Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-21
A sTIRRIHG PERIOD IN THE HISTORY OF
WASHINGTON.

The National Era and its Founder,
Dr. GamaIiel Bailey-Escape0 Of the
"PearIo schooner with seventy.
seven Slaves-lts Capture and the
Mob.
The District OF Columbia-or what remained
OF IL after the retrocession Of Alexandra
county to Virginia, In 1s46-being taken frsm
the side OF Maryland, like Eve from the side OF
Adam. brought with 1t Maryland laws and
usages- Even to this day, cases In the District
courts often hinge upon the ancient statutes OF
Maryland, and upon the rules OF constituting
them In the courts Of that state. Slavery ex-
listed here, In name and In fact, under the laws
enacted In Maryland prior to the year 1890.
when the ten miles square were ceded to the
general government These laws were accepted
by Congress as part and parcel OF the Ter loci
without specially naming them; for 1t would
have been impossible to induce that body to
enact slave code In any time Of its history;
and especially was this the case in $780, only
three years after the formation OF the Consti-
tuition, In which the words slave and slavery
are not to be found. 1t was the statesman
Madison, OF Virginia, who de clared In the con-
yention that those words, Implying that there
can be property IN man, ought not TO be admit
Constitution co1:ented to wink at the existence
OF slavery In the states, but they would not
admit the fact, in words.
In the early days OF the republic the anti.
slavery sentiment was dominant among edu-
Gated men as far south as North Carolina: but
this Instructive sense OF justice gave way before
The appeals OF self interest, as slaves increased
In value; and the land of Washington, Jeifer-
SON. Madison ana Henry, and the land OF Luther
Martin and William Plnckney, became aU
was that Of Calhoun and McDuffie In view OF
the prevailing sentiment In this part OF the
country, 1t can be imagined that there was
amaZement and indignation when the an
nouncement was made In the fall Of 1916, In the
midst OF the war Instituted for Che extension OF
slavery, that an antt-slavery newspaper was to
be established In Washington! Rash men
threatened violence. Wise and prudent men
shook their heads, and protested against 1t In
me name OF peace and order. But the movers
and on the eth OF January, 1s47. the National
Era made its appearance In this city: fund
OF s2c, 600 was raised by the friends OF freedom,
1t. DR.. GamalieI Bailey, Of Cincinnati. was
placed in charge Of 1t az Its editor. Martin
Buel and VIM. Blanchard. two respectable
cause, were engaged to publish the paper by
contract MT. Lewis Clepiane became the
A brief reference to the early life and
career OF this remarkable man, selected
10 edit the Era; should precede the
account Of his work here at the seat Of
ley, y. j., In December, 1907. His father
was Methodist minister, and the son was
brought up IN that faith. He was educated a
young emigTated TO Cincinnati, where he set
tled with a view of practising his profession.
pc III M
and the political bearings OF slavery He mar
ried Miss Margaret l. Stands. a lady OF Virginia
birth and education who superior
thoroughly SympathZed with her hush and on
this subject, and IL his future plans and labors.
His fnterest1n the subject was first awakened
by debate among The students OF Lane Semi
nary, which excited much local interest at the
time, and led TO the expulsion of some or the
young men. This was In the year 1884. When
he was still quite young man he espoused
the cause OF freedom with his whole heart. and
never looked back.
BAILEY MOBBED IN CINCINNATI.
In 1856 he connected himself with James g.
BNney, Gather OF Gen. William Blrney,)
southern gentleman who had emancipated his
slaves. In the editorship OF the Pailanthroptst.
at Cincinnati, devoted to the cause of emanci-
patton. About the first of August of that
year mob entered the Office, overturned the
type. scattered them In the streets, and threw
the press into the river. This caused sus-
pension OF the paper for few weeks. But 1t
re-appeared the latter part OF September,
though printed In a neighboring village aud
published In Cincinnati. After a few months
DR.. Bailey became sole proprietor and editor
Coggeshall, in the Ohio STATE Journal, with
energy and f1Imness but with discretion aud
Fairness, and though often very passlOnately
and influence But It's discretion and fair.
ness did not save 1t from the violence of the
MOB. In september, 1S41, after the paper had
been under tie control OF DR.. Bailey for i've
Years. during ali which time 1t had been dis
Iguis he'd for the scbTety OF its tone and for the
measured and psssionless use of lasguage, the
Office of the Phil0ntltrODiSt was assaulted nv a
mob with a dc yree OF violence which exceeded
that CT 1885, ana which defled the authorities of
the City. The prOvocat,on to this outrage was
But may 6en the
that oppressed Class OF the community, there
was not tie slightest reason or excu4a for
holding the editor and proprietor OF the PbI1R-
UToptS responsible for Them. IL Is not our
purpose at present to describe the reign OF
terror which prevailed I'm Cincinnati during the
fice TO say that the printing materials of the
PhidnthrOpfSt were completely DESTROYED
The types were scattered about the streets,
and the press was broken Ia pieces and thrown
into the river. The poor negroes were hunted
down like Wild beasts, and the authorities found
1t necessary to 1mpr1son some hundreds of them
Washington, In 1s4s, was a PIckwickian AFFAIR
compared with this one, which occurred In
lS41, In the free state Of Ohio. 1t Is but just to
say, also, that
THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES HIRE
acted In better faith as conservators OF the
peace and order than did those of Cincinnati
Dr. Bailey. In 1S4l, was comparatively young
man, being In his thirty fourth year; but he
then displayed the calm reason and dispasSion.
ate judgment which distinguished him through
life. Infiexible In purpose, earnest, honest and
radical In the pursuit of truth, he yet invarl-
ably avoided the use OF language calculated to
wound or to offend. On this very occasion, In
Tepelling tie charges OF his enemies, he said:
''Our object Is the extinction OF slavery Ia the
United states by peaceful and constitutional
means We propose 20 bring about this object
by arguments and appeals addressed to the
reason, the humanity, The conscience aud the
interests OF the Shareholder, and by produc-
ing such public sentiment In the free states
as shall constantly direct his attentions to the
wrongs OF the slave, and reprove him for de-
laying measures OF redress We propose fur.
Their TO invoke the power Of Congress TO put an
end 10 slavery and the slave trade In the Dis
tIfct OF Columbia, over which, by the ColStitu-
ton, 1t has exclusive power OF legislation in
all cases whatsoever"
The destruction of the Office OF the PAilan.
Uropist only caused suspension or the paper
for few days, when II resumed publication
and went on as u ual. In 1S43 daily edition
was published called the Herald which while
II showed the progress OF anti-slavery ideas.
was 10 addition TO the pecuniary value OF the
establishment. but on the contrary a Draw
back. IL was continued, however, for soms
years.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED
that DR.. Bailey In the fall Of 1S46 was invited
10 come TO Washington and take charge OF a
new anti slavery paper. to be established on a
fund raised by the friends Of the cause. He
did so. aLdwa eminently successful. After a
few months he bought out the founders and