Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-08-04
RUNAWAY NEGROES.

Information is wanted Of Jane, David and Isaac
three persons owing service to Mr.. John ii Wheel
err, Of Virginia, American Envoy to Central Amer
lea. The three are supposed to be in this City
a week ago., they were i'll full enjoyment OF all
the patriarchal advantages Of seryitude; and IN a
moment, ia the tWinkling Of an eye, in spite OF
their teeth, they were wrested from the very arms,
so to speak, Of an indulgent master, and AMID Sc
we're but frultlcss struggles, baptized into the chil-
ly experience Of freedom, and other pIerogatlyes
attending the earning and eating their own bread
and butter. Their freedom was as Involuntary as
their servitude. They we're probably unfamiliar
with classic letters, and did not know that who
would be free, themselves must strike the blow"
1t was Mr.. Passmore (Qu. I~ass'em-o'erO VIII
hanson who struck il for them, not without some
resistance on their part; but once at liberty, they
seem to find it SO genial and kindly that MIR. W hec-
Ter may wait in vain at Philadelphia in the hope
Of w~histling or bird-liming them back. FugitiYes
from freedom are 50 much rarer than iugitiyes
from slavery that no act Of Congress seems neces-
sary for their capture and restoration.
For some days we have waited in the hope OF
reasoning ougseI, es into some sympathy for Mr..
Wheeler. His case is Il hard one, we have ar
gued-at least, in one point Of view. There we're
probably three or four thousand dollars worth Of
souls and bodies, wholly his property, and which
he desired 20 carry with him to the lsthmus, where
voluntary service is costly, aud official salaries
minute. How much cheaper it would be for Mr..
Wheeler to be served gratuitously. How natural
TO wish those about him in a foreign land who
have, perhaps, from childhood shared his bread
and his shelter, and, it is not impossible. his very
blood. What state and weight 1t might lend to
his mission 10 have it attended by a train of slaves.
What danger in leaving behind him property so
liable to lavish itself in the purchase of superflu.
ous freedom. Mr.. Wheeler exposed himself to all
the perils of a transmit over free soil in order to
have the dignity and comfort of his little coloured
escoIt. Thus much may be said for him.
Per contra, there is much may be said against
him. Mr.. Wheeler may be presumed to know
that slaves voluntarily brought to the Free States
have been pronounced free. The Lennon case
cannot have escaped his notice. Admitting the
remote possibility of that case being so adjudica-
ted as to enable slay0-owners IN hGlSitU to carry
their live stock over our soil, such is not now the
law; and, uRlcss eoyetous OF an opportunity to test
the question personally, the Envoy exposed him
SELF for the slightest possible gain, namely, the sa'
wing of the wages Ct three servants for q year OF
two, to peril of . very considerable loss--namely
the loss Of their services for life. The venture
having turned out badly for him, has left him nC
right to complain. There il ne hook about it o.
which to hang sympathy
Mr.. Wheeler may also be supposed to know tMa
slavery is not permitted to exist in Central Ameri
ca. That confederation was the first State in tn
world to follow the lead Of France in abolishin,
a Negro slavery; the decree to that effect bearing
t date April 1924. Since then, involuntary servi
I tude has been unknown in any Of the States.-
With what possible notion, therefore, of decenc,
: or responsibility, could Mr.. Wheeler thus propos
! to introduce slaves into a free community CON
D munity where the importation Of such cattle is b
q law pronounced to be piracy To justify thi
] piece Of disrespect, did I've rely upon his credit a
: Envoy2 To cover an act at once 50 silly, gratuit
+ Gus and Illegal, did he rely upon our national fac
Possibly no notice would have been taken of hi
d presumption. Apprehension Of difficulty NIGH
q have slleneed remOnstrsnce. Is it the part Of
= gentleman to avail himself deliberately Of sue
y apprehension-to count upon it for immunity froI
: the penalty Of a n isdemeanour? Had Mr.. Wheel
S er been named Minister ct st. james, could h
7 have yeRtared upon going, like Yich Ian Fahl
i with This tail on"2 Let us suppose, on the othe
hand, that Central American flaws had taken thei
I course, liberatiug the three slaves at the city
Gautemala, as they have been liberated at Pii1i
J delphia. What security have we that Mr.. Vince
er would not have made such an event a source
$ difficulty between his swn Government and thos
] to which he is accredited-wcuA not have procure
n like BOrland, tho annihilatiOn Of the ohendin
II town? Gould he be denied, with the transaetio
at Greytown standing, as n precedent, unrepudit
ted? II Government descends to be the instr,
ment Of private vengeance and private profit, mu,
i. not do Us much for its own diplomatic ageu
/, having, as be has, and the others had not, Il sha
low pretsnee % right on his side?
Upon the whole, therefore, we can get up n
& sympathy with Mr.. Wheeler. The figh: Of hi
D ~fugitives has probably saved Us q disagreeabl
complication in Central America, where We has
q already igyo,yed ourselves sufficiently. H. hA
a spared gs The Gr,t Instance Of Republican Mini