, 1862-06-03
4 SCENE IN WASHINGTON.
A Fugitive Slave Dragged from the
National Sanctuary
lFrom the New York independent

"AEdAo14ONs -. S.s 4l&Ay LODE.
There will be no end to slavery agitation I'LL
slavery itself is at an end. Not long ago the
nation Was thrilled BY a message over the
electric wire, announcing that Congress had
tTiumphantly passed the bill abolishing
slavery in the District Of Columbia. In .
few days another message sped after it, Great
President had given th& act tie sanction which
made it solemn law Of the land Bells were
rurg and cannon fired. The fetters of three
thousand slaves we're broken. The national
capitol stood on free soil.
But q sudden shadow has since fallen upon
this general rejoicing. Liberty has been
stuug with insult in the very place of her tri-
umph. The District Of Columbia has been
turned into spacious elare-jail. The M
tlona1 capitol stands not yet upon free soil
There is not capital 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 var broke out, have despaired of
SUCCESS in this war against the rebelIion-it
has sometimes during the past week seemed
as II God would not permit q Government and
people who wink at such things to triumph.
Let me particn1arizo.
L On Friday evening, while taking 1eisure1y
walk upon our great street, PeHnsJlVania Ave
nue., saw white fiend pouncc upon a Youur
colored mai, who, neatly dressed, Was passing
up the street with his young wife The first
act Of the officer WIS to knock the negro down,
ority. He then co1lared him, ever; now and
then shaking him as il be were dog, instead
tim. "Hold your topgue!' was the reply.
The poor wife followed, crying, beseeching,
"Don't take him off-heis not aslaye. Where
are you taking him to? Don't strike him in
Reply from the white brute: Keep still, now
mind, will you2 I'll arrest you il you don't!"
That scene witnessed while taking little
walls after dinner upon the Broadway Of the
capital, and it was but one case ont Of 4 hum
dred that have made the last week one Of hor-
be Christian and free. The s1,rieks Of wretched
slaves have been heard night aud morning, at
MONDAY and at midnight, until it has become
ooterrible for man With ordinary sympathies
to bear.
A few days since Maryland Shareholder
came here and got out a warrant for his fugi-
tive slare- He succeeded in capturing hin,
put manacles upon hi wrists, and just at uigtt
started off with him for his some what distant
home In the cour=e Of the evening the poor
fellow escaped the second time, and the mas
ter being on horseback fail I'd to capture him.
broke hia chains IL twain, but the
links still c1ung to his wrists. When
the next mornings sunlight fell upon the mar
bic walls Of the capitol It revealed sight to
make man ashamed OF home, country, GOV
ernnent-a1most Of his own race 1Aefs sat
tie painting negro on The Capitol steps, the iron
links Of his n,anacles jing2ing against the marble
column upon .chich he leaned. Was he guilty Of
aDy crime? Nothing. He simply desired to
OWL his OWL body and soul, and ia attempting
to assert this he fled to the American capitol.
There was no protection for him there, and
the wretched man Was again Eecaptured and
dragged off to jail.
Il this Government will protect such heaY-
en- defying atrocities, does it deserve success
IN the var it is wagiags What act Of the JEFF
te1son Davis government is any more hefuous
In the sight Of God than the seizure Of inno-
cent men and women By the agents of the
government, that they may be returned to
slavery?
Congress is mainly responsible for this. 1t
can repeal the fugitive Law. If it does not,
then ne have the confession before the world,
that under the constitution every voter in the
free States is made directly resp sponsible for the
worst outrages Of slavery.