Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-03-03
From, the ~ Y. Tribune.
SIaye-Catehing--Wh0 Pays!

Most of our readers will recollect the
case of John Bolding, the Poughkeepsie
Tailor, who was arrested in August, 1851,
as an alleged Fugitive Slave, brought from
Poughkeepsie to New York, and went
through the form of three days trial ;
and although proved to have only one
tenth of Negro blood, was sent back to
South Carolina into Slavery.
Owing to the good character of John,
and the intellectual and religious standing
of his wife, his friends resolved to pur-
chase him. The history of that negocia-
ton is interesting. The price first pro-
posed 81 $50, or thereabouts his friends
offered to give that, but wished the clai-
mants first to make out Fram7 facae
case of his Slavery. This was agreed to.
After the trial had proceeded little, the
sum was increased to 81, 500, because
additional costs had been incurred. y
His friends, however, determined to give
even that sum.
When the trial was over, Sl,750 was
demanded, and the plea for this extra
$3.50, was that the Marshal would have
to be paid.
However, under the circumstances,
Bolding's friends submitted to this exac-
.tion, and set about raising the money. 1t
was soon ascertained that the amount was
forthcoming. Then new condition was
attached to the purchase, which was, that
Bolding must 90 back into Slavery, at all
events, so to make an example of him,
and teach the North the law. This was
a sore condition. His friends demurred;
but seeing no alternative and moved by
tender sympathy for him and his sorrow
ful wife, this humiliating condition was
agreed to.
John was seated in carriage, taken to
the steamboat, and just as he was biding
his friends and his wife's kindred good-by,
expected to return a free man in fe W
days, both he and they were astounded
to learn that tle0 thousand dollars was
now the price of his redemption.
This intelligence, communicated at this
late hour, was both to John and his friends,
chilling in the extreme. The Gberality
of those generous and sympathetic friends
had been taxed to his utmost. The claim
ant was demonstrated with, but all to
no purpose. The plea for this last exac.
ton was, that the Marshal's fees would be
increased, with the other expenses, in ia
king him to South Carolina.
Bolding was then told by his counsel
and friends that it was doubtful if this de-
mand would ever be submitted to, and
that he must not indulge any delusive
hopes. He left peaceably and quietly,
but sorrowful emotions. He was taken
back, shut up for weeks in prison by or
der of mob, and had no intimation for
a long time Of what was doing by his
friends. Those friends rallied once more,
made noble push, the 81, 900 was raised
and deposited in Poughkeepsie Bank and
teiegraphic dispatch sent to that effect.
The claimant, in the absence of Bolding's
counsel, pocketed the funds, and after
weeks and weeks delay, Bolding return
ed.
But the cream of the story is yet to be
told. After four, five, eight and nine
hundred dollars had been from time to
time clapped on, to meet the costs, expen-
Ses, "Marshal's fees" &C., we have doc
ument from Washington that gives us yet
apother bill, that Uncle Sam seems to be
connected with.
Here it is properly certified
IN THE MATTER OF JOHN BALDWIN A FU-
GITIVE SLAVE.
Mileage conveying Fugitives from New
York to South Carolina, 773 miles, at
372 cents per mile $3.50 s74
Neutrality-suspicious. 3days atsl 8 90
Mileage of two assistants con-
veying fugitive from New
York to South Carolina, at 81 ac579 rs
Total Ss72 62a
Dated, March, 1852.
ANDREW T. JUDSON.
Ii IL