COMMITTED to the Jail of Tuscaloosa county, a negro man, who says his name is Robert Winfield, and says he is free. R. W. BARBER, Jailer." That "public opinion," in the slave states affords no protection to the liberty of colored persons, even after those persons become legally free, by the operation of their own laws, is declared by Governor Comegys, of Delaware, in his recent address to the Legislature of that state, Jan. 1839. The Governor, commenting upon the law of the state which provides that persons convicted of certain crimes shall be sold as servants for a limited time, says, "The case is widely different with the negro (!) Although ordered to be disposed of as a servant for a term of years, perpetual slavery in the south is his inevitable doom; unless, peradventure, age or discase may have rendered him worthless, or some resident of the State, from motives of benevolence, will pay for him three or four times his intrinsic value. It matters not for how short a time he is ordered to be sold, so that he can be earried from the State. Once beyond its limits, all chance of restored freedom is gone-for he is removed far from the reach of any testimony to aid him in an effort to be released from bondage, when his legal term of servitude has expired. Of the many colored convicts sold out of the State, it is believed none ever return. Of course they are purchased with the express view to their transportation for life, and bring such enormous prices as to prevent all competition on the part of those of our citizens who require their services, and would keep them in the State." From the " Memphis (Ten.) Enquirer," Dec. 28, 1838. 66 $50 REWARD. Ranaway, from the subscriber, on Thursday last, a negro man named Isaac, 22 years old, about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, dark complexion, well made, full face, speaks quick, and very correctly for a negro. He was originally from New-York, and no doubt will attempt to pass himself as free. I will give the above reward for his apprehension and delivery, or confinement, so that I obtain him, if taken out of the state, or $30 if taken within the state. JNO. SIMPSON. Memphis, Dec. 28.” Mark, with what shameless hardihood this JNo. SIMPSON, tells the public that he knew Isaac Wright was a free man! HE WAS ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK,' he tells us. And yet he adds with brazen effrontery, he will attempt to pass himself as free. This Isaac Wright, was shipped by a man named Lewis, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and sold as a slave in New Orleans. After passing through several hands, and being flogged nearly to death, he made his escape, and five days ago, (March 5,) returned to his friends in Philadelphia. From the "Baltimore Sun," Dec. 23, 1838. "FREE NEGROES.-Merry Ewall, a FREE NEGRO, from Virginia, was committed to jail, at Snow Hill, Md. last week, for remaining in the State longer than is allowed by the law of 1831. The fine in his case amounts to $225. Capril Purnell, a negro from Delaware, is now in jail in the same place, for a violation of the same act. His fine amounts to FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS, and he WILL BE SOLD IN A SHORT TIME." The following is the decision of the Supreme Court, of Louisiana, in the case of Gomez vs. Bonneval, Martin's La. Reports, 656, and Wheeler's "Law of Slavery," p. 380-1. Marginal remark of the Compiler.—“ A slave does not become free on his being illegally imported into the state." "Per Cur. Derbigny, J. The petitioner is a negro in actual state of slavery; he claims his freedom, and is bound to prove it. In his attempt, however, to show that he was free before he was introduced into this country, he has failed, so that his claim rests entirely on the laws prohibiting the introduction of slaves in the United States. That the plaintiff was imported since that prohibition does exist is a fact sufficiently established by the evidence. What right he has acquired under the laws forbidding such importa. tion is the only question which we have to examine. Formery, while the act dividing Louisiana into two territories was in force in this country, slaves introduced here in contravention to it, were freed by operation of law; but that act was merged in the legislative provisions which were subsequently enacted on the subject of importa. tion of slaves into the United States generally. Under the now existing laws, the individuals thus imported acquire no personal right, they are mere passive beings, who are disposed of according to the will of the different state legisla tures. In this country they are to remain slaves, and TO BE SOLD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE. The