Throughout all the Slave States, the law presumes every free negro to be a slave, until he can legally prove his freedom. Consequently, every _free_ negro, out of his own neighborhood, is presumed to be, and treated as, a runaway slave, until he can establish his freedom. Under laws of this kind, many free negroes are taken; and, if from want of money or friends, or distance from home, or any other cause, they cannot prove their freedom, as no owner can come forward and "claim property and pay charges," they must necessarily be sold into slavery for life! Very recently, in the columns of the "Washington Union," appeared the following notices:-- "NOTICE.--Was committed to the jail of Washington County, D.C. on the 5th July, 1846, as a runaway, a negro-man, who calls himself John Crew. He is black, about 5 feet 6-1/2 inches high, and about 43 years of age. _He says he is free_, and was born in Hanover County, Virginia, _and was set free_ by Mrs. Allen, formerly Mrs. Watson, of said county; and that he lived with Jude & Muir, in Richmond, Virginia; and that he obtained his free papers in Richmond in 1823, when a Mr. Henning was clerk of the court. He has had right leg broken, which has left a large scar on it. He has a scar on the right side of his neck, which he says he has received since he left Richmond. "The owner or owners of the above-described negro-man are hereby required to come forward, prove him, and take him away, _or he will be sold for his prison and other expenses, as the law directs_. ROBT. BALL, Jailer for "Aug. 15. A. HUNTER, Marshal." "NOTICE.--Was committed to the jail of Washington County, D.C. on the 23d of July, 1847, as a runaway, a negro-woman, who calls herself Ann E. Hodges. She is nearly black, about 5 feet 5-1/4 inches high, and about 22 years of age. Had on, when committed, a slate-colored Merino dress and a brown calico sun-bonnet. _She says she is free_, and served her time out with a Mr. Benjamin Daltry, of Southampton, Va.; and that Messrs. Griffin & Bishop, of the same place, know her to be free. She has two scars on the left leg, near the knee, from the bite of a dog, one on her left wrist, and one on the point of her breast-bone, occasioned by a burn. "The owner or owners of the above-described negro-woman are hereby required to come forward, prove her, and take her away, _or she will be sold for her prison and other expenses, as the law directs._ ROBT. BALL, Jailer, for "Aug. 23. A. HUNTER, Marshal." Here is another instance, which happened several years since:--