Washington sentinel., 1855-03-11
A SINGULAR pEyELopmENT.

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The Psnasytcanian, of Friday, contains an
exposition OF piece OF maneuvering recent
ly practiced by Mr.. Conrad, the Know-nothing
mayor Of Philadelphia, which cannot fail to
make its impression on the public mind of the
South. We have been long ago convinced
and every candid mind must have been long
ago convinced-that the Know-nothing organi-
zation in the northern States had passed under
the control Of the Aboltionists OF the North.
This was fully proved by the manner in which
the Abolition Societies abandoned their sepa-
rate organizations in order to enter into the
new movement-by the political character of
the men which the new movement brought
into authority-and by the manner in which
that authority has been exercised.
We are not surprised, therefore, at the re-
cent behavior of Mr.. Conrad, the Know
nothing Mayor Of the City of Philadelphia
conduct which showed disposition to dupe
the South where elections are now pending,
and that disposition oyerawed and bowed
down by the actual commanding force which
the Abolitionists exercise over the new order
in the City of Philadelphia, and in the nom
slaveholding States. The Rs,msylranian tells
the story, and from that Journal we learn that
few weeks ago man named Warwick kid.
mapped slave in New Orleans, and passed
her through the custom-house by falsely swear
ing that she was his property. Information Of
this fact was teIegrapned to rhiiauclphia, the
place to which the vessel was bound which
had the slave and the kidnapper on
board. A warrant based on the telegraphic
dispatch was received by Mayor Conrad for the
arrest Of Warwick, the slave stealer, and that
warrant was, by Mayor Conrad, put iuto the
hands of Samuel Johnson, a Lieutenant Of the
Philadelphia police, with special instructions
to proceed to New Castle, in Delaware, and
arrest the slave and her abductor, before they
should arrive within the limits Of Pennsyl
vania.
Lieutenant johnson discharged his mission
the plan being to send the negro woman back
to New Orleans, and the kidnapper TO be car
ried to Philadelphia, until requisition for his
delivery could be Obtained from the governor.
This was all faithfully done, and executed by
the police officer. The negro woman was
sent back from New Castle by the first southern
bound vessel, and the kidnapper was carried
to Philadelphia to await the governors requi-
sition.
Thus far, so good. Mayor Conrad had, mp to
this point, acted in a manner which his Know
nothing friends in the South might have made
some capital out of. True, he had avoided an
arrest in Philadelphia had even avoided an
arrest in Pennsylvania; but that fact would
not prevent the political capital which the
Southern Know nothings might make out of
the transaction. They could brag about it
without saying anything of the manner in
which the thing was effected. Everything
seemed to go on prosperously. Lieutenant
johnson went on to Harrisburg and obtained
authority for conveying the kidnapper back to
New Orleans, and deposited the warrant with
Mayor Conrad.
But at this point of the proceeding, the
Abolitionists became aware of what was GO
ing on. Mayor Conrad at once gave in, and
backed down, seeing that he could not private
ly cheat the South with the idea that the
Know-nothings wished to execute the fugitive
slave law He succumbed to the Abolitonists
at once, and in obedience to abolitonsm he
sent Lieutenant johnson back to Harrisburg
with the requisition which had been obtained
to carry the kidnapper of the southern slave
to New Orleans for trial. Not being content
even with this, but being willing to lick the
dust from the feet of abolition Mayor Conrad,
the Know nothing Mayor Conrad Of the city of
Philadelphia, denounced the public officer he
had employed and had published in the Phila-
delphia Ledger the following Letter as an hum
bic peace Offering to the spirit Of abotionism.
We commend it most earnestly TO the good
people Of the South, for it is important, signiG-
cant, and suggestive. This is the letter:
MAroR's OFFICE, PHILA., MARCH 6, 1885.
Mr.. SAMUEL JoHSsoY--DEAR SIR: WITH
THE KINDEsT FEELINGS FOR you PERSONALLY,
AND WITH GREAT RESPECT FOR YOUR CHARACTER
AS AN OFFICER, 1T is PROPER THAT / SHOULD
INFORM You THAT If YoU ACT AS THE AGENT
OF LOUISIANA TO RETURN WARWICK, CHARGED
WITH ENCOURAGING THE ESCAPE OF FIoITIyE
SLAVE TO THAT STATE, WILL CONSIDER 1T NY
DUTY TO DISCHARGE you IMMEDIATELY FROM
THE POLICE FORCE OF THIS CITY.
Yours, respectfully,
r. I. CONRAD, MAYOR.
1@> The following letter, which explains it.