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in pursuing and recovering Fugitives; quite liberal rewards are offered to citizens in the Free States, to help them, and many do. Four coloured citizens of Massachusetts, were arrested in Galveston, Texas, for concealing a Fugitive Slave on board the Brig Billow, of Boston, with intention of aiding him in his escape. They were tried and convicted, and had to pay a fine equal to the value of the Slave; in default, they were sold as Slaves. The Governor of the State was authorized by the Legislature to take steps for their release. I do not know whether they ever were set free; but, if they had been white men, no pains, money, nor time, would have been spared by the State.
The following I quote from The San Francisco Herald, 1854. —"Fugitive Slave Case.—Justice Shepherd issued a warrant for the arrest of a mulatto woman, who was claimed as a Fugitive from labour by T. T. Smith, of Jackson county, Missouri. She was brought to this country by the claimant in 1850, and remained, together with a number of other Slaves, in his family, until a few months since, when she married a free Negro, and escaped. Her owner heard of her arrival here, and came down in search. Being informed that she was secreted on board the ship, Flying Cloud, he applied for a warrant, by virtue of which she was arrested, and brought before Justice Shepherd, by whom, on satisfactory proof
