ABSTRACT
In the winter of 1808–9, several Virginia Planters went to Philadelphia in search of colored people, slaves, who had taken refuge in that city. Most of them had been there several years; and some of them, by industry and frugality; had acquired some property. These men had been informed where they might be found, and in the evening, after they had returned from their labor, they were arrested, to the number of eleven, and placed in prison until the next morning; when they were taken before Alderman John Douglass 2 to have a hearing. As it was late when they were arrested, I heard nothing of it till the next morning. I generally rose early, and upon opening my front door I found a letter, that had been, during the night, put under it, addressed to me. This letter stated that several slaves had been arrested, and were to appear before Alderman Douglass that morning; that the owners were men of great respectability and wealth, and had the most satisfactory proof of the persons arrested being their slaves; so that my attendance there could be of no possible benefit to them. But, if I had no more regard for justice, and the rights of those gentlemen, than to endeavor to wrest their property from them, by attending at the magistrate’s, who knew his business, and would do justice in the case, without my aid, that my life would certainly be taken; and that my house would be burnt, while myself and my family were asleep in it. The writer invoked the most awful imprecations on himself, if he did not carry into effect these threats. As nearly as I can now recollect, these were the very words of the letter. I put it in my pocket, without saying anything about it to my family; as my wife’s fears were often alarmed for my safety, and I did not wish to increase them. I had received this letter but a few minutes, when several colored persons came to 188inform me of the arrest of the slaves.
