open the eyes Of Congress 10 the
necessity Of doing, what there can be no
doubt it is perfectly competent 10 do--abol
iSh slavery in the District Of Columbia
The liberation Of slavery there il n mon
strous incongruiiy. The correspondent of
the Journal of Commerce, under date Of
the 3ist, says:
Last night. the crowd assembled in
front of the Era office, but showed uG symp-
tolns Of disposition to violence. The
number Of the polirc guard from the City
and Georgetown, including the deputy mar
sbal and constables, was from seventy-fve
TO a hundred. Besides, there were present
a great number Of Government Clerks, who
had been requested by the President and
heads of departments 10 act as conservntors
of law aud order.
" But after all the assembly had dispersed,
and after the police and the clerks had re-
tired: after the aldermen and all the conser-
vators Of the peace who had been relied on
had disappeared, the mob rallied 10 secret
md silence, 10 the nnnber of two hundred.
and proceeded, under chosen leader, to
DIR. Baiey's house and called him our.
"Dr. Bailey, as editor Of The Era"
was called for, and promptly came out up
on the steps, alOnc and nnarmed. The
leader said, We are Marylanders ard Vir-
ginians, and we have come 10 tar and feaih-
er you, and destroy your press. The Doe
tor requested 10 be heard. " Hear hifni"
was the general shout. The Doctor spoke
some ten minutes, and was applauded by
some IN the crov !, TO whom the leader said,
a what have you 10 say, you don't own any
niggers." This remark was resented and
created dispntatiou; but after this cpl
sode, the doctor made few remarks, aud
was responded 70 with appreciation. Mrs
Bailey, his wife. appeared, in the mean
time, a. bis only hacker"
The correspondent Of the New York |
Commercial advertiser, says:
These poor negr0es-ihe recapturcd |
party consists Of ,hirty-eighi men, twenty