plaintiff, therefore, has nothing to claim as a freeman; and as to a mere change of master, should such be his wish, he cannot be listened to in a court of justice." Extract from a speech of Mr. Thomson of Penn. in Congress, March 1, 1826, on the prisons in the District of Columbia. "I visited the prisons twice that I might my self ascertain the truth. ** In one of these cells (but eight feet square,) were confined a that time, seven persons, three women and fou children. The children were confined under a strange system of law in this District, by which a colored person who alleges HE IS FREE, and appeals to the tribunals of the country, to have the matter tried, is COMMITTED TO PRISON, till the decision takes place. They were almost naked one of them was sick, lying on the damp brick abominable cell, seven human beings were con floor, without bed, pillow, or covering. In this fined day by day, and night after night, withou a bcd, chair, or stool, or any other of the mos common necessaries of life."-Gales' Congres- door, the several negroes taken up as free, and in sional Debates, v. 2, p. 1480. his custody, agreeable to law. The following facts serve to show, that the present generation of' slaveholders do but follow in "Test. WM. SKINNER, Clerk. "A true copy, 25th August, 1791. "Test. J. HARVEY, Clerk." the footsteps of their fathers, in their zeal for « Pasquotank County, September Court, &c. &c. LIBERTY. Extract from a document submitted by the Committee of the yearly meeting of Friends in Philadelphia, to the Committee of Congress, to whom was referred the memorial of the people called Quakers, in 1797. 66 1777. "Present, the Worshipful Thomas Boyd, Timothy Hickson, John Paclin, Edmund_Chancey, Joseph Reading, and Thomas Rees, Esqrs. Jus tices. "It was then and there ordered, that Thomas In the latter part of the year 1776, several of under an act to prevent domestic insurrections Reading, Esq. take the FREE negroes taken up the people called Quakers, residing in the coun- and other purposes, and expose the same to the ties of Perquimans and Pasquotank, in the state best bidder, at public vendue, for ready money, of North Carolina, liberated their negroes, as it and be accountable for the same, agreeable to the was then clear there was no existing law to pre-aforesaid act; and make return to this or the next vent their so doing; for the law of 1741 could not succeeding court of his proceedings. at that time be carried into effect; and they were suffered to remain free, until a law passed, in the spring of 1777, under which they were taken up and sold, contrary to the Bill of Rights, recognized in the constitution of that state, as a part thereof, and to which it was annexed. "A copy. ENOCHI REESE, C. C." THE PROTECTION OF "PUBLIC OPINION" TO The barbarous indifference with which slave. holders regard the forcible sundering of husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and the unfeeling brutality indicated by the language in which they describe the efforts made by the slaves, in their yearnings after those from whom they have been torn away, reveals a public opinion' towards them as dead to their agony as if they were cattle. It is well nigh impossible to open a southern paper without finding evidence of this. Though the truth of this assertion can hardly be called in question, we subjoin a few illustrations, and could easily give hundreds. In the spring of 1777, when the General Assembly met for the first time, a law was enacted to prevent slaves from being emancipated, except for meritorious services, &c. to be judged of by the county courts or the general assembly; and ordering, that if any should be manumitted in any other way, they be taken up, and the county courts within whose jurisdictions they are apprehended should order them to be sold. Under this law the county courts of Perquimans and Pasquotank, in the year 1777, ordered A LARGE NUMBER OF PERSONS TO BE SOLD, WHO WERE FREE AT THE TIME THE LAW WAS MADE. In the year 1778 several of those cases were, by certiorari, brought before the superior court for the district of Edentorn, where the decisions of the county courts were reversed, the superior court declaring, that said county courts, in such their proceedings, have exceeded their jurisdiction, violated the rights of the subject, and acted in direct opposition to the Bill of Rights of this state, considered justly as part of the constitution thereof; by giv ing to a law, not intended to affect this case, a retrospective operation, thereby to deprive freemen of this state of their liberty, contrary to the July 7, 1838. laws of the land. In consequence of this decree several of the negroes were again set at liberty; $160 Reward.