Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-07-30
From The Phil. Daily Register.
Kidnapping.

Our local columns contained, Yesterday,
report of the proceedings in the case of
George Smith, an alleged fugitive from labor
The prisoner Is n member of the fraternity
OF colorcd Mnsons, of Camden; is knows at
Salem, where lie worked several years, owns
house aud lot at Buslitown, and claims to
he n free man, born ut Feltersvle, New
Jersey, where he now resides with his wife
HEd children.
The facts Of this case show that VIC have
IN Our city, regularly organized band of
kdunppers, acting under the direction ofone
George T. Alherti This unn. our readers
will remember, WIS sent to the peniten,iary,
some years ago, for The crime of kidnapping,
md was set loose Oh the community, by nn
executive pardon. 1t wns only few weeks
npo that we reported his sending mck into
slavery poor fellow whom he hnd eniiced
20 his house rs guest, promising to find him
work. This wretch has had his eye for some
time, ms II would seem, on the unfortunate
George Smith, lurking about the happy home
OF his intended victim, aud pushing his in
guiries in every direction to see whether the
husband or the wife aud children could he
seized with impunity. A few weeks since,
on some charge trumped up against Smith,
he was arrested and sent to prison. Ills
friends ntcrered; aud, Ms there was nothing
against him, had him released. Alberti was
then defeated in his attempts to get Smith
into his possession on n hail-picce. Day
before yesterday, Mt n late hour, lie was agnin
arrested and placed under confinement, du-
ring the night. No reason was assigned by
the officer, or pretended officer, except that
smith owed costs on his former arrest
Yesterday morning ho was taken before
AlfiarNnun n.ll,o n NfnVu,.,.,,..,., Il.r,,
lie wns detained, tcithout tcarrdnt and tc'ihom
any charge against him, with the knowledge
and by the authority of Alderman Dallas,
until tho kidnApper, Albert, arrived with n
warrant from Commissioner lngraham, for
his arrest.
Now, every honest man in this city would
like TO know by what mysterious power
Albert swnys the constabes, who have
noted in this matter, and Alderman Dallas,
who turns his Office into prison for freeman.
We admit that the Fugitive Slave Law au-
thorizes any Southern gentleman To seize |
any Northern citizen he pleases, and take |
him of, on permission of Commissioner
appointed for the purpose; but we deny TINT
such right is accorded to Albert or his col
league, Dnlas. These two persons are
citizens of Pennsylvania, aud have no right
TO lay hands without warrunt,on the hunblest
individual. The broad mgis of our State
Constitution, protects the most obscure cit
izen against any assault OF his liberty, unless
the ussailont come from sister S,ntc. Be-
fore the law, George Smiths person is MS
sacred us Governor Bgler's. Ills arrest aud
Imprisonment without warrant, constitute n |
crime for which the parties concerned should |
be held responsible.
Every feature in this case lends to the
strnngest suspicious. Since the refusal of
Governor Lowe, of Maryland, to surrender
McCreary, the kidnnpper of the Parker girls,
and nccomplce in the murder of Miller,
there ns been change in the tactics of the
wretches who subsist by preying OH the un-
fortunate blacks. At present the persons
who figure MS claimants, generally lnil from
Maryland. II they are proved kidnPppers
they nre snie under the administration of
Governor Lowe. For our pnIt, we think
that very complnsaut gentleman, Governor
Bgler has sacrificed the State honor by lis
envcrness 10 surrender any and every body
clLined by Maryland or Mnrylanders, when
n demand on tho part Of Pennsylvania for
The surrender of double. dyed criminal is
contemp,uously trampled on Ivy Governor
Lowe. If he had more care for the pride
and honor Of the great State he represents,
we should praise him more.
We trust that the public spirited citizens,
who do not think that the Union would he
endangered by seeing justice done to the
unfortunate victim of the Alberti gang, will
see to il, that George Smith is provided with
counsel, and hns something like justice done
him. We trust, also, that Commissioner
Ingraham, taught by the past, will exeiclse
caution in the admission OF testimony. We
believe il was Dir. lngrnhan', who, year or
two ngo, in his nepidaton ubont the Union,
sent man down to Maryland as slave,
whom the alleged master refused TO receive.
Let Mr. ngrnham bear in mind, that the
Union will last long after lie is under the sod,
md that it will not be endangered by doirg
justice 10 George Smith.