Washington telegraph., 1854-07-12
The Best Joke of the Season.

\ The Best Joke of the Season.
We submit the following taken from a
letter addressed to the New York Post as
decidedly the most capital piece Of fun that
has provoked our risibilities for some time.
! And tits well-timed too. as it will do for a
set off to the tragedy that the hypocritical
/ long-faced emancipationists of the North
were successful in playing few days ago,
though it will not wipe out the blood that
stains their hands, and for which they must
answer to their conscience and their God :
Memphis Whig.
BosToN, May 81, 1854.
As the excitement of the trial has some
/ what diminished may as well take the op-
portunity to tell you the incidents Of trial
of which, if the proceedings were less inn
posing. they were at least more agreeable to
! all parties concerned As we were travel
/ ing from New York to Stonington. it was
discovered that we had on board as our
than Dr. George Washington Frost Mellen.
the noted Boston chemical abolitionist. whose
lectures on the color and other pecularities
| of the African race, have lately enlighted
! the citizens Of New York. DR. Meilen,
although chemist by profession, lays claim
also to some juridical attaiuments, the fruits
of which are seen IN bis elaborate treatise
on the unconstitutionAlty Of Slavery Few
persons have seen, and fewer still, we pre-
sumo, have read this work, for the reason
( doubtless, that it has been delivered by
piece meal at almost every anti-slavery con-
vocation by the author for the last ten years.
and what is worse, is likely to be delivered
in the same way until some permanent rule
shall be adopted for his exclusion therefrom
! Some of the passengers, becoming aware Of
his sentiments, and his indefatigable pro-
pensity to avow them on every occasion, ir-
respective of the disposition Of the audience,
informed him of the presence of a colored
man "a; tie ice-bor Of the steamboat and
that gentleman, apparently his master,
was Standing by him. as if having him in
custody. Mr.. Mellen, in his capacity as 4
lawyer, and in obedience to his philanthropy
ic impulses, offered his gratuitous services
for the benefit Of the fugitive. Another
gentleman was appointed by the owner to
advocate his claim to the human property,
and an individual among the passengers as
sumed, by request, the character Of United
States Commissioners. A negro waiter
whose risibles were considered to be proof
against the ludicrous aspect of the transac-
tons in which he was concerned, was
brought into the cabin. suitably manacled,
where the officers and spectators were around
a table.
The following is the affidavit, of which |
possess the original copy in pencil marks
United States Of America, State Of y.
York, John Wilson. Of the city Of Boston,
being duly sworn says that he is informed,
and verify believes, that John White Brown
colored citizen of Selica, Alabama. is now
confined and restrained of his liberty with
out due process Of law that he il 50 re-
strained by Captain JOHN White Brown, in
an ice-box on board the steamer Commodore
and is not so committed by any process Of
law; and depouent believes said prisoner is
so imprisoned to be carried out OF the juris-
dicton Of this State, and be sent to Sonora,
Miss, into slavery.
JAMES WILSON
sworn 70 DeIoTe mt, tie -oin udy u
may 1854. j. JONES.
Commissioner Of deeds.''
On the back of this affidavit was pencil
ed the following warrant which was duly
read by the Commissioner. Its departure
from the ordinary form Of such documents
may be accounted for BY the haste which
the important urgency made necessary.
ITO all to whom these presents may or
shall come. greeting;
TO every marshal or duly elected officer
of the United States 1ou, and each Of
YOU are hereby commanded to bring up the
BODY of j. w. Brown, said to be held in
unlawful confinement Oh board the steamer
Commodore, in custody Of Captain J. White
Brown, and bring him before j. Jones,
commissioner duly appointed by me, to hear
and determine the matters herein related,
and have YOU then and there this writ, to
be enforced at all hazards.
Thomas j. HITcucocK,
Judge of the Northern District Of tie State
of New York
After the preliminary formalities had
been gone through with all the gravity Of
which the case was susceptible, James Viii
son. the deponent Of the affidavit. was duly
sworn. His testimony amounted to nothing
more than that he wished to modify his
statement In the affidavit, 50 as to make it
aver. not that he had heard the negro in the
ice box was slave, but that he beLterea he
had heard the negro was slave. No OBJ
lection was made to his evidence by Mr.
Mellen, who proposed this case On the con-
stitutional grounds, independent Of any. tes-
timony whatever. He accordingly began
his remarks, which, but for the peremptory
requirements of the commissioner and the
audience, might have lasted all night His