The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-20

the Fugitive Slave Law. The following Is the
last casualty of the kind. The letter speaks for
itself OF course nobody is to blame, as IN
steamboat explosions.
From the .Mw York Herald.
SINGULAR FUGITIVE SLAVE CAsE-MAS9UvREs
OF THE ABoLIrIoNIsTs
To LANES Gordon Bennett, esq, Editor Of the
New York Herald
Will you give to the public the following
statement?
On or about the first Sunday after Easter, A.
d. I849, a negro slave, named Nicholas Dudley,
the property Of Dr. Allen Thomas, of Ellicotts
Mills Anne Arundel county, Maryland, escaped
from his owner, and came to the city of New
York.
In April, 1860, this slave Dudley was arrested
in the city of New York, charged with the rob-
berry of Captain Rowland. He assumed the
name of James Snowden. He communicated
with his master, informing him of his situation.
A son Of DIR. Thomas thereupon came to this
city, and found Dudley in the Tombs.
| Mr.. John Jay, lawyer of this city, somewhat
known as an Abolitionist, became the counsel
of the negro, and advised him not 10 return to
his master, but to plead guilty of the offence of
which he was charged, and temporarily remain
in the State prison. The negro took his advice,
plead guilty, and was sentenced, on the 18th
day of May, 1850, to the State prison ut Sing
Sing, far the term of two years, by the name of
James Snowden. About the first of April last
DR.. Thomas, the owrer of this negro wrote a
letter to his exceIlency, Washington Hunt, gov
ernor of this State, stating the above facts, ask
ing whether the negro had been pardoned, nd
expressing his intention to reclaim him at the
expiration of his sentence, viz May 18th, inst
To this letter, DIR. Thomas received the follow
ing reply, in the hand of Gov. Hunt, in person :
STATE OF New YORK, EXECUTIVE
| DEPARTMENT,
| ALBANY, April 90, 1852.
SIR On examining my records find that no
pardon has been granted to James Snowden,
nor is there any application before me in behalf
of such person.
Very respectfully yours,
WASHINGTON HUNT.
DR. ALLEN THOMAS, Ellicott's Mills, Md.
Upon receiving this letter, DR.. Thomas made
all necessary preparations to reclaim his slave at
the expiration of his sentence. The second
proof under the tenth section Of the fugitive
| slave act, was perfected, and Allen Thomas, jr.,
with witness as to Identity came to this city
on the 9th of May, inst. He found the United
States marshal and his deputies courteous, and
Charles s. Spencer, ESQ., was employed az attor.
ney. The necessary papers were prepared and
the proper warrant promptly issued by George
w. Morton, esq, United States commissioner,
and on the 18th of May, inst, two days before
the expiration Of the sentence, Deputy Marshals
| Talmadge and l.. D'Anges, with the warrant,
accompanied Mr. Thomas to Sing Sing. They
arrived there about o'clock, p. NJ, and imme.
diately proceeded to the prison. On going
through the same, and examining the works, the
boy was found to be missing, and information
was given to Gen. Lockwood, the agent of the
object of the visit. The keeper, Mr.. Robinson,
was represented to be unwell, and lying down.
Gen. Lockwood expressed himself willing to
render all assistance in his power, and said
that the negro was still, rs far as he had knowl-
edge, in the prison. Robinson soon made his
appearance, took Gen. Lockwood aside, and
made to him some communication. Soon after
Gen. l.. stated TO Deputy Marshals Talmadge
and L. D'Angeis, and Mr.. Thomas, jr, that he
| had been informed that the negro had been par
doned and released that morning, and at the
same time produced the pardon of Governor
Hunt Upon examination, the pardon was
found to have been given on the lth the same
day Of the discharge, by his excellency, WASH
ington Hunt; without any publication or notice
in either the State paper, or any paper in this
city, and without notice to the district attorney
of the city and county of New York, where the
conviction was had with, of necessity. a full
XIII Wedge of all the facts, and with, beyond
doubt, the express purpose of defeating the re-
cIamation of the slave The marshals and Mr.
Thomas returned to the city on Friday, the l4th
of May. In the proceedings of the American
and Foreign Anti. Slavery society, convened in
the Tabernacle, in the city of New York, the
following-as appears by the report in the New
York Herald-was said by
Rev. Mr.. Ray, "a colored brother)-Do not
60 away have something very interesting to
tell you. Two years ago, poor painting col
ored man came to this city, from Maryland. He
became cook in a vessel between this port and
Providence He was discovered, and man
went to him and said he should 60 to Maryland
with him. He refused to do so, and then q
charge of stealing was got up against him. He
was put in prison, and his master came to his
cell, and demanded the boy as his property
John McKeon would not consent. He aaid the
boy must be tried on the charge of stealing
His lawyer and friends advised him to plead
guilty He did so, and was sent to prison
Steps were taken to get him out; but the ide,
was abandoned, IA it was feared it would b.
known by his master However, "a the tim,
drew nigh that his period Of imprisonment hae
expired, the brethren felt very uneasy, and DR.
Pennington went to Albany and succeeded il
getting Governor Hunt to release him. Hi
time is not out until tomorrow but he is flying
to-day beyond the reach of his enemies. lap
; plau'e.
A brother here stated that the owner wrote
to keeper of one of the prisons, asking hin
where the slave was, that he might take hin
when his period of imprisonment expired bu
his letter was never answered.
; Mr.. Ray-Oh! yes. ! forgot to mention
that
The n,odus operand Of the defeat Of the re
y clamation, is, by the above extract, quite salts
factorily explained. These facts, without com
5 ment, are submitted to the public BY the &C
of the governor of New York, committed wit
" a full knowledge of the position of matters an
its results, the owner Of the slave Dudley, ALA
/; Snowden, has been deprived of his property, an
a convicted felon once more loosened, to pre-
~ upon the property of the citizens of tie Nort
u Whatever remedies in the premises the claimar
- has, civil or otherwise, against any of the pa