Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-08
Boston against kidnapping,

Hon. Josiah Quincy, formerly President
o. Harvard College, IN letter published
some tine since, gives the following account
oi the manner in which the Fugitive law OF
fV3 was treated by the people of Boston
soon aiier lis passage. We believe WASH
ihglon did not issue any Proclamation threat
ehing vengeance OF those who rescued the
ivglllye. lie had not learned that the chief
cnd OF the government was to glorily Sla-
very aud enjoy it iorever.l
81 can sreak on this subject with some
what personal certainty so far as it respects
'pe existence of the feeling prevalent ON this
sngect fyty-sir years ago. Sometime about
uie year l10l, soon after the first law on this
slilJect was passed, was sent for Us Coun-
sellor-at-Lnw to appear before one of our
actlng justices of the peace (Grecnleaf y
70 defend person then on trial, under The
charge oil being slave, on the claim of his
IDusier, for delivery to linn. On appearing
before the Justice found the room filled
WIN crowd of persons, not one of whom i
Knew, but who were attending the court, ap-
phrently from iuterett or curiosity. Among
lhem were the couslables, aud the agent OF
'he master, but who the other persons were,
uild what was the object of their assembling,
was ignorant. ] entered, Of course, on my
duties, us advocate, called for the evidence
oi The agents authority, aud denied the au-
thoriiy Of the law of Congress, aud of the
magistrate under it, to deliver uu inlubitnnt
OF Massachusetts into the custody OF nnOih-
or, unless after trial by jury, according 10
the Constitution of that State. While Oc-
cupied with an argument was suddenly
Interrupted by loud noise behind me-. aud
on turning round, found to my Ustunsh-
mcnt, both the consiables and agents on the
floor, aud the alleged slave passing out OF the
room between the files of bystandcrs, which
were opened TO the right aud left for his es-
cape.
About fortnight elapsed, when was
called upon by Rufus Greene Amory, II law
yer Of cninence at the Boston bar in that
day, who showed me letter from South
eru stakeholder, directing him to prosecute
Josiah Quincy, for the penalty, under the
law of 1888, for ubsiructing the agent of the
claimant, in obtaining his slave under the
process established by that law.
81 Mr.. Amory felt, not less than myself
llle folly of such prelence; aud i nevcl
heard from him, or from any one, anything
more upon the subject of prosecution. Thu
result appeared to give the public, satisfied
ny mind that unless by accident, or stealth
or i'm some very thin settled parts of Ill
lsA-e,,.,,ry, ihc. law of 1888 would he ioreve
imperative, us the event has proved,
Massachusetts. Aud The same will, in M
opinion, he the case, as have already said
with the law OF 1850"
[Tho .Ncw York Express gives an nc
count of another rescue which it says took
place Aug. 4, 1896. Two colored women
claimed as slaves by John B. Morrison, oI
Baltimore, were rescued from the Supreme
Court, in Boston, during the session of the
court, and while Judge Shaw was engaged
in trying their case. ThelErpress says;l
"The coIored people, of whom there was
a crowd in the court, then sprang from their
seats in every direction, and gathering round
the two slaves, rushed TO the neorst door,
burst it open, aud hore them pcll nell down
the stairs. A huge negro woman carried
one of them into Court square in her arms.
The deputy sherifis were the only officers
present. One of them, Mr.. llaggeiord,
dashed in among the rushing mob, but was
seized by the throat aud thrown aside, una
BILE to stem the current. Judge Shaw call
ed to order, and commanded the rioters to
stop, but they pressed on, ill, in the space
of not more than two minutes not n colOred
person was in court A carriage was at
hand in School street, and the women were
placed in it, and driven up School street,
down Beacon street, and over the mill-dam,
The Judge held the sheriff accountable for
the return of the slaves, but they were never
returned"