Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-04-11
From the Baltimore Sun, April S

Fletcher Holster arrested and Imprisoned The Abo
/ litionists Called to the Reseuc--Meeing of the OPP
/ ponents Of Lar and Order--Speeehes Of The 1rai-
tors, &c.
! We announced by telegraph on Saturday the ar
rest of an alleged fugitive slave at Boston, named
Thomas Sims, the stabbing the officer who arrested
him, and the subsequent excitement caused by the
arrest in that city We have since received detailed
accounts of the affair in the Boston papers, together
with later telegraphic intelligence, all of which
sum up briefly follows:
| The arrest of the Fugitire
The Boston Bee, of Friday last. says
Sims came to this city on the 7th of March last
not quite four weeks since During this time he has
been stopping at colored seamens boarding house
kept by James Aiken, Nos 1873 and 155 Ann-street.
He is % years old, has wife and several children
in Savannah, and is said to be very bright intel
gent looking negro-one who from his manners and
general appearance, would not be taken Tor slave.
Only yesterday he received letter from his wife
respecting arrangements which were being made to
take her to the city.
He had determined, it is said not to leave Boston,
though the danger of tarrying here could not have
been unknown to him. He has walked about our
streets freely during the day and night during the
past four weeks and was last evening on customa-
nv leisure walk when he was arrested and conveyed
to the Courthouse.
f The whole force proceeded towards Endicott ST.,
concerted
arrested, Sims was to be brought to the Mansion,
where Deputy Marshal Byrnes was in waiting with
coach, in order that the utmost speed might be
used to convey him into close custody.
He at first supposed that he was arrested for drunk
enness, but he reached the Courthouse the true
nature of the made known, when the cry of
kidnapper raised, and the prisoner drew knife
and stabbed officer Buchanan in the groin.
This arrest performed with much celebrity and
so little noise proves that Marshal Devens can per-
dutv with adn
BILE certainty and perfection and opine with a
great deal of confidence that the after-manag
of this will show that law, ORDER and good gov
eminent can be carried out in Boston, and that a
sound public sentiment will sustain it.
Arrest of Fletcher WeJster,
Late on Thursday night, after the arrest of the
fugitive and when considerable excitement prevail
ed among the blacks fire occurred in Union street.
While watchman Estabrook was ringing the bell of
Kings Chapel. Fletcher Webster, Esq, came in and
represented that the alarm probably given by
persons who wished to collect mob in consequence
of the arrest of fugitive, and desired the watchman
to desist from ringing the bell. This the officer
fused to do, when MIR. Webster assaulted him, and
attempted to draw him from the bell rope. The
Waterman called for help, and Mr.. Webster ta-
ken to the centre watch-house and finally to Jail.
Mr.. Webster appeared before the police court on
. Saturday morning, and by his counsel asked for a
delay Of the proceedings. This granted, and the
matter postponed one week, MIR. w. giving bail
, in 5000 to appear at that time and answer to a
, charge Of assaultng II Waterman
! Meeting of Abolitonists, Treason &c.
An infammatory call for meeting of the Adolf
oniss in front of the State House appeared on Fri
day afternoon and large crowd soon assembled on
the Common.
In the meantime the following petition was pre-
sented in the Legislature
g That the of the State House yard be granted
to the citizens of Massachusetts. to hold public
meeting in the afternoon, to take into consideration
81 cRofo IL
operation of the Fugitive Slave law. and to devise
proper and legal measures for the defence and pro-
lection of citizens of Massachusetts,
MIR Cushing of Newberry. spoke in opposition tc
the petition, and moved that it be laid the table
Mr.. Keith, of Roxbury, moved that it be laid I'm.
der the table
The motion to lay it on the table was carried by
al yeas to l13 nays.
The meeting. on the Common, was called to order
by the Rev. MIR Colver, and Mr.. D. Howe was ap
t pointed Chairman.
Wendell Phillips addressed the meeting. He spoke
OF the courthouse in chains He hoped the people
= would in from the country in such solid col
umns to block up the streets and prevent the flu
gve from being carried off, except their heads
He reioced that the law could not be executed, ex
cept at the point of the bayone and behind chains
e They won't dare to carry the fugitive out Of the
commonwealth except under the convoy of the guns
OF the navy yard. He spoke of Faneuil Hall being
closed to them and hoped that they would make the
elms OF the Common resound to the declarations tina
law no law. constitution constitution, chains
: or no chains this law shall not be enforced. Block
the locomotives, tear up the rails, follow the fugitive
to the borders of the State if possible to him
e He counseled every colored who had ever fell
the chains of Southern oppression, to fill his pockets
with pistols &C. and, far as he was able he would
V stand by their sides. The law for them was at ar
e end. He urged the meeting to hold itself in read
ness with all the means at it's command to endeavol
to stop the execution of this statute The
e government and Legislature have refused US the
means to try this issue, and have the right to dis
}, obey it and meet the consequences. When priests
and statesmen traitors, the people must take ur
the reins.
!, The meeting here adjourned to fremont Temple
where the Rev. Theodore Parker was called up. He
said that when he passed the house this
/ ing, and saw the chains which encompassed it, he
imagined that he was in VIENNA and not in Boston
under martial law, and certainly not under the
6 laws of New England He asked the meeting to pass
6 the resolve each for himself that they would hole
% forevermore Infamous, any enc who aids in tbt
arrest or rendition of fugitive slave. am he said
3 ready to do it, and but little difference be
= tween the African kidnapper and the Boston kid
- napper There are at present three kidnappers ii
10 Boston, find them out, and point at them as they
understood, from good authority that they were in
urged the meeting to form vigilance committee
and keep watch upon the movements of the blood
hounds
y A Scotchman, named Mcclure, denounced as {
: coward any man who would allow his arm to hans
loosely by his side while fugitive being carried
~ off He counseled violence, he said but soon af
~ forwards cried Out-H Liberty observation-disclosures