The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-02
PARDoN1NG ABoL1r1oN1srs.


Onth 10th, 18th, and 18th of April, 1848
great excitement prevailed in this District
arising from the fact that large number o
} slaves had been stolen from the neighbor
hood by certain white men in command 0
a piratical schooner, which had brough
wood to this city.
On Sunday, April 10th, the steamboat Sa
lem, Captain Baker, and about thirty citi
zens started in pursuit, and discovered the
schooner Pearl, lying in Cornfeld harbor
at the mouth of the Potomac, on Monday
morning. The slaves, seyenty-seven il
number, were asleep below; and Edward
Sayres, the Captain, Chester English, and
Daniel Drayton, (white men) weee also be-
low. The Salem ran alongside, boarded
the Pearl, fastened down the matches, and
secured the fugitives and kidnappers, be-
fore they could resist, and returned with
them to Washington on Tuesday. the 18th
of April. The fugitives consisted Of thirty
eight men, twentysix women, and thirteen
children. Seventy four were from the Dis
trict, and three from Virginia.
The excitement was so great upon the ar
rival of the parties at the steamboat wharf,
that it was difficult to prevent the enraged
citizens from seizing the culprits and lynch
ing them on the spot.
In the Union of April Is, 1848. you will
! find full statement of the above facts. with
the names of tho owners Of most of the
| slaves.
The following record shows the action of
the Criminal Court in the case:
The Criminal Court Of the District of
| Columbia, for the county of Washington.
''March Term, l849.
UNITED STATES, vs.. Daniel Drayton.
MAY Sth. Convicted of transporting
slaves in n cases, and sentenced by the
Court in each case to pay fine of $40
and cost, one hotfof the fine to the oaCner Of
the sIaces, according to the act of Assembly
of Maryland of 1897, ch. 81.
"Ordered to be committed to the Jail of
Washington county, till fines and costs arc
paid.
'sSame number of cases VS.. Edward Sa-
yers, and fined 800, cost in each case, and
committed as above.
TEST: JOHN A. SMITH, Clerk"
Great efforts were made by the abolition
lists to procure the release of the prisoners
through the clemency of the President, Mr..
Fillmore, but without success, until after
Gen. Scott was nominated. Then, when
Mr.. Fillmore had nothing more to expect
from the South-the Know Nothing party
not having been organized-you will find
the following entry relative to Drayton and
Sayers, viz:
"12th August, 1852. Discharged from
Jail by the President of the United States,
MiIlard Fillmore.
"Test: JOHN A. SMITH, Clerk
1t become5of Importance next to know
who was instrumental in procuring the re-
lease of these whole sale robbers and pi
rates; and it is to this want to call the par
ticuar attention of my Wing friends who
are losing negroes by this same means.
If you will turn to page 48 of book pub
lished by Ticknor & Fields, Boston, enti
tied ''Recent Speeches and Addresses, by
Charles SUMNER you will find the follow
ing;
.'Argument submitted to the President
tourtecnM May, 1852, on the application
for the pardon of Drayton and Sayres, de-
tanned in prison at Washington for helping
the escape of slaves.
The argument occupies fourteen pages
of the book, and is introduced as follows:
This case excited particular Interest,"
Messrs. Drayton and Sayrcs had already
been in prison more than four years when
Ill
for their pardon. To this application, which
was sustained by petitions from other quar-
ters, the President interposed doubts of his
right to exercise the pardoning power i'll |
their case, but expressed desire for light |
on this point. On his inritdtion, Mr.. Sum- |
ner laid before him the following paper !
Shortly qtteracards the ePardon ccas granted" |
The application was made on the 18th
Of May, precious to the Wing Convention,
but the pardon was not granted until the
I2th of August, ochieh waS after Mr.. Fill |
more had been set aside and General Scott |
nominated.
wish my 1Vhig friends tonote one other
fact in conncxion with this case, viz: That
there was requisition in the hands of the |
proper officer, issued by Governor Smith, |
in 1913, for Drayton and Sayres: and that
the criminals were hurried out of the Dis
trict to evade the just demands of the out
ragged laws of Virginia.
Mr.. Fillmore not only released the pris-
oners from tn. fines and cost due the Uni |
ted States, but also from that portion of the |
fines due to the owners, and for uhich then
hare Just and righteous claim upon the |
eorcrnn.ent. QUANTICO.
A CONFESSION.
= The loading paper of the Black Re |