The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-18
THE BOSTON EXCITEMENT.
MACON. Ga, Nov. Ilth, ls5o

| Craf--the negroes belonging TO DIR. Collins
ani Ira Taylor, beg you to give place to the
subjoined simple narrative OF facts. II Is given
from recollection; but l am willing to make
! affidavit OF its correctness. Of course, IL does
not contain statement of ererything which
transpired BUTT does contain everything which
1 is at all important.
! The statements which have been copied in
this city, and in the South generally, by GER
tain class of papers are taken from the Boston
Chronotype, and other Abolition prints, and are
| gross Misrepresentation OF facts, and entirely
unworthy OF any confidence.
| We lelt Macon for the purpose Of purchasing
machinery for the establishment OF Bucket
! Factory and Variety Works in this city. / did
not even know that Dir, Hughes was entrusted
with the recovery of the slaves, until after we
arrived at New York, when he asked me to
identify the negroes
| We left Macon, Friday, Oct 18th, arrived in
New York Tuesday following Remained there
| till Friiay. 5 p. d., and arrived ut Boston next
morning Kept still on Saturday and Sunday
On Monday, attended to buying machinery.
! Mr. Hughes applied to Judge Woodbury. for
warrant. The Jueg' would not issue IL; said
| il was the business of the commissioners.
/ Mr. Hughes applied to thee separate com
| = ,ioners, who sent him from one to another.
rne last one refnsed-until he coull get all the
commissioners and Judges together. .....
In this way the matter was deferred until
| Thursday night, when the meeting OF commits
sioners was held. At this meeting our business
and the names of the parties for whom the war
rant WIS demanded leaked out
went to seu Craft OH Tuesd ~, had u long
conversation with him. He said that Ellen was
an,:iuus to return South, and would do so il she
;ouId get funds and an opportunity me
| f., hru II RI .Itb ur / Ia
90 buck text morning to get the letter if did
not 20 to Worcester. ......
WedneSdGy--We to Worcester and re
turned found the letter at the Hotel. ..
| Thursday morning-Saw Craft He told
me that Ellen had been to see me ut his shop
on Wednes lay. wrote no letter 10 CRIT
| the one published was forgery. The day
the letter purports to have been written, | WAS
| in Worcester.
friday morni g-Judge Woodbury. issued
he warrant, about 9 O'Clock, in open court
! 1t was at once known, and the ne roes and
! Aholnioni>ts began to assemble about the court.
,"use, and watch uS. Every few minutes, Il
.egro lawyer would peep into the marsh,l's
,tiice, to see what was going on- warrant
| p ccd in marsIias hands immediately.
The excitement b come grc0t--notling was
| lone--lnarsal id it he could be convince
hat Craft was in Cambridge street, he would go
and arrest hiln--se,mrd tnid and inclined t.
back out. g..
Saturday-W ere both arrested for s!and,r;
! Tor calling Craft slave-Were taken to deputy
[ sheriff Riggs ofice--obtaned hail for Sl0,-
| 900 each at &c, from Alrssrs. Riley & Free
man and l hayer & Co. No great excitement.
Afernoon--NegroeS in large numbers around
The United States Hotel changed my hat
mixed among them, and talked with them. They
al, L. Il from,
Gown that Knight was in Jail, and they were
otter Hughes. .,.
Sunday--Went to Charleston and about the
city all day--no signs of any disturbance.
M0pday-N Z We're again arrested, on charge
Of attempting to kdnap Craft and wife--carried
t, Court square, to deputy Corbin's office-2OO0
per- ons presrnt--l50O negro,s and 500 whites
Of the lowest order Gave bonds in $4,000
each, signed by Mes.rs Riley, Willis and others,
| beevc--crowd in the office very great; officer
sent for carr age---lett office to get into it, Mr.
Hughes got in. The crowd rushed upon it, so
hat could not reach it--they Missed us, called
u> blood hounds, &c, apparently for the purpose
Of exciting us to some act Of vi0ience--sorne of
them seized upon the horses ~ attempted to
open the doors--Mr H., who was in the carriage,
laughed at them, and made sport Of them.
The driver was not instructed where to go, and
heing greatly alarmed, left for Cambridge. When
he reached the bridge, Mr. Hughes knew where
he was, and ordered him to carry him back to the
hotel The driver turned, but meeting the crowd,
refused to go farther MIR. Hughes then left the
turred TO the hotel-some of the negroes came up
to him. He ordered them to keep off. They said
they did not wish to hurt him; but only to let the
people know that he was slave hunter.
remained in the Office half an hour, and left in
a cab-the mob Kissing and pulling my coat,
cn hunter. hlOpihoup1 S.c hut |
resolved to resent no insult, as that was PLAIN
y what they wanted me to do. One negro fol-
lowed to the botel-but did not come near me.
Monday Cflernoon.-Great crowd at hotel--ne-
groes outsde-whites came into The parlors and
passages. At s. O'Clock, other warrants were is
sued against US for slanderng Ellen Graft and in
turing her business! Gave bond each, for 500, 900
at the hotel, Messrs. Riley, Thaver & Co, Willis
and others signing for Understood a great |
crowd was assembled at Court square, for the |
purpose of mobbing us-oficer Goblin wished to
carry there. The mob had been collected by |
the hand bills, which had been placed about the |
streets.
That night great crowd c,me tn the hotel to
see us-Mr. Hughes was not WE'LL went down,
sat IN the paror and conversed with them, answer
ing many questions in regard t. the Crafts, and
the treatment of slaves generally.
Was no little amused at some, the more honest,
but deluded who actually seemed to think that
our negroes were chained every nigh; after they ,
HhIsheu WORK, anu Ieu uFon C0Hon SEED, &C.
TueS!ay-Comm!ttee of one hundred (white |
mem waited on the proprietors of the house, re-
curing them TO turn 0tst, and ordering us TO
ieare. This was peremptory refused by both OF
us and the proprietors
.Noon-Conm ttee Of sixteen called, saying that
If we did not leave instantly, we would be mobbed
Were not in--but landlord answered for us and
by our authority given IN the morning, that we
would not leave I'll we were rendy.
Erening-CommIttee of (white) Indies called
sent cards to room and desired 10 see us. We
were not in and of course, were deprived of the
meXpreSsbe pleasure of seeinS them.
at " ht-Mr. Hughes, not very well, remained
IN his room. | went down stairs again. aud re-
manned in the parl"r the night before
Among the crowd were many polite gentlemen,
who appeared II he gratifying their curosity-lr
great mass, however, were Aboltonisrs
Wedaesday-Very early, Rev. Theodore Parker
came To our room, followed by SO or 60 persons s.