The Underground Railroad
deeds of blood, nothing was wanting but some act of resistance on the
part of their victims, who, during the whole period, had conducted
themselves with a forbearance and patience highly creditable to them as
good citizens and upright Christians. Such an occasion was about to
occur, and was prevented by the admirable coolness and forethought of
Thomas Shipley.
A number of colored men who had been driven to desperation by the acts
of the mob, and who had relinquished the idea of protection from the
civil authorities, determined to resort to arms, to defend themselves
and their families from the further aggressions of their persecutors.
They accordingly repaired to Benezet Hall, one of their public buildings
in South Seventh Street, with a supply of fire arms and ammunition,
determined to fire upon the assailants, and maintain their post or die
in the attempt. This fact became known to the leaders of the mob, and
the cry was raised to march for the hall, and make the attack. Thomas
Shipley who had mingled amongst the rioters, and apparently identified
himself with them, was now perfectly aware of all their designs; he knew
their numbers, he had seen the implements of destruction which they were
brandishing about them, and he was aware that the occurrence of such a
conflict would be attended with the most disastrous results, and might
be the beginning of hostilities which would terminate in the destruction
of the weaker party, or at least in a dreadful effusion of human blood.
Seeing the position in which the parties were now placed, he left the
ranks of the rioters, and ran at the top of his speed to the house in
which the colored people were collected, awaiting the approach of their
enemy. As he drew near, they were about coming out to meet their
assailants, highly excited by continued outrages, and determined to
defend themselves or die. At this unexpected moment, their protector
drew nigh; he raised his voice aloud, and addressed the multitude. He
deprecated the idea of a resort to physical force, as being calculated
to increase their difficulties, and to plunge them into general
distress, and entreated them to retire from the hall. His voice was
immediately recognized; the effect was electric; the whole throng knew
him as their friend; their fierce passions were calmed by the voice of
reason and admonition. They could not disregard his counsels; he had
come among them, at the dead hour of night, in the midst of danger and
trial, to raise his warning voice against a course of measures they were
about to pursue. They listened to his remonstrances, and retreated
before the mob had reached the building. At this juncture the Mayor and
his officers assembled in front of the hall, and by prompt and energetic
action succeeded in dispersing the mob, and through the information
received from Thomas Shipley, the ringleaders were secured and lodged in
prison.
The part which Thomas Shipley acted in the trying scenes so often
presented in our courts, during this unhappy period, has invested his
character with a remarkable degree of interest. It is probable that his
connection with the Pennsylvania Abolition Society was the means of
enlisting his talents and exertions in this important service.
The energy and zeal of our friend in his efforts for the relief of those
about to be deprived of their dearest rights, soon distinguished him as
the most efficient member of the Society, in this department of its
duties. So intense was his interest in all cases where the liberty of
his fellow-man was at issue, that, during a period of many years, he was
scarcely ever absent from the side of the unhappy victim, as he sat
before our judicial tribunals, trembling for his fate. The promptings of
interest, the pleasures and allurements of the world, the quiet
enjoyment of a peaceful home, were all cheerfully sacrificed, when his
services were demanded in these distressing cases. Often has he left the
business, in which his pecuniary interests were materially involved, to
stand by the unhappy fugitive in the hour of his extremity, with an
alacrity and a spirit which could only be displayed by one animated by
the loftiest principles and the purest philanthropy.
Who, that has ever witnessed one of these trying scenes, can forget his
manly and honest bearing, as he stood before the unrelenting and
arrogant claimant, watching with an eagle eye, every step of the process
by which he hoped to gain his victim? Who has not been struck with his
expressive glances toward the judge, when a doubtful point arose in the
investigation of the case? Who has not caught the lively expression of
delight which beamed from his countenance, when a fact was disclosed
which had a favorable bearing on the liberty of the captive? Who has not
admired the sagacity with which his inquiries were dictated, and the
tact and acumen with which he managed every part of his cause? His
principle was unhesitatingly to submit to existing laws, however unjust
their decrees might be, but to scan well the bearing of the facts and
principles involved in each case, and to see that nothing was wanting in
the chain of evidence, or in the legal points in question, fully to
satisfy the requisitions of law. If a doubtful point arose, he was
unwearied in investigating it, and devoted hours, days, and even weeks,
in the collection of testimony which he thought would have a favorable
influence on the prisoner.
Through his untiring vigilance, many victims have escaped from the hand
of the oppressor, whose title to freedom, according to the laws of this
commonwealth, was undoubted, and many others, whose enslavement was at
least questionable.
