The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-06-10
A Fugitive Slave Dragged from the
National Sanctuary.
From the New York Independent.

WASHINGTON, IL. y, May 10 loo~'
There will be no end TO slavery agita-
ton till slavery itself is at an end. Not
long AGO the nation was thrilled by al
message over the electric wire, aunounc-
ing that Congress had triumphantly
passed the bill abolishing slavery in the
District of Columbia. In a few days
another message sped after it, creating
equal enthusiasm, bearing tidings that
the President had given tie act the
sanction which made il solemn law OF
the land. Bells were rung and cannon
fired The letters of three thousand
slaves were broken. The national Capt.
til stood on free soil.
But sudden shadow has since fallen
upon this general rejoicing. Liberty
has been stung with insult in the very
place Of her triumph. The District OF
Columbia has been turned into a spacl-
Gus slave JAIL The national Capitol
ste~ds not yet upon free sell.
There IS not capitol in the world in
which such atrocities are committed as
those Which have made honest men blush
in our streets during the last few days,
For the first time since the war broke
out, have despaired Of success in this
war against rebellion-it has sometimes
during the past week seemed as If God
would not permit a Government and
people who wink at such things to tri.
umph. Let me particularize.
On Friday evening, while taking a
l4isurely walk upon our great street,
Pennsylvania Avenue, | saw a white
iiend pounce upon young colored man,
who, neatly dressed, was passing up the
street with his young wife. The first
act of The officer was to knock the negro
down, or nearly so, to prove the white
mans superiority. He then collared
him, every now and then shaking him as
if he were dog, instead of a man. :"
am not slave - cried the victim
Hold your tongue t. was the rel ly
The poor wife followed, crying, beseech
ing. "Don't take him off-he is not a
save. Where are they taking him to
Don't strike him in that way. Oh dear
Oh dear Oh dear y Reply from the
white brute: Keep still, now mind, will
YOU? Ill arrest you If you don't y
That scene | Witnessed while taking q
little walk after dinner upon the broad.
way of the capital, and it was but one
case out Of hundred that have made
the last week one Of horrors in the CAPT
tai Of country protesting to be Christ
ian and free. The shrieks Of wretchet
slaves have been heard night and morn
ing, at MONDAY and at midnight, until i
has become too terrible for a man will
ordinary sympathes to bea".
A few days since a Maryland slave
holder came here and got out a warrant
foy his fugitive slave. He succeeded il
capturing him. put manacle5 upon hi;
wrists, anI just at night started off viii
him for his somewhat distant home. In
the course Of the evening the poor fellow
escaped lie second time, and tie master
being Oh horseback failed to capture him
After repeated struggles the captive
broke his chains in twain, but the links
still clung to lis wrists. When the mex
mornings sunlight fell upon the marble
walls Of the capitol it revealed sight tc
make a nun ashamed of home, country
oovernmen almost of his own race
There sal tie pairing negro on The Capt.
toll steps. tie iron Inks Of lis manacle,
Jingliag against Tie marble column upon
schich lie keane,l. Was he guilty of any
crime Nothing He simply desired
to own his own body and soul, and il
attempting to assert this he fled to thu
American Capitol. There was no pro
lection for him there, and the wrelcheC
man was again recapured and dragged
off to Jail.
Ifthis Government will protect sucl
heaven delying atrocities, does it deserve
success in the war it is waging? Wha
act o. the Jefferson Davis government is
any more heinous in the sight Of Goo
than tie seizure of innocent mon and
women BY the agents of the government
that they may be returned to slavery
Congress is mainly responsible 70
this. |: can al the fugitive law. /
it does not, then we have the confession
beore the world, that under the const-
tation every voter in the free States is
made directly responsible for the wors
oatrag"s of sl,very.