The southern press., 1851-10-29
From the Hardy va.) Whig.
The Hardy Fugitive Slave Case.

The Hardy kugtttvc sIaVo tAsos
Knowing the interest felt throughout the
country in reference To cases arising under the
Fugitive slave law, and having recently been
subjected to the necessity of securing It's en-
forcement in the State of New York, have con
cuded TO comply with your request to furnish
you with statement of the circumstances at
tending the capture aud restoration TO me OF my
negro boy, Harrison.
On the night of the 18th of January last, my
boy escaped, with a number of others, from this
county. After prompt and diligent pursuit in
Pennsylvania, whittier eonjectured and aseer-
tanned the gang had fled, and after being satisfied
that tho obstacles thrown in the way of his ar
rest 10y portion Of the people of Pennsylvania,
would render further trouble and expense un-
availiDg | abandoned the attempt to secure him,
and determined to submit, rs best could, To
the outrage committed upon my rights as a
Southern man, by the people to whom have al
luded. Having, however, received lnumatlons
that n portion Of the fugtives had taken up their
abode in the vicinity of Jamestown, in the State
of New York, on the 22d of September last, in
company with Felix Seymour, esq, and other
neighbors, who had suffered from the bad faith
and viIlainy of the AbolitiOnists, renewed the
effort to regain Harrison, and started for his
supposed place of concealment. Having pro-
ceeded as far as Baltimore, our party engaged
the services Of Mr.. - Stocket of that city, to
assist us in our undertaking. In New York we
ascertained that the marshal lived in Albany.
When we arrived in that city, however, the Off
Ger was absent, and we were compelled to go to
Buffalo, where we found Mr.. Yates, the deputy
marshal who readily consented to aid US, al
though have been Informed that he sent in his
resignation (Which was refused) before doing
So Having procured the warrant from Com
missioner Smith, we made our way directly for
Jamestown, which we reached about midnight
We Immediately went to the house OF the deputy
sheriff, whom we aroused from his slumbers, and
whose assistance we requested. He quickly and
candidly acquainted us with the fact, that he
was down on slavery, whenever and wherever
he found it,"
Expecting no aid and receiving no comfort
from that quarter, we hastened to small house
in the neighborhood. where, we understood, we
should find boy Of Mr.. Seymour, to whom
have already adverted. Being disappointed there
we went to the house of colored man named
Lewis Clarke, where, we were informed Harri
son was at work We found him in the yard
milking, surrounded, handcutfed him, and start
ed on our return to Buffalo. About that time
CIarke's household poured forth to the rescue
negro named s orm leading, with a gun raised
and leveled ut our party, swearing that he Wond
shoot We were, however well armed, and felt
pretty much at our ease, whilst Storm followed
up to jamestown. Harrison was placed in ii
rs soon as we returned to Buffalo. The Alb iii
tionists went aotively t, work to procure his re-
lease, and succeeded in obtaining writ of reple-
vn for that purpose. Without giving detailed
narrative of their efforts, it is sufficient to say
that they failed Harrison was taken before the
tba nj 1uu rd
the cause argued by Hon. Seth c. Hawey and
II. S. Love, ESQ., for the fugitive, and James Nj.
Smith, esq, of the firm of Haven d. Smith, for
the claimant, and the boy remanded to his owner.
The principal objection raised in favor of Hari-
son was, that the affidavit on which the warrant
was issued, did not state he escaped from Vir-
ginia or any other place, but simply that he es-
capped. This point was of course overruled.
In the name of the Southern peopl'', tender
thanks to Marshal Bush of ALBANY, (who Joined
US after the arrest of the boyD X. Best, Il. Hurt
burt, ID. Cooper WIN. Lockwood, Geo. Sher-
wood and ]. Chan berlain, of Buffalo, for their
efficient services in our behalf. Mr. Best hand
cuffed himself to Harrison and walked with him
from the jail down the crowded streets of Buff
| falo to The place of trial.
At Philadelphia, the deputy marshal Of that
district (whose name has unfortunately escaped
my memory was added to our party, and was
ready to offer all the aid at his command d-assur
ing us that we had friends there upon whom we
could rely, and that our rights should be protect
ed. Marshal Bush and the gentleman from Buf
falo accompanied us as far as Baltimore, whence
we hurried home.
In this connection, am pleased to have it in
my power TO commend the upright, downright,
fearless independence of Commissioner Smith
As citizen of Hardy county, am proud Of the
privilege Of assuring all, that there are many
patriotic citizens in New York and Pennsylvania
who are ready to aid them in the recapture OF
their fugitves. | should rejoice, were this dis
position more generally diffused and shall look
with interest to the apprehension and punish
ment OF Storm who attempted to overawe us
whilst arresting Harrison
1t simply rem1ns for me to say, that have
been gratifed with the indications which wit.
messed during my expedition, favorable to the
enforcement Of the Fugitive slave law. In com.
mon with every man in whose veins there runs
drop of Southern blood look upon the en-
foroepent Of that law as essential to the perpe-
tuity Of the Union of these States. Our feel
ngs, our rights, our liberties, are involved in il.
There must be sense Of security in the enjoy
ment of property, or the objects of the confed-
eracy will fail N. ID. PARRAN.
HARDY Co, Va. Oct 10th, 1851.