Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-01-21
JUDGE DEVENS AND THE SLAVE,
How He Disarmed Criticism for DO.
Ing His Duty Under the Law.

Ing His Duty Under the Law.
From the Boston Herald.l
The late Judge Devens was United States
marshal for the district of Massachusetts,
from 1S4S to 1858. Those were the stor-
my days of the anti-slavery conflict, and
they were especially trying for one who
held position similar to that of Mr.. Dew
ems. He discharged his duties, however,
with singular fidelity, and won the esteem
of ALL Not the least of the honors of his
eminently honorable life was his purchase,
during those days, of the freedom of a
fugitive slave whom the duties of his Off
cial position required him to remand into
his masters possession.
Thomas Sims was the slave in question,
and excitement was high in Massachusetts
over the matter. Mr.. Devens especially
came in for severe criticism on the part of
those who insisted he should not have car
ried out the law. His real position in the
matter and feeling ON the question, how
ever, are thus expressed by Lydia Maria
Child: ga very short time before the
outbreak of the war 1 saw a letter from
Thomas Sims, in which he expressed utter
discouragement about ever gaining his
freedom, because his master charged eight
cen hundred dollars for him. and, having
once been sent back from the north, he
had no heart to make second attempt to
escape from slavery. The letter touched
my feelings, and 1 at once resolved that
those who returned him to bondage should
buy his freedom. / first wrote to John 2.
Bigelow, who was mayor of Boston at the
time of the rendition of Sims. He made
a very apologetic reply, enclosing check
for two hunded dollars. l wrote, with
varying success, to two or three others,
but my efforts were most Unexpectedly
stopped by q letter from Mr.. Charles Dew
ems, whose name as United States marshal
had been made conspicuous in the shame
full transaction. The letter was to this eff
| feet:
"MEs CHILD: see by the , papers that you ~
Thomas Sims. Please return to the donors
whatever sums you may have received. as wish
me by giving no publicity to this request.
stCHARLks DEvKSs'
"Thinking he might not be aware how
large was the SUM required, I informed
him that Sims, being an intelligent me-
chanic, was so valuable to his master that
he would not sell him for less than eight
cen hundred dollars. Mr.. Devens replied
by an order to draw upon him for the
money, and l Immediately returned the
few donations had received from others.
I then consulted with Francis Jackson con-
cerning safe arrangements for depositing
the money, subject to the order of the
master whenever Sims should make his
appearance in Boston. Before these ar
rangements were completed the Sumter
gun was fired and negotiations with the
master in Georgia became well nigh i'm
possible. Meanwhile Thomas Sims took
refuge in camp of the United States, and
wrote to Mr.. Devens that the money he
had so generously offered was no longer
needed. Afterward, when he was in the
army, some attacks were made upon him
which seemed to me unjust, and 1 asked
his permission to publish the transaction
above alluded to. After several repeti-
tions of my request at last obtained his
reluctant consent; he yielded, apparently,
to my argument that the moral infence oi
such an example would be good"
Mr.. Devens did not let his work enc
there, however. The result of the war, o.
course, meant freedom for Sims, but Mr.
Devens subsequently, aided him pecuniari