Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-13


brought him much persecution and annoy.
ance, but never eliminated in ANYTHING
really serious, until about the year 1886 or
Al.
He then met, at New Castle, man,
woman, and six children, from the east
ern shore of Maryland. The man was
free, the woman had been slave, and,
while in slarvery, had had by her husband
two children. She was then set free, and
afterward had four children. The whole
party ran away. They travelled several
days, and finally reached Middletown late
at night, where they were taken in, fed,
and cared for by John Hunt, wealthy
Quaker there. They were watched, how.
ever, by some persons in the section, who
followed them, arrested them, and sent
them to New Castle to Jail. The Sheriff
and his daughter were anti-Slavery peo-
pie and wrote to Mr.. Garrett to come
over. He went over, had an interview,
found from their statement that four Of
the party were undoubtedly free, and re-
turned to this city. On the following day,
he and U. S. Senator Wales went over
and had the party taken before Judge
Booth on writ of habeas corpus. Judge
Booth decided that there was no evidence
the presumption Uas alacays in taror Of
|
Mr.. Garrett then said,- Here is this
woman with babe at 6er breast, the
child suffering from white swelling on
its leg, is there any impropriety In my
getting carriage and helping them over
to Wilmington" Judge Booth respond
ed, Certainly not" -
Mr.. Garrett then hired the carriage,
but gave the driver distinctly to under
stand that he only paid for woman and
the young children the rest might walk.
They all got in, however, and finally es-
capped, Of course the two children born in
slavery among the rest at
Six weeks afterward the shareholders
followed them, and melted, it is said, by
the Cochrans and James A. Bayard, COM
menced a suit against Mr.. Garrett, claim
ing all the fugitives Us slaves. Mr.. Gar
rett's friends claim that the jury was packed
to secure an adverse verdict. This trial
came on before Chief-Justice Taney and
Judge Hall, in the May term (1848) of
the T. 5. Court, sitting at New Castle,
Bayard representing the prosecutors, and
Wales the defendant. There were four
trials in all. lasting three days. We have
i, not room here for the details of the trial,
but the juries awarded even heavier dam
ages than the plaintiff claimed, and the
property.
When the trials were concluded, Mr..
Garrett arose, the Court being adjourned,
made speech Of an hour to the large
crowd in the courtroom, in the course Of
which he declared his intention to redouble
his exertions, so help him God. His bold
assertion was greeted with mingled cheers
and Kisses, and at the conclusion of his
speech one of the Jurors who had convicted
him strobe across the benches, grasped
his hand and begged his forgiveness.
Mr.. Garrett kept his pledge, and re-
doubled his exertions. The trial advero
tised him, and such was the demand on
him for shelter that he was compelled tc
put another story on his back buildings
His friends helped him to start again in
business, and, commencing anew in his
Goth year with nothing, he again amassed
a handsome competence, generously con-
trlbuting all the while to every work in
behalf of the down-trodden blacks or his
suffering fellow-men of any color.
In time the war came, and as he re-
marked. the nation went into the business
by the wholesale, so he quit his retail
operations, having, after he commenced
to keeps record, helped off over 2,70O
slaves, and no inconsiderable number be-
| fore that time.
| In time, too, he came TO be honored in
stead of execrated for his noble efforts.
Wilmington became an abolition city, and
for once at least, a prophet was not with
out honor in his own city. Mr.. Garrett
continued his interest in every reform up
to his last illness.
He lived to see tho realization of his
hopes Tor universal freedom, and in April
last, on the occasion of the great parade
of the colored people in this city, he was
carried through our streets in an open
barouche, surrounded by the men in whose
behalf he had labored so faithfully, and
the guards around his carriage carrying
banners with the inscription, ''Our
Moses.''
He was beloved amost to alteration by
his dusky-hued friends, and in the dark
days of the beginning of the war. which
3 every Wilmingtonian will remember with
a shudder, in chose days of doubt, confu-
sion, and suspicion, without his knowledge
or consent, Thomas Carrots house was
constantly surrounded and watched by
faithful black men. resolved that, come
veal come woe to them, no harm should
come TO the benefactor of their race. In
accordance with written memorandum
of an agreement made by him a year ago
with them, the colored people will bear
him to his grave, they having solicited of
him that honor.