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if they could, and forcibly if they must. Finding they were in earnest about it, the Slaveholder came out and told them if they would allow him to pass on without interruption, he would give up the fugitive, to which they agreed, and he was delivered up to them with triumphant shouts of joy. They, however, sent the young man to Canada. These men were prosecuted under the Fugitive Slave bill. Some were fined, others suffered their time in prison.
Justices of the Peace, Judges and Jurors, and other public authoaities, sanction the separation of husband and wife in a Free State—Ministers of the Gospel sanction it also by their silence; their voices are heard against Sabbath-breaking, popular Infidelity (and especially in charging the Abolitionists with it), against drunkenness, against the Mormonite system of poligamy, but not a word against Slavery, or separating husband and wife, if their people be coloured or are of Negro descent. One even refused to pray for a Fugitive Slave who was in prison awaiting his trial; prayer on his behalf was requested at a public prayer meeting and was refused, although at the same time requests from other sources, and on different subjects, received attention.
Escapes have been more numerous than ever during the past year, they are augmenting continually. We
