The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-02-16
The Slave Case.

Inc Ioil0WlnS are Tic particulars Vi TIE cave
which called forth the Resolution of Mr.. Gid
dings, authorising inquiry into the matter
The particulars are given by Mr.. Giddings in
letter to the Ohio True Democrat:
"DgAR HAMLN,-You will recollect Hen
ry. the colored man who waited upon the ia
ble at your boarding house while you were
here during the I'd session of the 2Sth Con
sress. He was stout, athletic fellow, tolera-
bly, intelligent. and had bought himself of his
owner, Mrs. Wlcoxen, who lives at the Ma
Wy Yard. His wife is named Sylvia, and your
lady will recollect her as faithful and atten-
tive servant. The terms on which Henry had
bought himself were, to pay some three or
four hundred dollars at stated periods. lie
had reduced the whole amount, it is said, to
eleven dollars, which yet remained due. Six
of this he had obtained, and he and his wife
were looking forward to another week or two,
which was to see him freeman, or chattel
converted into human being. They appear
ed cheerful and buoyant with hope and expec-
tation for the future. Last evening, they were
both in the lower room of the house, when
three ruffians in the shape of human beings,
entered, seized Henry and threw him down.
One of them seized Henry by the throat to
prevent his making noise, when the Others
drawing their pistols drove the servants and
family back, and marched their victim to the
slave-pen, which, you recollect, stands on
Maryland Avenue and 9TH street."
Mr.. Giddings goes on to give an account of
his unsuccessful attempts to obtain the release
Of Henry. The wife of Henry is described by
Mr.. Hanalin. of Ohio, and by Mr.. Severance,
of the Kennebec Journal, who boarded in the
house where she was servant as being one
of the kindest and best of women. Mr. Ham,
lin says:
while reading the foregoing letter, we
could not help weeping, as if standing by the
gaze of departed friend. During the win
ter spent by the senior editor of this paper,
and his wife, at Washington, this Sylvia was
kind and constant attendant as our servant,
where we boarded and a better heart never
throbbed in human bosom. Her kindness,
especially when we were confined by sickness
several days, will never be forgotten. At this
time we inquired into her history. She was
about thirty years of age, and was always free.
Her husband was slave. Some three years
before. he had purchased his freedom, and was
to pay four hundred dollars. By their joint
efforts they had at that time paid between two
pay the balance, she said, in two Or three years,
when he would be free, "and them" she said,
'our happiness will be perfect She was one
OF Gen. Harrisons servants during the time
he was President. and waited upon him dur
ing his sickness. Our heart is too full to COM
ment upon the circumstances of this case, or
TO speak of the cruelties aud barbarities of the
damnable slave trade of the District of Column
bia."
leader, after reading the above, do not be.
gin and pour out volumes of denunciation on
the South, some of whose representatives vot-
ID for Mr.. Giddihgs' resolution, until yo have
recollected that there were three men from
Maine that voted against inquiry-until you
have bestowed just rebuke on Clark, Will
liams and Hammons, Representatives from
Maine, whose votes prevented that inquiry
from being made, for, had they been given on
the other side they would have reversed the
majority.
BY the way, not one of the Loco papers in
ti,is State, except the Republican Journal, has
alluded to the vote on these resolutions p
WHY'S it. Do the editors of these papers
SANCTION the course Oh tnelr representatives.
If SO, why not come out and tell the people
So If they do not sanction it, they are COVER
ing and tialid slaves of party, thus to with
hold rebuke which they feel to be merited
We are waiting to see what the Times will say
of Mr.. Clark's course in this matter.
.rba natro;t ADVERTISER of the I'd inst in
s.eating of General Cass's want Of honest