Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-02-21

The first gentleman to whom Mr.. Bennett gave his
letter from Gov. Seward, proceeded at once to the
proper officer, gave the required bond OF Sl.OVO'
and heileft Baltimor and the Slave States, with a
more perfect hatred Of the institution OF Slavery
than no ever before entertained.
After two weeks absence, this journey to North
Carolina, undertaken at this most Indictment
season Of the year, at an expense OF some SZVV
furnished by the liberality Of a few individuals,
has this poor colored man been restored to Free
dom after having been thrown into jaid on the
Goth june last, tried for the crime Of going into
the State Of North Carolina to reside" and lined
by the Court at Edenton 5000 for which he was
to have been sold into Slavery-and would have
been, if Col. Paine, DR.. Warner, Mr.. Skinner and
q few other gentlemen at Edenton had not inter
posed and raised objections to tho legality OF his
arrest. To these gentlemen MIR. Bennett wishes
to express his high appreciation Of their kind
ness.
have just given a brief history Of this case, and
leave you to make such comments, and draw sucn
differences rs you may but would myself remark
that it is another instance of partial legislation IN
favor Of Slavery, in this case SO palpable that even
a doughfacc may discern it. Had a slave been
arrested in Port Jarvis, the Marshal's posse, backed
by the whole military force OF the Government,
might have been put in requisition upon the oath
Of q claimant before a commission that 'the prop.
erty" belonged to Mr.. A. of Edentop, N. c., and
the Treasury would have bled freely to forward
to Edenton in the quickest possible time the
chattel" whose service or labor was due" to MIR.
A. But If the poor trembling property personal
should set up a claim that he was free, no evidence
Of that fact could be shown Mt Port Jcrvis. 1t
would be enough for him to prove his right to his
own bones and muscles after arriving in Edenton'
N. c., and no railroad agent would demand GER
tifcates aud bonds at every change of cars during
the transit from Freedom to Slavery,
But a free citizen Of the Empire State--or, as
Fred. L.. Roberts has it, "the great State OF New
York"--is seized--tied, hand and foot--thrust in
to Jail in a Slave State--tried, and condemned to
be sold as a slave, on the false charge that he came
to reside in the State of North Carolina.
Humanity shudders at the wrong. and slave
holders themselves throw their influence in favor
of justice, and plead for the oppressed. :.
The State Of New York is appealed to in behalf
Of Freedom, but the Executive is reluctantly"
compelled to say that there is no law to authorize
him 10 send relief. Sworn afidavi,s. under the
seal of the county, avail nothing. The proofs must
be brought there. to Edenton, North Carolina.
No Marshals posse stands 10y the incarcerated Tree
man, backed by the army, ready to throw open the
prison doors at Edenton and bid poor Adams go
free and no treasury is opened to restore to Free
dom one Of the States humble sons.
Time passes. A freeman is to be made a slave.
Will no one save? Yesl Sympathy for the OPP
pressed is not dead. What the State cannot do
may be done on private effort; and noble spirits
there are yet whose generosity does not stop to
calculate whether their exertions in behalf OF Free
dom will be Inexperienced. And Adams is
free!
But now that he is free, no time should be lost
by the friends Of Freedom in Congress to secure
the passage of a law by which the General Gov
eminent shall give the same protection to a tree
man in n Slave State as it does a slave owner over
his chattels 10 a Free State.
The fourth article second section of the Consti-
tuition of tho United States declares: The citizens
Of each State shall he entitled to all privileges and
immunities Of citizens in the several States" Did
Anthony Adams, a citizen of New York, receive
these rights?
The Legislature Of the State of New York will
fail in its duty toward the citizens, il it does not
pass a law at its present Session, authorizing the
Executive to act efficiently in similar cases.
Very respectfully, G,
PORT JERvIs, Jan. 80, 1857.