The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-06-12
SEYMOUR CUNNINGHAM: OR. ALI
FOR LIBERTY.
BY JOSEPH +. BCCkINGUAM-

y NJ
Skin for skin; yea, all that a man hath
will be given for his freedom
The circumstances stated in the following
pages are tucts, which occurred in Boston a.
bout twenty-five years ago. They were well
known to many persons at that time, and
probably, some of the witnesses are Vet liv- /
ing. Soon after their occurrence, the story
was published i'll the New York Galaxv.'-
SOME who then read it have probably forgot
ten it. and many of the present generation
have never seen it; to all such it will have
the interest OF novelty. 1t is now rewritten.
with few sli.ht variations in the phraseoIo-
sv, and is Offered As contribution to the CON
tents Of Liberty Bell. where, il accepted bv
the editors it will exhibit a striking illustr,-
ton Of an irrcpr.s>,,blc desire for freedom
from Slayery-an undauntrd resolution to
recover it-and unilinrhins rrmneSs under
the process Of personal muliation, To secure
that natural, !uallenable privilege OF human
,itv.
1t was in the te.inning of the year 1897,
that a collection of people. chiefly colorcd
and surrounding" y"uny man Of rather dark
compleHIon-hut moi darker than MANY that
one may meet in daily intercourse with the
worli-waS noticed in one of the public streets
of Boston \ very natural curiosity induced
one ot the Observers To ak. What Is the mat
ter To which a white man. who seemed
T. be somewhat active in the crowd. rcr.lird
That villain denies thu, he i> a ave: and
these black ra>.al> are disposed To resist the
civil authority. and attempt 10 rescue him
WHY. how j. tins >,;i another. the. man Is
a white a> W. are, and why >hvuid the blacks
take more interest in the fellow than YOU or
/: He appears 10 have more white than
black blood in hi body
Common Interest or >vmrarhv or curiosity
r'r"tS'.l =" nnr,cv a>>,n.ii ar... anl ir,inr,,i
them {" accompany The ALLEGED Slave TO III.
~
OF the owner was taking him. to prorur. a
warrant for his 'cxtr,lIition' The magistrate
was the late Zarhariah c. Whitman. son of
Judge Benjamin Whitman. both well known
IN the community. On examination. the ac-
cused answered to the name of Seymour
! Cunningham, and claimed Ia hc free man
, The agent. who had travelled five hundred
miles Ia secure him. asserted that he was Z
well known slave. whose owner lived in Al
eNandria- Ii soon appeared that whether. ;
Slave or a free man. Cunningham was fine
smart. intelligent fellow. and r"allv wortl
hunting through half dozen States. as
subject OF speculation. The only moral tain
that appeared III his character was his abom
Unable wlckcdnc>S in running away. But a
one sin Is no sooner born than it begrts an
other, Cunningham denied that he was
Slave. and boldly asserted (falsrlv. as it an
peared.) that, though he had once been
=, Slave. he had obtained his freedom. and ha
a certificate of the fact The agent. with c
" quail confidence, denir,! the existence of an
\ such certificate. The magistrate rcGucstc
Cunningham to produce it. He replied tha
1t was too valuable to carry in his pocket; bu
one OF HI. friends whom he named. knc,
where it was, and could produce it in fiv
e minutes Accordingly, in few minutes. tn
document was brought into court. and I'll
y triumph of humanity in spite of color, W.
y visible in every black mans countenancc.
= murmur ran through the court room. tn;
Seymour was free man : and the maai,tra,
y himself manifested a keen sense of gratiic;
- ton at the prospect of Cunning hams becou
~ ing his own property.
- Let me see the certificate said the agen
u 1t was handed to him. lie examined
with an lncredulOus mnutenes>, and then r,
IL turned it TO the magistrate, putting himself
the positionofa man sure of his object. 'Wh,
u may it please your honor said he, this is
IL good certificate; know the signature is Gel
Z uine; but this 81 ignature does not belong
u this man. This Slaves name is not Sevmou
"' He has brother who looks very much liz
+ him who is free, and this is his certificat
&c which has been stolen or borrowed by th
i" lmpudent Slave to impose it on the court
eS his own. His brother fought in the arm
II during the last war, and is covered with seal
VI His right arm was broken by a grape-sho
iie his little finger of the right hand was shot OF
l'e his left leg broken. and the calf of the 9th
vi shot away; and he has no middle toe on Il
'n right foot. All these particulars YOUR hon
"A may see, arc stated in the certificate. al
iie were there inserted in honor of the real Sc
jill mour's bravery and services. But as for Il
fellow, he knows he is a Slave. .Cunnin
of ham, continued the agent, how dare you del
nd that YOU are Slave =
III Well, Cunningham said the magistra
ed what do you say to this
of. 'Sav. sir say that am a free mana
RS and sell me for slave But this certifra
Ter which has cost me blood from every part
". nv ID. crr',- Z, -c!ettl -he lirls tla