Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-09

action for libel against Benz. B. Mussey, book
seller, who had just published volume of
speeches by the Hon. Horace Mann, one Of
which was against the business of kidnapping
In Boston, wherein George 7. Curtis found,
as he alleged, matter hbellous of himself
That suit remains yet undisposed Of
Is. In May, 1854, Edward G. Loring is
sued warrant for the seizure of Mr.. Burns;
decided the case before he heard it, having ad-
vised the counsel not to oppose his rendition
for he would probabl, be sent back and fin
ally delivered him over to eternal bondage
But in this case, Mr.. Loring who had no
Curtis blood in his veins, did not wish to steal
aman and proposed to throw up his commits
sion rather than do such a deed; but he cons
suited his STEP brother. Chas. P. Curtis, who
persuaded him it would be dishonorable to de-
cline the efice Of kidnapping imposed upon
him as United States Commissioner BY the
Fugitive Slave bill. Benz. R. Curtis, it is
said, aided Mr.. Loring in forming the ':opin-
ion" by which he attempted to justify the %
tradition of Mr.. Burns; that is to say, the
giving him up as slave without any trial of
his right to liberty, merely on presumptiye
case established by his claiment.
L-cosxEcz1os OF MEssEs. PHILLIPS AND Parker WITH
ATTEMPTS 70 PREVENT KDSAPPISe BosT0S
AID ELSEWHERE
/. When the Fugitive Slave bill was propos.
ed in Congress, they both exposed its wicked
ness.
Z. After Mr.. Webster made his speech of
March Z, 1850, they procured meeting at
Fsneull Hall on the 25th Of March, 1850, in
which they criticised and condemned the
course of Mr.. Webster and the Fugitive Slave
bill.
8. After the passage of the Fugitive Slave
bill, they, with others, procured another meet,
ing at Faneuil Hall, Oct. IA, 1850, to devise
means for protecting the colored and oiLer in
habitants of Mass achusetts, brought in peril
by the Fugitive Slave bill. They proposed
the formation of Committee Of Vigilance
and became active members thereof, aiding it
by money, by public speeches, and continued
action. They frequently denounced the sin
of man-stealing, and exposed the wickedness
of such as engaged in that work-such as In-
graham, Kane, Curtis, &c.
4. When attempts were made by the Cur
tses, in Boston, to kidnap men under pretence
Of extradition. Messrs. Phillips and Parker
denounced and opposed the same in various
modes, as well private as public. Thus Mr.
Parker kept Ellen Craft in his house until the
Curtises were defeated, and the Csouthern1
man-hunters had fed from the town. In the
case of Thomas Simms, both were also very
active in efforts for his defense. Mr.. Phillips
exposed the iniquity in speeches delivered in
various parts of the land Mr.. Parker in ser.
mons. Here is a list of such as were printed,
and relate to this wickedness of man-steaI-
ing :-"Of the function of Conscience in re-
lation to the Laws of Men"-(Sept. %. 1850,
four days after the passage Of the T. S. bill.)
."The State Of the Nations - Nov. IS, 1850,
Thanksgiving Day, two days after the " Union
Meeting.'] "The Chief Sins of the People
-(April 10, 1851, Fast Day. while the mock
trial Of Mr.. Simms was still pending.) 1.-The
Three Chief Safeguards of Society," JULY 6,
1919 "The Boston Kidnapping bis
course to commemora the Rendition Of
Thomas Simms' - April Y, 1922 "a Dis
course occasioned by the Death of Daniel
Webster -(Oct 81, 1850 In vet other SCI
mons he disclosed the wicke1ness of the kid
nappers.
S. Messrs. Parker and Phillips, with many
others, opposed the rendition of Mr.. Burns in
May and June, 1854. Not to mention other
deeds, both made speeches at a meeting in
Faneul Hall, May 16) geographically re-
ported and published at the time. Mr. Phil
lips was the attorney OF Mr.. Burns, procured
him counsel, and aided in his defense. Mr.
Parker exposed the conduct of Mr.. Loring, in
a"Lessou for the Day." ION SUNDAY, 28th.l
aud IN sermons "Of the new crime against
Humanity June 4th); sOf the Laws of
God and the Statutes OF Men June lSth.1
"The Dangers which Threaten the Rights of
Man in America" July p In the latter
he exposed the conduct OF Benjamin K. Cur
tbs, and the injustice of his .'charge'' t.
the Grand Jury, delivered on the 7th OF June,
1854.
N1-CoASEcTIos TIE CCRTfsEs WIFI THR PROSECUTION
o. MEssEs. PHILLIPS AsD PAREEg
l. After the kidnapping "extradition " of
Mr.. Burns by Edward G. Loring, and after
Mr.. Parker had exposed and commented on
the wickedness of this act, Messrs. Charles P.
Curtis and Thomas B. Curtis endeayored but
without success, to expel the Society, of
which Mr.. Parker is the minister, from the
Music Hall, where their Sunday meetings are
held, and which is hired for that purpose of a
Corporation whereof Charles P Curtis was
President.
2. june 7, 1854, Benz. R. Curtis deligered
charge to the new Grand Jury subversIve
of the dearest rights ofthe people, making the
expression of opinion a constructive "misde.
meanor," to be punished by fine of $500
and imprisonment for twelve months, thus
assailing all freedom of speech.
3. By the direction of Benz. r. Curtis. con-
tanned IN this charge, attempts were made to
indict various speakers at Faneuil Hall who
had denounced the sin Of man stealing in Bos.
ton, and among Them Messrs. Phillips and
Parker. But that Grand Jury failed to per-
form the work demanded of them, and so
were discharged, and new Jury empannel-
ed.
4. w. w. Greenough, son. in-law of c. P.
Curtis, and brother in law of Benz. r. Curtis,
was one Of the new Jury. They found bills
against Messrs. Phillips and Parker, charging
them with q lnisdemeanor" under the act
of 1870, which forbids obstructing a United
States officer in the service of a process, said
obstruction being on the part of Messrs. Phil
lips and Parker the uttering of certain words
at FaDe'i Hall against the stealing of men.
Thus il appears that some of the Curtis fam
lily have been active in all tie cases of slave
hunting which have occurred in Massachu.
sets, since the passage of the Fugitive Slave
Bill, and in one at least which occurred pre-
viously. That they were intensely active in
efforts to support that bill, to procure its pas.
sage, and to carry it into execution and that
in the indictments found against Messrs. Phil.
lips and Parker, not to mention what was
done secretly, two at least Of that family had
direct personal agency.
Your obedient servant,
A CITIZEN OF BosroN.
Boston, Jan. 2, 1856.
A Doc HoAx.-Yesterday, some wag pro-
cured the insertion of the following notice in
one of the New York papers: