The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-05

the defense were heard and their testimony was 1
not concluded until midnight. The Commits !
sioner signifed his intention OF sitting the case |
out, and the counsel were heard. Mr.. Brewster
closed the concluding speech at 10 minutes of 6 |
o'clock. The Commissioner adjourned till 4
o'clock p. NJ of the same day, at which time he
announced he would deliver his decision.
OF the scene in and around the courtroom
during the reading of the decision the CORE
spondent of the Anti-SlGUery Standard sald:-
"At4 O'Clock the courtroom filled by such as
were favored TO get In the streets we're filled aud
all were waiting to hear the death-knell OF the poor
prisoner. The Commissioner commenced reading
his decision and the silence was audibly profound.
I will not repeat the contents OF that document.
Not doubling what would be the conclusion, the
first part of 1t seemed TO be addition OF insult
injury. But as it went on its tone changed and the
thought arose, there may yet be hope. He said It
was not only question OF property that was at
issue but that it involved the liberty or bondage of
a human teing. His hard voice seemed to have
shadowed what was coming. Thank God = were
the words that were leapng to every mouth, and
thank God! the expression thst beamed from every
gistening eye The feeling was too intense to wait
for the conclusion 1t broke out in demonstrations,
which with difficulty could be suppressed, till the
prisoner TO be disc6Srged,' Then Won
should have the bursts Of emotion from
the women and heard the hurrahs from the men. A
window was thrown up and the good news con-
veyed to the drowd Ny the wave of a handkerchief
II was instantly understood, and then went up the
shouts in deafening bursts OF eXultng hurrahs and
the whole city was in blaze OF joyous excitement
The color, people called for Daniel and he was hand
ed out to them free man. They almost Killed him
with embraces and congratulations. He was placed
in carriage that stood near: the horses were taken
I out; as many could find places took hold of the
tongue, and In less time than It has taken ID tell it
he was taken down the street in blaze OF glory.
Such was the end OF this exciting and in some re-
speCts, extraordinary slave case. It is felt all
hands to be glorious trlumph proof that Old
things have passed away; harbnger OF better
things to come. Many causes are assigned for the
result; there but one that nationally
for it, That is the twenty-five years steady present
alton to this community Of anti-slavery TRUTH
The anti-slayery people wentinto this case with
but little hope. 'The most we expected " SAYS
a correspondent at the time, ito do was to make
good fight, to protract the issue, to turn the
case to general account and build up public
opinion against the recurrence of n similar exi-
gency. We had reason to believe that the
claimant had come well prepared with papers
| and witnesses, and we had no positive assurance
| that we should be able TO meet him with
rebutting testimony. We remembered that
| every case that had as yet come before
commissioner, under the act of 1850 had gone
| against ms; that Ingraham had sent into slavery
every alleged fugitive that had been brought
before him, including Adam Gibson subsequently
| admitted to be free man; and that David Paul
Brown, Jr, in the only case that he had
in favor of the stakeholder. Of
| Mr.. Longstreth we knew nothing except
that he was a scion of an old Quaker stock his
family being one of the most respectable and
well leputed in the city of Philadelphia. But
| what was to be expected from a man of anti
slavery origin and Quaker antecedents who
would accept the Office of Commissioner under
the Fugitive Slave law, and deliberately issue a
| writ to apprehend and re ensave an innocent
| human being? Nothing just nothing what.
ever; and that, in regard to the immediate
| result was the amount of our anticipations in
this case. And such, too, with a very slight
exception, was the state of mind of the whole
! anti-savery community"
With one or two trihing cases, the Danger
field or Webster case was the final one heard in
! this city.
\ he BreHkinE Up of the AntI-sIavery Fair In
During twenty-four consecutive years prior to
1859 the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Fair had
been held in this city in the month of December.
| 1t had always been conducted with order and
dignity, and with careful fidelity to Just princi-
piles of traffic. 1t had been esteemed an impor-
tant department of our antl-slavery labor, both
on account of its pecuniary proceeds, which
| have amounted to more than thirty thousand
| dollars and for the moral influence which it had
exerted upon those who have been engaged in
| it. Until this year, IL had never been disturbed
| by pro-slavery animosity.
| The Fair was opened in Concert Hall, on the
twelfth day of December, with its usual pros
poets of success. AS usual its flag was suspended
over Chestnut street, displaying to our citizens a
picture of the old Liberty Bell which they so
proudly exhibit in Independence Hall. Visitors
thronged its saloon, and the fair proceeded
without interruption until the FORTH day. On
the morning of that day the Etgh Constable
entered, and in the name of the Mayor re-
flag should be taken down. The Manager
replied, in remonstrance, that many other
exhibitions in the city were allowed the privi-
lege Of suspending flags of advertisements; to
which statement the officer assented, but init
mated that popular commotion rendered the
removal OF them necessary. He was Informed
that if the Mayor ordered the removal of our
flag, the society should comply with his drec-
tion, as it would be in execution of municipal
law, but that it should not be taken down in
compliance with the request of any person. The
officer responded that the Mayor did order it,
and the Managers gave direction for its removal
A few hours afterwards the Sheriff came into
the room, and, in behalf of the trustees Of
the building, took possession of it, closed the
doors, and informed the managers of the fair
that their property must be removed within
three hours
George William Curtis at National Hall.
The mob which was yainly Invoked against the
Fair responded to the summons which bade il
array itself once more against the right of free
speech, on the occasion of the delivery of an
anti-slavery lecture by George w. Curtis in this
city, on the evening of the 18th of December
A thoroughly organized plan to take possession
of the hail. assault the lecturer, aud disperse the
audience was completely frustrated by the vgi
lance of the Mayor and his police. Thus, a
third time during the year was the assaulted
right of freedom of speech triumphantly vnd
Gated by the city of Philadelphia. Mayor Henry
had gone so far as to write to Mr.. Curtis anC
request him not to appear in Philadelphia bu
that gentleman preferred to take the risk, anC
was actually accompanied by the Mayor to the
hall.
The Closing LabOrs of the society.
After the prOmulgatiOn of the Emancipation
Proclamation by President Lincoln the society
turned its attention to the question of suffrage
and that boon having been granted the negro
its work was accomplished, and tonight