-Ranaway from the subscrib but the next General Assembly, early in 1779, ers, living in this city, on Saturday 16th inst. a passed a law, wherein they mention, that doubts negro man, named Dick, about 37 years of age. have arisen, whether the purchasers of such slaves It is highly probable said boy will make for New have a good and legal title thereto, and CONFIRM the same; under which they were again taken up by the purchasers and reduced to slavery." [The number of persons thus re-enslaved was 134.] From the "Savannah Georgian," Jan. 17, 1839. "$100 reward will be given for my two fellows, Abram and Frank. Abram has a wife at Colonel Stewart's, in Liberty county, and a sister in Savannah, at Capt. Grovenstine's. Frank has a wife at Mr. Le Cont's, Liberty county; a mother a Thunderbolt, and a sister in Savannah. WM. ROBARTS. "Wallhourville, 5th Jan. 1839 " 66 From the Lexington (Ky.) Intelligencer,' Orleans, as he has a wife living in that city, and he has been heard to say frequently that he was determined to go to New Orleans. "DRAKE & THOMPSON. "Lexington, June 17, 1838." From the "Richmond (Va.) Whig," July 25, 1837. “Absconded from the subscriber, a negro man, by the name of Wilson. He was born in the county of New Kent, and raised by a gentleman named Ratliffe, and by him sold to a gentleman named Taylor, on whose farm he had a wife and several children. Mr. Taylor sold him to a Mr. Slater, who, in consequence of removing to Ala. barna, Wilson left; and when retaken was sold, and afterwards purchased, by his present owner, from T. Mc Cargo and Co. of Richmond." From the "Savannah (Ga.) Republican," Sept. 3, 1838. 64 $20 Reward for my negro man Jim.-Jim is about 50 or 55 years of age. It is probable he will aim for Savannah, as he said he had children in that vicinity. J. G. OWENS. "Barnwell District, S. C." "Absconded from Mr. E. D. Bailey, on Wadmalaw, his negro man, named Saby. Said fellow was purchased in January, from Francis Dickinson, of St. Paul's parish, and is probably now in that neighborhood, where he has a wife. THOMAS N. GADSDEN." From the "Portsmouth (Va.) Times," August 3, 1838. $50 dollars Reward will be given for the ap prehension of my negro man Isaac. He has a wife at James M. Riddick's, of Gates county, N. C. where he may probably be lurking. C. MILLER." From the "Savannah (Georgia) Republican," May 24, 1838. in Savannah, his negro girl Patsey. She was "$40 Reward.-Ran away from the subscriber the Hargreave's estate. She is no doubt lurking purchased among the gang of negroes, known as about Liberty county, at which place she has rela tives. EDWARD HOUSTOUN, of Florida." From the "Charleston (S. C.) Courier," June 29, 1837. "$20 Reward will be paid for the apprehension and delivery, at the work-house in Charleston, of a mulatto woman, named Ida. It is probable she may have made her way into Georgia, where she has connections. MATTHEW MUGGRIDGE." From the "Norfolk (Va.) Beacon," March 31, 1838. "The subscriber will give $20 for the appre From the "Staunton (Va.) pectator," Jan. hension of his negro woman, Maria, who ran 3, 1839. 46 Ranaway, Jesse. He has a wife, who belongs to Mr. John Ruff, of Lexington, Rockbridge county, and he may probably be lurking in that neighborhood. MOSES MC CUE." From the "Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle," July 10, 1837. "$120 Reward for my negro Charlotte. She is about 20 years old. She was purchased some months past from Mr. Thomas J. Walton, of Augusta, by Thomas W. Oliver; and, as her mother and acquaintances live in that city, it is very likely she is harbored by some of them. MARTHA OLIVER." From the "Raleigh (N. C.) Register," July 18, 1837. Ranaway from the subscriber, a negro man named Jim, the property of Mrs. Elizabeth Whit. field. He has a wife at the late Hardy Jones', and may probably be lurking in that neighborhood. JOHN O'RORKE." From the "Richmond (Va.) Compiler," Sept. 8, 1837. "Ranaway from the subscriber, Ben. He ran off without any known cause, and I suppose he is aiming to go to his wife, who was carried from the neighborhood last winter. JOHN HUNT." From the "Charleston (S. C.) Mercury," Aug. 1, 1837. away about twelve months since. She is known to be lurking in or about Chuckatuch, in the county of Nansemond, where she has a husband, and formerly belonged. PETER ONEILL." From the "Macon (Georgia) Messenger," Jan. 16, 1839. "Ranaway from the subscriber, two negroes, Davis, a man about 45 years old; also Peggy, his wife, near the same age. Said negroes will probably make their way to Columbia county, as they have children living in that county. I will liberally reward any person who may deliver them to me. NEHEMIAH KING." From the "Jackson (Tenn.) Telegraph," Sept. 14, 1838. "Committed to the jail of Madison county, a negro woman, who calls her name Fanny, and says she belongs to William Miller, of Mobile. She formerly belonged to John Givins, of this county, who now owns several of her children. DAVID SHROPSHIRE, Jailor." From the "Norfolk (Va.) Beacon," July 3d, 1838. Runaway from my plantation below Edenton, my negro man, Nelson. He has a mother living at Mr. James Goodwin's, in Ballahack, Perquimans county; and two brothers, one be longing to Job Parker, and the other to Josiah Coffield. WM. D. RASCOE." From the "Charleston (S. C.) Courier," Jan. 12, 1838. "$100 Reward.