Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-04-24
The Last Fugitive Slave Case.

The case of Henry Preston, who was sent
back TO the south ms n fugitive slave OIL Sat
urlay is n very hard one, ns, in fact, nre
most of the cases which arise uuder the
present law.
Preston escaped from the service Of his
mnsicr four years ago. In this city he had
formed domestic ties here he married n
woman who nppenrs to have bccen devoted.
ly fond of him, ligbt-colored mulaito wo-
man, whose little daughter, by former hus-
band, had been adopted 10y him, and cher
ishcd towards him all the londncss of II child
for parent. lie wns suddenly pounccd
upon by peiilogger aud n police officer,
who seized him aud dragged him TO prison,
on some pretencc Of larceny, for it seems
that the law, in most cnses cannot he execu-
ted without the help of lalsehOod.. A brief
examination followed during which, hc was
constantly attended by his wife, who gave
the strongest tokens OF the Strength of her
attachment TO him, and Of the suffering she
must endure mt separation. On Saturday,
bc was torn from his family, who clung 10
him with dcspairing fondness, and carried
bnck to his alleged owner in Maryland
The circumstances of their parting, which
were truly affecting, are related elsewhere
in this sheet.
Great horror is expressed nj tho African
slave trade even by slavc-holtlers. We re-
member that President Tyler IN one of his
messages, spoke of it ms II cruel, ntrocious,
and accursed traffic, lavishing upon it epi-
thets of the most vehement denuncatIon.-
The cruelty aud attrocity of the slave trade
consist mainly in tearing men aud women
from their families aud homes, in separating
those whom God has joined, aud sending lis
Slave law brings the hnrbnritics of that trade
TO our doors. Instead of being perpcirated /
by pirates, armed with pislos and cutlasses,
they arc committed by lawyers, policemen,
aud deputy marshals, who plead the law rs
their warrant, and Instead of taking place
on coast Inhabited hy savage tribes, they
nre inflicted in country claiming to stand
in the first rank of civilization, aud TO he the
freest in the world.
This is tho principal difference in the ca
ses.
The same Congress which passed the iu
gitive slnvc law, enacted n law bInishing
the slave trade from The District ni COlllnbln
They were sqlleamisll on the subject of The
slnve pens where men aud women were
bought and sold like oxen, in sight of the
rapitol, but they felt no scrnple in legaIlzlng,
within tho boundaries of the free states,
some of the worst enOrmites which make
,nt traffic so nbominnhle.
IT is known 10 our readers that many of
those who are favorable to n law for the re-
cnmalion of fugitive slaves, ure yet shocked
ut the operation nf the present statute, IN
breaking up families, and dragging men
from their wives and children; and earnestly
desire that there should he some Limitation
of time, beyond which the slave shall not he
reclaimed. II the proprietor, they say,
cares so little for the recovery of his slave as
not to pursue him forthwith, but chooses to
lie in wait ill, in the course of years, some
agent OF attorney is found, willing TO make
tho experiment of specializing OH the hut
inanity OF the community, aud 10 carry him
off from his family, in the hope thut his
neiglIbors will rnise a large sum for his !iber-
ntion he certainly deserves no assistance OF
the law.
All these considerations, however, are
answered by the advocates OF the cOmpron-
ise, with clamor against the enormity oi
ngi,alingn question already peacefully set
tied. The agitation, in truth, comes from
the other side. Every attempt TO reclaim 4
slave under such circumstances, is new
agitation OF the question makes n new eX
hibition Of tho atrocities OF the law; forces
Them upon the public attention, and compel;
their discussion. Frequent complaints arise
na to the manner in which the law is adnn
islered. The true ground OF complaint lie!
we conceive, in the law ITSELF IL cannot bI
so administered, as not to revolt the bete
feelings OF munkind; it cannot he so admin
istcred, as not 10 disgrace our national char
Acter and our insiitutions.-.E T. Eve. Post