Jabez to Frederick Douglass, February 29, 1856

FROM OUR CINCINNATI CORRESPONDENT.

SURRENDER OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVES.

DEAR FRIEND DOUGLASS:—Long ere this reaches you, the telegraph will have informed you of the surrender of the seven fugitives back to hopeless bondage! The announcement of this last act in this fearful drama was received with amazement and outbursting indignation. After a long, tedious trial, the United State Commissioner Pendery gave his decision to remand them back to Kentucky; but the Sheriff refused to deliver them to the Marshal, because they were under arrest for murder in the State. A habeas corpus was secured and tried before Judge Leavitt, who yesterday afternoon gave his decision, to deliver them over to the Marshal. In giving his decision, the Judge observed of the Fugitive Slave Law—"Until repealed or adjudged void on the ground of unconstitutionality by the proper judicial tribunal of the nation, it must be respected and observed as law." Respect a law which crushes humanity out of our hearts! Respect a law which flatly contradicts the law of God! Shall we dare to do so vile a deed? Must we violate our consciences to obey an act which defies the God of Heaven? God forbid!

Our State has been over-ridden—trampled on by these officials of the Government. Our citizens are peaceable and law-abiding; but had they known of the treachery about to be practiced, there would have been a rescue. It makes one ashamed of humanity to think this great Government should employ men to do its dirty work with the spirit of a bloohound! The fiends in human form are gloating over their poor, trembling victims! The delivery was so sudden and entirely unlooked for, the mass of people knew nothing about it till too late. On

reaching the Kentucky side, these brave Constitution lovers drank liquor and made speeches about the laws and the glorious Union—then a set of villainous men mobbed the reporter of the Gazette, and threatened to kill him; but he was rescued by some men of Ohio, who pointed their pistols, when they fled, breathing out fearful curses and imprecations.

"I beheld the tears of such as were oppressed," poor, distressed creatures! On the morning they were taken away. Mary, the old lady—a Christian, too—wept bitter tears while reciting the toils and sufferings she had endured under the yoke of bondage. In answer to inquiries made by two kind-hearted ladies, she said, "Indeed, I've had a hard time on it—many a time have I gone starving, and begged the neighbors to give me a morsel to eat."—How did your mistress behave? "She was a cruel woman; in winter she used to come and put out my fire, break out the windows, and throw out my clothes in the yard, and stone me with rocks." Little did she think—little did those loving hearts which felt for her, think, that in six hours her tears would fall on the slavecursed soil of Kentucky! Yet such was the fact. How timely the admonition, "Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth!"

Words fail to describe the deep heart-burning of the people of this city, that their rights and those of our beloved State should be stricken down by that despotic tyranny, which has so long ruled the North. But, for all this, there can be no doubt but that the Slave Power is doomed to be overthrown. The signs of the times are all cheering; if the North be but faithful to her trust, and but united in her efforts, we may place a faithful man in the Presidential chair. The South has at length found out there is a North; and when the cry of Disunion comes from north of Mason & Dixon's line, the chivalry cries treason! treason! She forgets how South Carolina threatened. Better that the Union be dissolved, than uphold "the sum of all villainies."

During the trial of the seven fugitives, over fifty slaves passed through here en route to Canada! The slaveholders find it a hard matter, and a dear one, too, to attempt to retake and re-enslave them. Numbers left for Canada, besides those who came here. The river is now released from its icy barriers.

Senator Wade was re-elected yesterday by our Legislature. The vote stood, Wade, 102; Todd, 36. This we regard a noble triumph of Freedom. Governor Chase was here at the Celebration on Washington's Birthday; but was slighted at the banquet, which has called forth severe rebuke from the Press and the bet ter portion of our citizens, who purpose having a special banquet for the Governor.

JABEZ.

CINCINNATI, Feb. 29, 1856.