-Run away from the subscriber, his negro fellow, John. He is well known about the city as one of my bread carriers: has a wife living at Mrs. Weston's, on Hempstead. John formerly belonged to Mrs. Moor, near St. Paul's church, where his mother still lives, and has been harbored by her before. JOHN T. MARSHALL. 60, Tradd-street." From the "Newbern (N. C.) Sentinel," March 17, 1837. band still lives. She will endeavor to go there From the "Richmond (Va.) Enquirer," Feb. 20, 1838. "$10 Reward for a negro woman, named Sal. ly, 40 years old. the said negro to be now lurking on the James We have just reason to believe River Canal, or in the Green Spring neighbor. hood, where, we are informed, her husband resides. The above reward will be given to any person securing her. POLLY C. SHIELDS. Mount Elba, Feb. 19, 1838." "$50 Reward.-Ran away from the subscriber, his negro man Pauladore, commonly called Paul. I understand GEN. R. Y. HAYNE has purchased his wife and children froin H. L. PINCKNEY, Esq. and has them now on his plantation at Goose. creek, where, no doubt, the fellow is frequently lurking. 66 T. DAVIS." $25 Reward.-Ran away from the subscriber, she may be somewhere up James River, as she a negro woman, named Matilda. It is thought land. was claimed as a wife by some boatman in GoochJ. ALVIS." "Stop the Runaway!!!-$25 Reward. Ran. away from the Eagle Tavern, a negro fellow, named Nat. He is no doubt attempting to follow his wife, who was lately sold to a speculator named Mrs. Lucy M. Downman, of Sussex county, Va." Redmond. The above reward will be paid by Multitudes of advertisements like the above appear annually in the southern papers. Reader, look at the preceding list-mark the unfeeling barbarity with which their masters and mistresses describe the struggles and perils of sundered husbands and wives, parents and children, in their weary midnight travels through forests and rivers, with torn limbs and breaking hearts, seeking the embraces of each other's love. In one instance, a mother torn from all her children and taken to a remote part of another state, presses her way back through the wilderness, hundreds of miles, to clasp once more her children to her heart: but, when she has arrived within a few miles of them, in the same county, is discovered, seized, dragged to jail, and her purchaser told, through an advertisement, that she awaits his order. But we need not trace out the harrowing details already before the reader. Rev. C. S. RENSHAW, of Quincy, Illinois, who resided some time in Kentucky, says;— "I was told the following fact by a young lady, daughter of a slaveholder in Boone county, Kentucky, who lived within half a mile of Mr. Hughes' farm. Hughes and Neil traded in slaves down the river: they had bought up a part of their stock in the upper counties of Kentucky, and mainder of their drove was in jail, waiting their brought them down to Louisville, where the rearrival. Just before the steamboat put off for the lower country, two negro women were offered for sale, each of them having a young child at the breast. The traders bought them, took their babes | Suits are multiplying-two thousand five hundred from their arms, and offered them to the highest in the United States Circuit Court, and three bidder; and they were sold for one dollar apiece, thousand in Hinds County Court" whilst the stricken parents were driven on board the boat, and in an hour were on their way to the New Orleans market. You are aware that a young babe decreases the value of a field hand in the lower country, whilst it increases her value in the breeding states.'" The following is an extract from an address, published by the Presbyterian Synod of Kentucky, to the churches under their care, in 1835 : 66 Brothers and sisters, parents and children, husbands and wives, are torn asunder, and permitted to see each other no more. These acts are DAILY occurring in the midst of us. The shrieks and the agony, often witnessed on such occasions, proclaim, with a trumpet tongue, the iniquity of our system. There is not a neigh. borhood where these heart-rending scenes are not displayed. There is not a village or road that does not behold the sad procession of manacled outcasts, whose mournful countenances tell that they are exiled by force from ALL THAT THEIR HEARTS HOLD DEAR.”