I ran across an intriguing fugitive slave case in Buffalo, and don't know
whether it has ever been written up (if it hasn't, here's a project for
someone).
On August 15, 1851, a fugitive slave named "Daniel" who had been working
as a cook on the steamer "Buckeye State" was arrested. During his arrest,
he was hit on the head by the slavecatcher, a Mr. Rust, who was the agent
of Daniel's supposed owner, George J. Moore of Louisville, KY. Word of the
arrest and the injury to Daniel was spread, and a crowd tried to stop the
carriage as Daniel was being taken to the Court House. Daniel was held as
a fugitive, and Mr. Rust arrested for assult and battery. Rust was fined
$50 and a further writ served on him for private damages to Daniel (also
called Davis in some stories). Rust later pays $20 to Daniel for private
damages. There is some maneuvering in court, and it is finally
determined that Daniel had been taken (or sent) by his master to Ohio, and
was therefore free. In the middle of this there was a letter published in
one of the papers, supposedly from Daniel, addressed to the "Colored
Population of Buffalo" saying he had been well treated as a slave, had
done wrong in running away, and when he returned to Kentucky was going to
advise the other slaves that they were better where they were. This letter
was treated with some skepticism, and it should be noted that when Daniel
was released, he immediately headed to Canada.
The Buffalo Express published a sarcastic poem, which included the
following:
Bring your chains with clank and clatter,
If they're free, why, that's no matter,
One good oath will make them yours;
Search our quiet homes, and hook them;
Knock them on the head, and cook them;
Northern patience long endures.
Never mind the race or color,
Be it white or something duller,
One's the rule for you and me;
Get some southron foe to swear it:-
Bring the thong and we must wear it;
Where's the law to prove us free?
[The Express was emphatically on the side of the fugitive in this case.]
Anyway, seems like an interesting case, and if it hasn't been researched
before, it looks like it ought to be.
Christopher Densmore
University Archives
University at Buffalo
420 Capen Hall
Box 602200
Buffalo, New York 14260-2200
Voice: 716-645-2916
Fax: 716-645-3714
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
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