Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-06-28
WHOLE NUMBER 053.



The Newbern correspondent Of the n. Y.
Tribune reportf at length a covcrsation had
with Gov. Stanley, in which the latter fully ex-
planned the circumstances attending those meas.
ures which have excited so much Indignation
against him at the North. With regard to the
closing Of the negro schools, Gov. stanly states
that be did not order their disconlinuauee, but
simply expressed his disapproval Of a move
ment towards educating the slaves, contrary
to the laws Of North Carolina, as untimely.
when it was the desire Of the government to
conciliate the people Of the State. Upon this
expression OF disnprroval Mr., Collyer proceeded
at once to close the school.
Respecting the rendition of fugitive slave,
the Tribune correspondent makes the follow,
ing statement
Gov Stanley says that Bray, whom he
had known as a citizen Of Newbtrn from his
boyhood came TO him one day, and said
that one Of his female slaves he'd been en-.
ticed away by our troops, and was held
against her we'll The Governor replied
that If he could assure him that such was
the fact he would give him permission to
search for the woman within our lines If
she was really held against her will, aud dc.
sirous to return to servitude, he could take
her back, and would be roiected in doing
so. He was not TO nse force or threats,
however, 10 accomplish his purpose All
was to be free and voluntary on the wom-
ans part The warrant empowering Bray
| to search for the slave was issued she was
found and brought to Gov. Stanly's door
by sBray and his wife, who reported her
discovery to him. and requested him to ask
the girl herself if she was willing to return
lie did not do so, however, as he considered
the matter amicably settled That night
party of three white Massachusetts
solders-and two negroes went to Bray's
house, burnt his fences, and as he (the
Governor) was informed, abducted the
woman by force. do not know whether
this was so or not. Neither does Gov
Stanley, fowhe got his Information second
hand, and got mine from him.
According TO the statement there was no
enforcement of the Fugitive Slave act
There was no swearing of papers, no war
rant Of arrest, no posse comitatus sent to
compel the capture of the fugitive. 1t was
to be a voluntary return to chains and slave.
ry, or none at ALL Now, it is true, Bray
might have lied to the governor to get the
permit. | think it very likely he did, for
what is lie more or less to the slavehold-
er whose conscience must be smitten every
time he smites his chattes back, or parts a
mother and her child The Governor
would have done better to have confronted
master and maid, and get from the woman's
own lips the consent to go back to her state
Of servtnde and in taking Bray's mere
word for the truth of the matter, he was
doing an act Of injustice to fugitive. ] on-
ly state that there was nothing like an en-
fOrcement of the cursed slave catching act
intended Ii we may believe the Governors
/ own words
Farther on in the letter. this correspondent
says
Gov. Stantly told me this evening, at
our interview, that he had not, and never
expected TO enforce the Fugitive Slave
Law. That when Bray applied for help to
recover the woman, whom he alleges to have
been torn from him by force, he refused to
give it, for he was powerless to assist him.
The experiment of rendition had been
made and failed, although the slave was said
to be a willing party. He should
not venture to make second attempt
Let the government" says Gov. Sjaniy,
declare its policy, and l will either carry
it out consistently and Gearles>ly, with all
my might and all the force of the Federal
army, or will resign my place, and make
room for some Que else