The time and labor expended by Thomas Shipley in protecting the
interests of his colored clients, would be almost incredible to those
who were not aware of his extraordinary devotion to the cause. The only
notice which can be found among his papers, of the various slave cases
in which he was engaged, is contained in a memorandum book, which he
commenced in the summer of 1835. In this book he has noted, in the order
of their occurrence, such instances of difficulty or distress as
demanded his interference, almost without a comment. I find from this
book, that his advice and assistance were bestowed in twenty-five cases,
from Seventh mo. 16th, to Eighth mo. 24th, 1836, a period of little more
than a month. A number of these cases required the writing of letters to
distant places; in some it was necessary for him to visit the parties
interested; and others demanded his personal attendance at court. This
perhaps, may be considered as a fair average of the amount of labor
which he constantly expended in this department of his benevolent
efforts; and when we consider the time occupied in the necessary duties
of his ordinary avocations, it must be evident that he possessed not
only extraordinary humanity, but uncommon activity and energy, to have
accomplished so much.
In the memorandum book referred to, under date of Twelfth mo., 1835, I
find the following note: "Spent eighteen days in the trial of A.
Hemsley, and his wife Nancy, and her three children, arrested at Mount
Holly, the husband claimed by Goldsborough Price, executor of Isaac
Boggs, of Queen Ann's county, Maryland, and the wife and children by
Richard D. Cooper, of the same county. John Willoughby, agent for both
claimants. B.R. Brown and B. Clarke, attorneys for the claimant, and
D.P. Brown, J.R. Slack, E.B. Cannon, and G.W. Camblos, for defendants.
After a full argument, in which a manumission was produced for Nancy,
from R.D. Cooper's father, she and her children were discharged, but her
husband was remanded; on which a certiorari was served on the judge, and
a habeas corpus placed in the sheriff's hands."
"Alexander was discharged by the Supreme Court, at Trenton, Third mo.
5th. The circumstances of the case, were briefly the following: The
woman and children had been regularly manumitted in Delaware by the
father of the claimant, while the title of the father to freedom was
less positive, though sufficiently clear to warrant a vigorous effort on
his behalf."
The first object of the counsel on the part of the alleged fugitive, was
to prove the manumission of the mother and children, and, as it was
thought, the necessary documents for that purpose were collected and
arranged. After the trial had proceeded, however, for a short time, the
attorney for the defendants discovered a defect in the testimony on this
point; the necessary papers, duly authenticated by the Governor or Chief
Justice of Delaware, were missing, and without them it was impossible to
make out the case. The fact was immediately communicated to Thomas
Shipley--he saw that the papers must be had, and that they could not be
procured without a visit to Dover, in Delaware. He at once determined to
repair thither in person, and obtain them. Without the knowledge of the
claimant's counsel, who might have taken advantage of the omission, and
hurried the case to a decision; he started on the evening of the sixth
day, and traveled as fast as possible to Dover, in the midst of a season
unusually cold and inclement. On the next morning inquiries were made in
all directions for friend Shipley; it was thought strange that he should
desert his post in the midst of so exciting and momentous a trial, and
at a time when his presence seemed to be particularly required. The
counsel for the prisoners, who were aware of his movements, proceeded
with the examination of witnesses as slowly as possible, in order to
allow time for procuring this important link in the chain of testimony,
and thus to procrastinate the period when they should be called upon to
sum up the case.
Fortunately, on the evening of the day on which Thomas Shipley set out
upon his journey, it was proposed to adjourn, and farther proceedings
were postponed until Second day morning. At the meeting of the court, in
the morning, the expected messenger was not there, and the ingenuity of
the counsel was taxed still farther to procrastinate the important
period. After three hours had been consumed in debate upon legal points,
he, who was so anxiously looked for, came hurrying through the crowd,
making his way toward the bench. His countenance and his movements soon
convinced the wondering spectators that he was the bearer of gratifying
news, and in a few minutes, the mystery of his absence was revealed, by
the production of a document which was the fruit of his effort. The
papers completely established the legal title of the mother and children
to their freedom, and placed them out of the reach of further
persecution. An attack of illness was the result of the extreme exertion
and fatigue endured by this devoted man, in his earnest advocacy of the
rights of these friendless beings.
The freedom of the husband and father, was, however, still in jeopardy.
If the decision of the court should be against him, he would be torn
from the bosom of his now joyful and emancipated family, and consigned
to a life of bondage. To avert this calamity, the counsel for the
prisoner suggested an expedient as humane as it was ingenious. He
proposed that a writ of certiorari which would oblige the judge to
remove the case to the Supreme Court and a habeas corpus from the Chief
Justice of the State, should both be in readiness when the decision of
the judge should be pronounced, in case that if it should be
unfavorable, the writs might be at once served, and the prisoner
remanded to the sheriff of the county, to be brought up before the
Supreme Court at Trenton for another trial.
To procure these writs, it was necessary to obtain the signature of the
chief justice of New Jersey, who resided at Newark, and again Thomas