Fellow citizens of Massachusetts! : Read and consider
Fellow citizens of Massachusetts!
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Title:
Fellow citizens of Massachusetts! : Read and consider
Description:
This broadside publicizes the arrest of the fugitive slave Anthony Burns, who escaped from Richmond, Virginia and made his way to Boston where, on May 24th, 1854, he was arrested. While he was awaiting trial for extradition to Virginia, a large crowd of abolitionists and anti-slavery sympathizers stormed the jail in which he was held in an attempt to free him. Federal troops were eventually sent to Boston to support the extradition, and Burns was ultimately returned to Virginia. He was later ransomed from slavery, eventually obtaining an education at Oberlin College and becoming a Baptist minister.
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Full text of this broadside reads: "Fellow citizens of Massachusetts! Read and consider: last Saturday, the kidnapper's counsel, (Seth J. Thomas and Edward G. Parker!) drew up a paper stating "that the person named Anthony Byrnes, now and here claimed as a slave, will be sold by his alleged master for a sum certain, to wit: twelve hundred dollars." Saturday night, the money was tendered by Rev. Mr. Grimes and Hamilton Willis, Esq. The kidnapper's counsel, with Messrs. Grimes and Willis, went to the office of Commissioner Loring. He drew up papers for the man's release. They all went to the Marshal's office, to execute the documents, where they met Hallett and the Marshal, who purposely delayed operations until after 12 o'clock, when the deed could not be legally done. The counsel and the Commissioner agreed to meet Mr. Grimes at 8 o'clock, Monday morning, execute the documents, and release the man. This (Monday) morning, at 8 o'clock, they were waited on at the Marshal's office, by Mr. Grimes. The kidnapper refused to take the money when tendered to him; refused to sell the man at any price! And now declares that he will take his slave back to Virginia! Monday Morning, May 29, 1854."
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