The Fugitive Slave Law and Its Victims: Anti-Slavery Tracts No. 18May, Samuel
History
The Fugitive Slave Law and Its Victims: Anti-Slavery Tracts No. 18
May, Samuel
Fugitive slaves -- United States; United States -- Fugitive slave law (1850)
The slaves were then taken down stairs to the street-door,
when a wild and exciting scene presented itself; the
sidewalks and the middle of the street were thronged with
people, and a couple of coaches were at the door in order to
convey the captives to the station-house. The slaves were
guarded by a strong posse of officers, and as they made their
appearance on the street, it was evident that there was a
strong sympathy in their favor. When they were led to the
carriage-doors, there were loud cries of "Drive on!" "Don't
take them!" The coachmen, either from alarm or from a
sympathetic feeling, put the whip to their horses, and drove
rapidly off, leaving the officers with their fugitives on the
sidewalk. They started on foot with their charge to the
Hammond Street station-house, where they secured their
prisoners for the night.
The slaves claimed that they had been on this side of the
river frequently, by consent of their masters.
About three o'clock application was made to Judge Burgoyne
for a writ of _habeas corpus_, to bring the slaves before
him. This was put in the hands of Deputy Sheriff Buckingham
to serve, who, accompanied by several assistants, proceeded
to Hammond Street station-house, where the slaves were
lodged. Mr. Bennett, Deputy United States Marshal, was
unwilling to give them up, and a long time was spent
parleying between the marshal and the sheriff's officers. The
sheriff being determined that the writ should be executed,
Mr. Bennett went out to take counsel with his friends.
Finally, through the advice of Mayor Faran, Mr. Bennett
agreed to lodge the slaves in the jail, ready to be taken out
at the order of Judge Burgoyne. Mr. Buckingham obtained the
complete control of the slaves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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