Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-22
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY p Is5o

SLAVE ABDUCTIONS IN MARYLAND-MEss, ,G
OF GOVERNOR THOMAS.
r Governor Thomas Of Maryland recently sent in to III
Legislature Of that State the following message on the uros
outrage OF slave abducions
4 STATE DEPARTMENT, ASSarorts Mn }
~, u. H. January llth 1850. /
herewith transmit the accompanying papers having re
!.cc 10 Two several cases, arising under the Consutio
nl me nltcd States and the Congress ,nroycd a.
me I'm OF February l793 in relation 10 the recaptur IF fl
gltives from service and labor. "
From the first OF these papers il will h, rcrccvod ,b.,
negro man, named Joseph Belt the slave Of John Lee Esu
eZan Frederick county, who had previously abscondrt
ir" lc service oi his MASTER was arrested in thc citv -
Ncw ok on or about the 20h day of December 1878 an,
immediately thereafter and before his removal 10 this State
was taken from The custody and possession of Mr. Lee un
acr ana ny authority of writ Of habeas ors issued BIZ on,
| York " W.T. ''''' VI ->e"
wi further appear that, at the hearing of the case al
u"h@h me property il the slave clearly established ly
c concessions o the himself and bv the testimony ii
competent Witnesses proof required by the court 10 be-
presented that slavery authorized By t Iws o Mary
land and although the evidence of tha fact was su,ld
both by the oral testimony of witnesses and by the r
ton oi the printed statutes Of The State as are read in our
own courts, tat evidence rejected the RESPONDENT
was Held 10 furnish only legal and admissible evidence
copy oil the law ITSELF under certificate the Governor and
sea- oi the STATE Such evidence being hand the
Save was forthwith discharged and his owner under color
~ aw deprived Of his property in manifest violation of the
constitution o the United States and the of Congress
This extraordinary decision in derora,ion as il is of e
lin meaning and ncndmen Of the Constitution and de-
sncd rs II doubtless 10 incrposc greater difficulties in
The way OF the rccapturco fugitive slaves than h:d rcyios
y existed, will nevertheless long as remains ,nreycrs
cd ~ considered authority in the State OF Now York and
' oi the Sreaest importance o the people of MARYLAND
that measures should bc taken its constionaIy
is, therefore, respectfully suggested that resolution h.
passed directing the Attorney General at the cost Of his
State to carry the hy writ o o otherwise to the
Supreme Court OF the United States in order that the sub
ct may BE- examined by that tribunal and the decision re-
ycrscd
The other papers consist of n communication from
citizen OF Virginia, of high character accompanied with af
idivs setting forth TINT certain Jonathan Little Of Wash
inson county in this State, is in confinement in the
Jail o Huntington county, in the State of Pennsylvania
awaiting his trial upon Indictment for kinappnna negro
The lacts, as stated, that Jonathan Little together with
two other persons, arrested, in that county, fugitive slave
named Jacob Tcnlcy the property Of Elizabeth MCLEAN of
Frederick county and while in the Of conycyn. him to
his owner the slave rescued from their hands and set at
liberty That, sometime afterwards Jonathan Little having
returned to Huntington county, arrested and imprison
ed IN e Ih OF that county, in narrow CELL heavily ro!cd
and treated in all respects Il clon.
II Is further stated that the trial Of Little was continued
from The last term Of the court oi that county notwhsani
ding his witnesses all in attendance until the January
term which will take place in Il weeks from this time;
that Little is poor man. and unable employ and p.y con
sci 10 defend him. II IS therefore suggested in these papers
that i; is the duty 0 The State ot Maryland 10 provide him
with counsel in order that he be properly defended
These eases present twd instances 0f the very many
others Ia show the obstacles that constantly incrposcd
prevent the rccapurc Of abscondng slaves not ony by
The populncc, bur BY the judicial tribunals
The whole subject is respectfully submitted for your con-
sideration and action. PnIilr r. TnoM1s