The Underground Railroad
Shipley was ready to enter with alacrity into the service. He saw the
importance of the measure, and that it would require prompt action,
inasmuch as the decision of the judge would probably be pronounced on
the following day. It fortunately happened that a friend was just about
leaving for Newark, in his own conveyance, and feeling an interest in
the case, he kindly invited friend Shipley to accompany him. They left
in the afternoon, traveled all night, and arrived at Newark by daylight
the following morning. The weary traveler was unwilling, however, to
retire to bed, although the night was exceedingly cold and tempestuous,
but he proceeded at once to the house of the chief justice. He called
the worthy judge from his bed, offering the importance of his business,
and the necessity of speedy action, as an apology for so unseasonable a
visit. Chief Justice Hornblower, on being informed of the circumstances
of the case, expressed his pleasure at having it in his power to accede
to his wishes and treated him with a respect and kindness which the
disinterested benevolence of his mission was calculated to inspire.
Having obtained the necessary papers, he left at once for Mount Holly,
where he arrived on the following day, in time to place the writs in the
hands of the sheriff, just before the decision of Judge H. was
pronounced. Had he consulted his ease or convenience, and deferred his
visit to Newark a few hours, or had he, as most men, under similar
circumstances would have done, reposed his weary limbs, after a cold and
dreary ride of eighty miles, in order to enable him to return with
renewed strength, he would have arrived too late to render this
meritorious effort effectual. As it was, he was there in time. The
judge, according to the expectation of the friends of the colored man,
gave his decision in favor of the slave-holders, and ordered poor
Alexander to be given up to the tender mercies of the exasperated
claimant. The decision sent a thrill of indignation through the anxious
and excited multitude, which perhaps, was never equalled amongst the
inhabitants of that quiet town. The friends of humanity had assembled
from all parts of the country to witness the proceedings in the case.
Many of them were personally acquainted with the prisoner; they knew him
to be a man of intelligence and integrity; he was an industrious and
orderly citizen, and was universally respected in the neighborhood. He
was now about to be made a slave, and was declared to be the property of
another. The father was about to be torn from his helpless children; the
husband in defiance of the Divine command, was to be wrested from the
fond embrace of his sorrowing wife, to spend his days in misery and
toil. And this was to be done before the eyes of those who had a just
regard for human rights, a hearty hatred of oppression. Is it wonderful,
that under such circumstances, there should have been a deep abhorrence
for the perpetrators of this outrage upon humanity, and a general
sympathy for the innocent captive?
But it was decreed that those feelings of honest indignation should be
speedily supplanted by the warm outpouring of public gratitude and joy.
While the feeling of the spectators was in this state of intense
interest and excitement, the judge, stern and inflexible in his
purposes, and the clan of greedy claimants ready to seize upon their
prey, the sheriff produced his writ of certiorari and handed it to the
court. It was instantly returned, and the judge who sat unmoved, by a
scene to which he was not unaccustomed, and conceiving, perhaps, that
his official dignity was impugned, persisted in his determination that
the prisoner should be handed over to the claimant. The prudence and
foresight of Thomas Shipley and his friends had provided, however, for
this anticipated difficulty. Happily for the prisoner, he was yet
embraced under the provision of that constitution, which secured to him
the protection of a habeas corpus, and this threw around him a shield
which his enemies could not penetrate. A writ of habeas corpus, signed
by the chief justice of the State and demanding the body of the
prisoner, before the Supreme Court at its next term, was now produced!
The astonished judge found himself completely foiled. He had exercised
his authority to its utmost limit, in support of the claims of his
slave-holding friends, and had given the influence of his station and
character, to bolster up the "patriarchal institution;" but it was all
in vain. Just as they supposed they had achieved a victory, they were
obliged with fallen crests, to succumb to the dictates of a higher
tribunal, and to see their victim conveyed beyond their reach in the
safe keeping of the sheriff.
In the Third month, (March,) the case was brought up before the Supreme
Court for final adjudication. In the meantime, Thomas Shipley adopted
vigorous measures to have the facts collected and arranged. He procured
the aid of an intelligent and humane friend of the cause, who resided
near Trenton, to attend, personally to the case, and secured the legal
services of Theodore Frelinghuysen, well known as one of the most gifted
and virtuous statesmen of the age, and as a warm and zealous friend of
the oppressed. Under these happy auspices, the case came before the
Supreme Court, and gave rise to a highly interesting and important
argument; in which the distinguished Frelinghuysen appeared as the
disinterested advocate of the prisoner, and urged upon the court his
claim to liberty, under the laws of New Jersey, in a speech which was
one of his most brilliant and eloquent efforts, and added another to the
many laurels which his genius and philanthropy have achieved.
