The Anti-Slavery Record, Volume 1, No. 7

by American Anti-Slavery Society

THE

ANTI-SLAVERY RECORD.

VOL. I. JULY, 1835 NO. 7.

[See page 63.]

SCENES IN THE CITY PRISON OF NEW YORK.

STEPHEN DOWNING.

This man was arrested as a fugitive, by a Virginia planter, and imprisoned in Bridewell, where he remained eighteen months. The inmates of the prison knew him well, and they were always ready to speak a good word for Downing. After the planter had got his legal right allowed, either because his lawyer’s bill was so heavy, or because he hoped Downing’s friends would buy him, he neglected to take him away for three months. By this delay he forfeited his right to do so, as was decided by Judge Edwards. But Downing’s release was referred to the Supreme Court, which was to meet in two weeks. To the disappointment of every body, this was prevented by another Judge,[1] who, contrary to his promise, secretly wrote for, and by a partial statement, obtained from the Supreme Court, at Albany, an order for the removal of poor Downing, and, before his friends were aware of the plot, he was shipped for Virginia.

Here we see intrigue and perfidy used with impunity to deprive this poor man of his liberty, which, had it been used in the case of a dog, would have consigned its perpetrators to remediless disgrace.—​Such is the strength of a pro-slavery public sentiment!

[1] See Emancipator for November 4, 1834.