—Address, p. 12. Professor ANDREWS, late of the University of North Carolina, in his recent work on Slavery and the Slave Trade, page 147, in relating a conversation with a slave-trader, whom he met near Washington City, says, he inquired, "Do you often buy the wife without the husband?' Yes, VERY OFTEN; and FREQUENTLY, 100, they sell me the mother while they keep her children. I have often known them take away the infant from its mother's breast, and keep it, while they sold her.'" The following sale is advertised in the "Georgia Journal," Jan. 2, 1838. One "Will be sold, the following PROPERTY, to wit: CHILD, by the name of James, about eight months old, levied on as the property of Gabriel Gunn." The following is a standing advertisement in the Charleston (S. C.) papers :— "120 Negroes for Sale.-The subscriber has just arrived from Petersburg, Virginia, with one hundred and twenty likely young negroes of both sexes and every description, which he offers for sale on the most reasonable terms. New York. Mr. Stone is a member of the EpisTestimony of MR. SILAS STONE, of Hudson, copal Church, has several times been elected an Assessor of the city of Hudson, and for three years has filled the office of Treasurer of the County. In the fall of 1807, Mr. Stone witnessed a sale of slaves, in Charleston, South Carolina, which he thus describes in a communication recently received from him. "I saw droves of the poor fellows driven to the slave markets kept in different parts of the city, one of which I visited. The arrangements of this place appeared something like our northern horse-markets, having sheds, or barns, in the rear of a public house, where alcohol was a handy ingredient to stimulate the spirit of jockeying. As the traders appeared, lots of negroes and by a flourish of the whip were made to aswere brought from the stables into the bar room, sume an active appearance. What will you give for thesc fellows?" How old are they? Are they healthy?" 'Are they quick ?' &c. at the same time the owner would give them a cut with a cowhide, and tell them to dance and jump, cursing and swearing at them if they did not move quick. In fact all the transactions in buying and selling slaves, partakes of jockeyship, as much as buying and selling horses. There was as little regard paid to the feelings of the former as we witness in the latter. From these scenes I turn to another, which took place in front of the noble Exchange Buildings,' in the heart of the city. On the left side of the steps, as you leave the main hall, immediately under the windows of that proud building, was a stage built, on which a mother with eight children were placed, and sold at auction. I watched their emotions closely, and saw their feelings were in accordance to human nature. The sale began with the eldest child, who, being struck off to the highest bidder, was taken from the stage or platform by the purchaser, and led to his wagon and stowed away, to be carried into the country; the second, and third were also sold, and so until seven of the children were torn from their mother, while her discernment told her they were to be separated probably forever, causing in that mother the most agonizing sobs and cries, in which the children seemed to share. The scene beggars description; suffice it to say, it was sufficient to cause tears from one at least 'whose skin was not colored like their own,' and "The lot now on hand consists of plough boys, several likely and well-qualified house servants of both sexes, several women with children, small girls suitable for nurses, and several SMALL BOYS WITHOUT THEIR MOTHERS. Planters and traders are earnestly requested te give the subscriber a call I was not ashamed to give vent to them." previously to making purchases elsewhere, as he is enabled and will sell as cheap, or cheaper, than can be sold by any other person in the trade. BENJAMIN DAVIS. Hamburg, S. C. Sept. 28, 1838." Extract of a letter to a member of Congress. from a friend in Mississippi, published in the "Washington Globe," June, 1837. "The times are truly alarming here. Many plantations are entirely stripped of negroes (protection!) and horses, by the marshal or sheriff. THE "PROTECTION" AFFORDED BY PUBLIC OPINION' In the "New Orleans Bee," May 31, 1837, MR. In the "Mobile Advertiser," Sept. 13, 1838, WILLIAM MAGEE, Sheriff, gives notice that George Walton, Esq. Mayor of the city has committed to JAIL as a runaway slave, Jordan, ABOUT TWELVE |