From the Archives: Newspapers:
Mercer Luminary

Mercer Luminary, Mercer, Pennsylvania
October 6, 1841

SLAVE CASE

     Our community has been much excited for the last few days, in consequence of the forcible arrest and carrying off of a supposed fugitive slave.

     A week or ten days since, two men from Virginia, accompanied by two constables from Pittsburg, passed through Mercer, in pursuit of three slaves, who had taken with them their master’s carriage, a pair of horses, and some money.  The carriage and horses, it appears, were left in the woods some distance from Pittsburg.  The pursuers proceeded to Erie; but the Slaves, as we learn, had got a start for Canada a few days previous.  In the mean time information was lodged in town, that two runaway slaves were among the settlement of colored people in the north-east part of this county; and on the return of these pursuers from Erie, the intelligence was given to them by those with whom it was lodged.  They then took the warrant, issued from Allegheny for those charged with the robbery mentioned above, to a justice of the Peace here, who endorsed it, without requiring the proof that he was empowered to do that it was genuine, and having got the higher constable of the borough into their service and other facilities afforded them, they started out before day break on Sunday morning after their prey.  One of these they found a short distance from the house at which he had been staying, gave chase, overtook him, and beat him with clubs and bound him fast.

     In the mean time, a number of colored people, having got wind of what was going on, hastened to the place for the purpose of rescuing the prisoner.  This they would have done, but for the constable from Mercer, who was acquainted with them, and showed to them t his legal warrant endorsed by the Justice of this place, threatening to prosecute them in case of interference, and also stating that he intended to lodge this man in the Mercer jail until a legal examination took place.  Under these representations they desisted.

     The posse hurried into town (at a time when the great mass of the citizens were at church, and ignorant of the proceedings) waited but a few minutes to change horses, and drove off post haste for the South.

     Thus has a man been arrested, bound, carried through out county, and hurried into slavery, without proof, without legal investigation, and without the benefit of such a hearing as he was entitled to by law.

     Justice has been smothered – the feelings of the community outraged – and law set at defiance, by a band of hired ruffians, whose desire for reward has buried beneath it every dictate of humanity.

     Whatever laws require with respect to runaway slaves, however severe, should be obeyed by our officers.  But we had hoped that none in Mercer county would go beyond what the law requires – much less those who are not officers – to aid in ferreting out and arresting the poor and oppressed slave, who has undergone toil and suffering to gain what is dear to every human being.  But we have been mistaken.  We rejoice to know, however, that there are but few; and that nine-tenths of our citizens look upon such conduct with abhorrence and indignation.