The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-30
WASHINGTON, D. G..
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF CO.
LUMBIA-


The facts narrated below furnish the mos
unreasonable evidence that the maxim o
Cnief Justice fancy, which asserts that "blacl
men have no rights which white men are bound
TO respect. is practical fact in the District O
Columbia
On the 2Sth day of March last. Emanuel
Mason free colored man of this city, and Dis
trict OF Columbia) was tried and convicted, in
the Criminal Court of this city and District, on
the grave charge of "harboring and entertain
ing slave boy Ben, in February last, for one
hundred hours! /" The indictment contained
three counts, under some old barbarous colo
NAL law, concocted and devised by whom, no
body kuows-long since obsolete and forgotten,
for its nominal date is 1907, nearly 100 years
before the American Revolution and the fine,
under said old British Act" was "oHe hun
dre9 pougds IF tobacco per hour tor one hun
dred hours
I he facts in the case are these: Said Mason
and his wife were once the slaves Of Miss Sally
or Sarah Forrest, and all resided near Marlboro
I'D. Some years since, said Emanuel Mason
vas taken sick, and was confined with infam-
matory rheumatism, and was, by the doctors,
given up as incurable. The mistress then of
fered to sell him for 500, but no one would
a little better, and his mistress then offered him
for $500, bat nobody would buy him. Then
the mistress told Mason that She would sell him
10 himself for the $780, and he might pay her
by instalments. lie did agree to buy himself,
and has since paid all of the $500 purchase
money.
Ia the mesln time, he has partially recovered
his health aud strength, has hired his wife
by the month and by the year, kept house, and
raised several children at his own expense
and as soon AS they have become large enough
10 be Of service-say at about ten years-these
children have all been taken from him and put
70 service, or sold, by his late mistress, who is
still the mistress Of his wife. About six years
since, the said Mason moved to Washington
with his slave wife, where the mistress had
taken up her residence. He brought with him
the last three children of has family, bone Of his
bone and blood of his blood, but the mistress
claimed them her property, although all
reared at MasOns expense. The Oldest Of the
three-an active girl, now about fourteen years
of age-Was taken away four or five years
since; the next, a son, Was taken about two or
three years since. Then there was left only
LITTLE BEy," now about ten years old, If
alive
No doubt the father fen that affection for the
child which kind nature prompted. About one
the wife land motherl home TO her own house,
leaving only T" Htic Ben with the aged father
and rumOr said the boy would soon be sent for
also. Then, how appropriate the language OF
poor old Jacob, (lsrael,) Me have We be
reaved of my children Joseph is not, and
Simeon. is not, and We will take BEN amin
array" and in September last, one of the
numerous " tttif5,7aed police Of this city ap-
preached the humble residence of said Mason,
in pursuit of the little boy Benjamin" When
Ben, who was "a short distance from the house,
saw this uniformed" officer of the Govern
ment, be ran off 10 parts unknown. The officer
did not see the boy Ben or, if he did, he did
not know hun but demanded the boy of the
father, who lad him not in his possession or
power and has probably not seen little Ben
since. When the officer could not find the boy,
he requested Mason 1.-THE father to 20 and
look up the boy, and bring him TO the office.
This he neglected to do. In a few days there
after the officer arrested said Mason, and took
him before Justice William Mulloy, Esq, but,
nothing unlawful appearing against said Ma
son, he was in due time discharged. In Feb
Tuary last, a certain uniformed police officer,
aud certain' other justice Of the peace, APP
peared, at early dawn IN the morning at the
premises or residence Of said Mason, and in
hot haste hurried han off to jail, where he
was kept two three days, and then released
on l,5C0 bail-S2,O00 was at first required
and on The day first above named, said Mason
WAS convicted, and tOrtynine days did this
really innocent, industrious, honest, poor man
suffer in a most filthy jail, incarcerated with
fe.ons, without bed, and with very poor, scanty
food, awaiting for the decision or sentence of
the court, Which We find announced in the Ma
hOH0i IrteHipu,cer OF Nav IL, 1889, I'm these
words Emanuel Mason, (colored, recently
Il L. -.
property Of Miss Forrest, was Yesterday SEN
Icncedto pay fine of Sl66.6G, being sligo for
every hour the slave was so harbored one-hall
of SAID amount TO 20 to the use of the owner of
TIM slave, aud the other half to the United
States. The defendant was prayed in Jail till
the fine shall be paid. together with ali costs }
making a total of about 500, besides abont
hfty-three days spent in iail!
Now, Is mol that paying pretty dear for the
alleged performance of hlial or parental duty ?
The District Attorney consented to let Mason
20 at liberty upon ampie security that the fine
and costs be paid in ninety days.
Society, humanity Christianity, have you nc
interest IN tins and hundreds of analogous
cases?
Is there no necessity for a code Of laws fol
this DISTRICT Let parents who have hearts
aud coHscicuces answer.
WAsHINCToN CITY, d. c., Nay 10, 1859.
n, Hon. Jalyc Cra,cjord:
We, the subscribers, neighborS and acquaint
ances OF Emanuel Mason, do most respectfully
ask your Honor to be as leHcf az possible il
said Mason case We have for years known
Mason 10 be an industrious, moral, temperate
poor, peacCable, honest man and we have rea
son TO believe that liHle Bon" who is the las
and youngest child of Masonl left Masons resi-
dence ,rifhoEt any direction of his father, the
said Emanuel. And, further. we do know tha
little Ben was raised from brth and inianc,
IA the house and at the cost of said Emanuel
ms father: aud that he had Herey been out o
the possession Of Mason, up to the time the OH
Ger came for tue boy IN September last And
further, we 10 not believe that Emanuel know
anything OF bis e. Ben's y whereabouts. And
further, please 10 take into consideration tn
TACT that Emanuel has been confined in Jail
long time to wit, more than forty days SiHc
ms trial and conviction. And, finally, think
oh lkiuk, Of q fathers feelings.
JOHN ". MILLER.
AMOS Hunt.
". :. WaIGHT.
NICHOLAS MCCUBBIN.
\. {. BRADLEY.
EIIAs ii. EAKLE.
T. LOWELL.
We understand that the wife Of Mason ha
been purchased by a gentleman who is wilin
TO take the price he gave for her, $220. Thos
who wish to contribute to le benevolent obie,
of liberating her are requested to make thei
L