Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-08-17
sL.AYr EyCITEnIENT.


There has been considerable excitement
at Washington and Baltimore within the
last few weeks on account Of the escape of
slaves from their masters. Gen. Chaplin
of New York, who aided in the escape Of
the slaves belonging 10 Mr.. Toombs and
Mr.. Stevens, members of Congress, from
Georgia, has been arrested, ard will be
tried in Maryland. We trust he will
meet with merted punishment. Such
visionary mad caps do more TO perpetuate
the bonds of slavery than any other class
of individuals, especially at the present
time, when the South is already highly ex-
cited on this subject.
Fifteen slaves made their escape to Co.
lumbia, from Maryland, few days since.
The most revolving feature in slavery as
it exists in this country, is the domestic
slave trade; the selling OF slaves, and fire.
quentIy the separation of husbands, wives,
and children. The following scene, and it
is not the first one Of the kind, that has oc-
CURED of late years at Washington, is cal
culated to touch the most obdurate heart.
Such scenes in the capitol Of this glorious
Union are disgraceful to the age in which
we live, and should not be tolerated by
Congress an hour longer than necessary
The more liberal minded Southern men
are themselves in favor of abolishing the
slave trade in the district.
The runaway slaves have been so nnmer-
Gus of late, in Washington, under the instiga-
tons Of the abolitionists here and elsewhere,
that the owners of this species Of property
have become very much alarmed, and hence
are disposed TO move them 10 safer parts of
the United States, or 10 sell them TO slave
traders. A cruel incident of this kind is ex-
citing great sympathy there at present. The
family of William Williams, the coachman
of Presidents Polk, Taylor and Fillmore,
were suddenly, on Friday morning, seized
by a slave trader, and taken from their
homes, in that city, off TO Baltimore, to be
sent to New Orleans. His wife, over so
years of age, three daughters and three grand
children, were thus snatched from him in an
be sold south to the highest bidder, and sep
araied from him and each other. The poor
man wrune his hands, rolled on the ground,
was nearly crazed in fact, by the dreadful
ful parting. After many years toll, he very
recently purchased his own freedom, but his
family were owned by some one in New Or
leans. The President feeling deeply for his
Distress gave him money and let him 90 TO
Baltimore, 10 see them again. Williams
found the trader would take the sum of S3,-
200 for them, and returned with the hope of
raising that amount here to redeem them
A petition was drawn up and to-day circu-
lated about the City and House of Represen-
tatives, setting forth the fact, and asking for
assistance, which was so promptly rendered.
that the prospect is, in the language of Will
liams himself, ''very fair"
The President, Nlr Webster, Gen Scott
and number of Senators, members and ci,i-
zens, have contributed sums from So TO so
MIR. Corcoran gave $500, which was the
price asked for The aged wife, and he made
her "freen al once. Besides doing this, Mr..
Corcoran has purchased one of the women,
who has lived in his family for some years.
Mrs Com. Patterson another and Mrs. Gen.
Townsend third, who lived with her for
some years past. So the children, for whom
1880 were asked only remain to be pur-
chased by their grandfalher-and he is in a
fair way of raising this money.