Year: 1862

w


There will be no end to the slavery agi-
tation till slavery itself is at an end. Not
long ago the nation was thrilled by mes
sage over the electric wire. announcing
that Congress had striumphantly passed
the bill a5olishing slavery in the District
of Columbia. In few days another mes
sage sped after it, creating equal enthusi-
asm. bearing tidings that the President
had given the act the sanction which made
it a solemn law Of the land. Bells were
rung and cannon fired. The fetters of
three thousand slaves were broken. The
National capitol stood on free soil.


But sudden shadow has since fallen
upon this general rejoicing. Liberty has
been stung with insult in the very place
of her triumph. The District of Colum-
bia has been turned into spacious slave
jail. The national 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 onr streets during the past few days
For the first time since the war broke out
l have despaired Of success in this war a.
gainst the rebellion--it has sometimes du-
ring the past week seemed as if God
would not permit Government and peo-
pie who wink at such things to triumph.
Let me particularize.


On Friday evening. while taking leis-
ure walk upon our great street, Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, | saw white fiend pounce
upon young colored man, who, neatly
dressed, was passing up street with his
young wife. The first act Of the officer
was to knock the negro down, or nearly
so, to prove the white mans srperiority.--
He then collared him, every now and then
shaking him as if he were a dog, instead
Of man. "Pm not slavei" cried the
victim. Hold your tongue!'' was the
reply. The poor wife followed. crying
beseechingly. "dont take him off-he is
not a slave. Where are you taking him
to? Don't strike him in that way. Oh
dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!' Reply from
the white brute: Keep still. now mind.
will you? III arrest you if You don'tl'
That scene / witnessed while taking lit
tie walk after dinner upon the Broadway
of the capital, and it was but one case out
of hundred that have made the last week
one of horror in the capital of country
protesting to be Christian and free. The
shrieks of wretched slaves have been heard
night and morning. at MONDAY and at
midnight. until it has become too terrible
for man with ordinary sympathies to
bear.


A few days since Maryland slavehold-
er came here and got ont a warran. for his
fugitive slave. He succeeded in capturing
him. put manacles upon his wrists. and
just at night started off with him for his
somewhat distant home. In the course OF
the evening the poor fellow escaped the
second time. and the master being on
horseback failed to capture him. Aftel
repeated struggles the captive broke hi.
chains but the links still clung to hi.
wrists. When the next mornings sun
light fell upon the marble walls of the
capitol. it revealed a sight to make mar
ashamed of home. country. Governmen
almost his own race. 7Xe,e sat III


painting negro on The Capitol steps. tile iro,


Inks of his Daanacles jingiing against til


marble column upon ,chich he leaned. Wa
he guilty of any crime? Nothing. Ii,
: simply desired to own his own body an,
soul. and in attempting to assert this h
fled to the American capitol. There wa,


no protection for him there. and the wretch


ed man was again recaptured aud dragged
} off to JAIL


: If the Government will protect sucl


heaven detying atrocities. does il desers


success in the war il is waging? Wha
act Of the Jefferson Davis government j
any more heinous in the sight of G cd thar
; the seizure Of innocent men and women b
the agents of the Government. that the,
may be returned to slavery?


Congress is mainly responsible for this
, 1t can repeal the fugitive law. If it doe
not. then we have the confession befor,


the world. that under the constitution ev
cry voter in the free States is m ade direct
: ly responsible for the worst outrsges Q
slavery.