Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-14
Aitbmon0 Enquirer.
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FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY IL.
The Extradition Of Fugitives; Horse Stealing and
Slave Stealing
By RlrcmE, DUSNAvANT, TYLER 4 WISE.


by the Governor of Ohio, for the cxtraditon o
a certain Jesse N. Chidestcr, charged with
having stolen horse in Champaign county
Ohio. The case had been fully made out be
fore the Grand Jury of Champaign county
and the same evidence upon which the Grand
Jury had acted being laid before the Governor
of Virginia, the warrant for cxtradition was, o.
course, issued.
Shortly after the issue of the warrant. the
Governor received the following curious letter
/; from Chdcster
DECEMBER IL, 1858.
RoMISE's Mills, HARRISON COUNTY, Va.
Dear Sir-lt may be that You will be re.
qucsted, by the authorities of Ohio, that may
be arrested for theft; if so, reqeust your honor
not to recognise their request until Ohio first
gives up her fugitives TO the South. Now, sir,
my case is this: us saw many fugitives es.
Gaping on the underground railroad for Cana
da and the Northern States and the people Of
; the North doing all they could TO affect their
escape, with few honorable exceptions,
however," and as the North is giving money to
defray the expense of the underground rail-
road. and here append the reading Of their
hand-bills: Frederic Douglass will address the
citizens of MechanicSburg, on the - Of June,
1856. All persons DESTROYS Of hearing the first
living orator, and the genius which nature has
reared to herself. and to assist the under-g ground
railroad, turnout. Twenty-Five cents admit.
tance. Nonpariel printing Office. Springfield,
Ohio" And these hand-bills are headed in
large letters reading thus: - ''USDER-GRorND
RAILROAD" And. as these things have the
sanction of the ministry, the prayers of the
church, the applautits of society. and the we'll
wishes of community Being opposed to such
violation of law, thought 10 have informed
against them; but, sir, tar, feathers, sharp
rail and water would have been my portion,
for it was threatened. and would have been
spurned out Of society. And being opposed to
abolitioniSm resolved to leave that political
pool of stagnated waters, from whose surface
arises the poisonous alliuvia which is injecting
this Government with the doleful disease con-
sumption took horse OF All abolitionist
and rode him into Kentucky, and turned him
loose in the road. resolving in my mind, now,
sirS, come and get hm-you run off our ne.
groes. we run off your horses. Now this took
place two wears ago. and, as am Southern
man, they desire to have me that they might slit
me as wheat. knew WAS violating law, and
knew they violated. and | placed myself on
the same platform with them; and desire to
/ fight it out with them. Now. sir, if there is a
spot within your kind charitable breast, in
which can cast anchor to stay my cause, make
it accessible.
I | am no bad man. I have friends in Ohio
/ and here; and can have many signers to my
request don't want you to do against your
convictions | want you to Investigate my
case.
! Sir, it is useless for Inc to write to you about
the Abolitionists. You already know their
MANY violations Of law, and it, too, with impu.
nifty. You already know their stand against
Your honor and the South; and am proud that
| can appeal to one vino is so we'll informed OF
the deeds Of the North.
Now. sir, | make proposition, that If the
North will make good to the South all damages
which the South has sustained, III consequence
Of the escape of fugitive slaves to the North,
will give bond and security TO do the same to
the North, for all the damage have done the
North: or, if the North will bring to justice
all Of her men who have violated the fugitive
slave law, will go and give myself up to the
North
Sir, submit this for your consideration.
expect to write and take the stump in behalf
of our candidate for Governor, and oppose this
bot.headed, rotten-heartcd and black abolition
ism. But iorbcar till ! hear from you. |
hope vou will answer this. If you request it,
will come 10 Richmond to see you as soon rs
nv school is out, and also furnish you with a
liSt-a large list-of signers in behalf OF my
cause; and among them honorable and wealthy
men, So please to, answer as soon as possible,
and let me know the whole matter. Direct
YOUR letters to Romine's Mills, Harrison conn-
ty, Va remain yours, &c,
JESSE NJ. CulpEsTER.
To His Exccllcncy. HENRY \. WISE, Cover
nor of Virginia.
The Barbour "JeiTcrsonian," OF the 9TH inst,
publishes the following communication, contain
ing statement, in some particulars differing
from that of Chidcster:
PER. TREE, BARBorE CouSTY,
Dec. 23 1853.
Editor .Jeffcrsonan-Sir: Having occasion
to 90 to Rominc's Mills to-day, found an ex-
citemcnt prevailing amongst number Of per-
sons assembled at Hoods tavern, to talk over
the circumstances connected with the arrest on
the loth, of one Jesse NJ. ChideSter, by virtue
Of warrant issued by Governor Wise. upon
the reauisition of the Governoro Of Ohio, charged
with stealing Of horse in Champaign county,
Ohio. within the last twelve months. The ar
rest was made by Mr.. Owens, known to Chi
dcstcr as the Sheriff of the said Champaign
county, assisted by the Sheriff Of Doddridge
county, i'll this State.
"ChidcSter's version, substantially conceded
by Owens. was, that when residing in one Of
the counties Of Kentucky, bordering on the
Ohio river, q negro man slave escaped into Ohio,
/>t. I'LL
that he was lurking in the vicinity Of his
(Chdesters) mothers, who formerly lived
in Harrison countv-and for number
of years has resided near Crbanna, Ohio,-
purchased the negro from the owner,
captured him in Champaign county. and was
in the act Of carrying him back to Kentucky,
when host Of Abolitionists rose in arms res
! cued the negro. and Chidester, seeing his life
in danger, mounted horse, furnished by
friend. who caught it up under the excitement
of the moment, upon which he fled into Men
lucky. turning the horse loose upon the bank
of the Ohio river. lie was afterwards indicted
BY the grand jury Of Champaign county, upon
which requisition was made and granted-oi
course the Abolition features were suppressed
or Governor Wise would never have touched It,
And doubt. had the facts been known to our
people generally, whether the arrest could nave
been made a, Romine's Mills. If the fanatics
| of Ohio are allowed with impunty to steal and
withhold their ncishbors' property. why should
they complain at the loss Of horse when a
speedy exit from their soil is rendered the only
alternative for the safety of life and limb?
..Chidcs,er is All intelligent, agreeable young
man, and has stamped upon his countenance
such marks Of innocence. that no man could
take him for common thief. think the facts
should be noticed by the press. 5.
We cannot go to the same length with Mr..
Chidcs.er. and advocate horsc-stealing in Ohio,
as proper and iustitiable method of retalia-
ton for slare-stealing in Virginia. But we ap'
.al IL. o,,r Narthnrn friends 10 hear us ont iD