The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-07-23
From the Anglo-African Magazine for July
THE OBERLIN-WELLINGT0N RESCUE.
BY JOHN MERCER LANGSToN.

THE 18th day Of September 1858 is at
once. the darkest and the brightest day in
the Calendar of Oberlin 1t is the darkest
dav because it was then, that heartless and
cruel negro-catchers desecrated the sanctity
of this community by their shameless pre-
sence, and perpetrated one Of those black
and devilish acts which render the kidnap-
Der 50 hateful and despicable. The foul
betrayal Of John Price into the hands of
the Iidnappers Lowe, Davis, Mitchell, and
Jennings, was accomplished through the
agencyofShakespeare Boynton, a fast young
lad, about fourteen years Of age, the son of
a prominent Democrat Of Russia Town
ship and aman particular y distinguished for
his utter want Of honor and honesty. 1t
is not wonderful that the son Of such a
father could be influenced and hired, for
the paltry sum Of twenty dollars, to assist
in doing the base deed Of kidnapping q
man. Indeed, it is the opinion Of very
many excellent and iudicious persons, that
the father himself gave " aid and comfort"
counsel and assistance, to these traitors to
humanity. 1t is very positively asserted,
by Lewis D. Boynton, the father of this
lad, however, that he knew nothing of his
sons having been employed to betray John
Price, till several hours after the deed had
been done And yet, Anderson Jennings,
the man who employed Shakespeare, very
emphatically stated under oath, when I'M
der examination as witness, that he gave
Mr.. Boynton full information in regard to
bis intention Of securing the services of his
son Whether BOynton be truthful in his
assertion and Jennings false, or Jennings
be truthful in his and Poynton fnleo, it
is not in our power to determine. For the
sake of humanity, it is to be hoped, that
Boynton knew nothing of this cOllusion
with his son till after its development
That father is indeed base, who can allow
his child to do mean thing for hire. The
youthfulness Of this lad and his want of
suitable training would lead us to excuse
his conduct, as boyish though calamitous
indiscretion while the father, intelligent
and full of years Of observation and ex-
perience, can find no forgiveness at our
hands, if he be guilty Of aiding in this ne
farious procedure.
But the 18th day of September, 1858,
is the brightest day in the Calendar of
Oberlin, because OH that day the noble and
true men of this place, by their brave and
manly conduct in the rescue of John Price,
vindicated their determination not to allow
the humblest human being to be deprived
Of life, liberty, or property, without due
process Of law" when in their power to
prevent it. And on that day, too, Oberlin,
with fresh vigor, gave another and more
glorious exhibition of her purpose to
stand firm in favor of Justice and Christi.
anity, the Declaration and the Constitution,
Law and Order, and against Injustice and
Atheism, Despotism and Slavery, Mob-vio-
lence and Misrule. Indeed, that day and
the deeds that distinguish it shall never
be forgotten. Posterity shall regard it as
the fright and glorious day in the history
of this" Gibraltar of Freedom and shall
deem it worthy of the most sacred re-
membrance
The manner in which John Price was
captured, deserves, in this connection, but
passing notice. 1t is already well under
stood. Without attempting the slightest
minuteness Of detail, then, it is enough to
say that he was ensnared by the huge and
monstrous falsehood of young Boynton,
who came to him with friendly appear
ance, but with heart bent upon his ruin.
lie knew that this poor fugitive belonged
to the class Of the energetic, the industri
Gus, and the faithful He knew, too, that
for several months past, Price had suffered
extremely under the most excruciating
bodily disorder, and that, in consequence Of
his protracted sickness, he had been driven
to the last extremity of want and. now
that he was convalescing, he was anxious
to secure employment, that he might re-
plenish his exhausted revenue. Therefore.
he came to this poor man-poor in body
and in purse-saying, Ny father has sent
me here to tell you that he wants you to
come out and dig potatoes for him, and
that he will pay you for your services one
doIar and twenty-five cents per day
but Price was still in such feeble health
that he dared not undertake such laborious
service. Not suspecting anything wrong
not knowing the devil that lurked in the
heart Of this youthful but arch deceiver-
ne undertook the kind and neighborly
task OF pointing out the dwelling place Of
another industrious and faithful fugitive.
,',i whose services Mr.. Boynton could secure.
Inns man lived about two miles from the
village of Oberlin, and to reach his house
" was necessary to pass over an unfre-
4uented road. As they rode along in their
ouggy' having gone about half the dis
am 'ance' they were suddenly, ana unexpect-
Gqiy Tyc % John Price, overtaken by Dept.
u III =, NarShals Lowe, Davis, and Mitchell.
NeSe negro-catchers rode in a fine. don