The opinion of Chief Justice Hornblower was given at length, and is said
to have displayed a soundness and extent of legal knowledge, with a
spirit of mildness and humanity, well worthy of the highest judicial
tribunal of New Jersey.
By this decision, Alexander Helmsley was declared to be a freeman, and
returned with rejoicing into the bosom of his family, and to the
enjoyment of the rights and privileges of a free citizen.
Thus terminated this interesting case, which for several months agitated
the public mind of Burlington county, to an extent almost unequalled.
Such disinterested devotion to the defence of the rights of the
oppressed, had it been displayed only in the instance recited, would be
sufficient to enroll the name of Thomas Shipley on the list of the
benefactors of his race; but when we consider that, for a period of
twenty years, his history abounds in similar incidents, and that he
uniformly stood forth as the unflinching advocate of the oppressed,
regardless of the sacrifices which he was obliged to make on their
behalf, we are disposed to view him as one of that noble band whose
lives have been consecrated to deeds of charity and benevolence, and
whose names will illumine the moral firmament, so long as virtue and
truth shall command the homage of mankind.
Thomas Shipley was one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery
Society, and was an active agent in those stirring movements which soon
aroused the nation to a full consideration of the enormities of Slavery.
He was a prominent member of the Anti-slavery Convention, which
assembled in this city in 1833, and a signer of their declaration of
sentiments.
During the last few years of his life, he was more devotedly engaged in
his abolition labors than at any previous period. It was his constant
desire to diffuse the principles which had been so fearlessly proclaimed
by the Convention, and to encourage the formation of Anti-slavery
societies throughout the sphere of his influence. He was one of the most
prominent members of the Philadelphia Anti-slavery Society, which was
formed through much opposition, in 1835, and he steadily adhered to its
meetings, notwithstanding the threats which were so loudly made by the
enemies of public order.
In the midst of the popular commotions and tumults, which marked the
progress of Anti-slavery principles, he stood calm and unmoved. Having
been long known as a firm friend of the rights of the colored man, and
being amongst the most efficient public advocates of his cause, he was
of course subjected to the revilings which were so liberally heaped upon
the Abolitionists at that time. His name was associated with that of
Tappan, Birney, Green, Jay, Garrison, and other leading Abolitionists,
who were singled out by slave-holders and their abettors as fit subjects
for the merciless attacks of excited mobs.
In several attempts which were made in this city to stir up the passions
of the ignorant against the advocates of human rights, his person and
property were openly threatened with assault. Such menaces failed,
however, to deter him from the steady performance of what he believed to
be a solemn duty. Being fully satisfied of the truth of the principles
which he had espoused, he relied with unwavering confidence upon Divine
power for their ultimate triumph, and for the protection of those who
advocated them. When his friends expressed their anxiety for his safety,
he always allayed their apprehensions, and evinced by the firmness and
benignity of his manner that he was divested of the fear of man, and
acted under the influence of that spirit which is from above.
The active part which Thomas Shipley took in Anti-slavery movements, did
not diminish his interest in the prosperity and usefulness of the old
Pennsylvania Society. He was a steady attendant on its meetings, and
exercised his wonted care on all subjects connected with its interests.
A short time previous to his death, his services were acknowledged by
his fellow-members, by his election to the office of president.
The incessant and fatiguing labors in which he was engaged, had sensibly
affected the vigor of a constitution naturally delicate, and rendered
him peculiarly liable to the inroads of disease. He was seized in the
autumn of 1836, with an attack of intermittent fever, which confined him
to the house for ten or twelve days, and very much reduced his strength;
while recovering from this attack, he experienced an accession of
disease which terminated his life in less than twenty-four hours. But a
few hours before his death, he inquired of his physicians as to the
probable issue of his case; when informed of his critical condition, he
received the intelligence with composure, and immediately requested Dr.
Atlee, who was by his side, to take down some directions in regard to
his affairs, on paper. In a few minutes after this, he quietly lapsed
into the sleep of death, in the morning, on the 17th of Ninth month,
1836.
His last words were, "I die at peace with all mankind, and hope that my
trespasses may be as freely forgiven, as I forgive those who have
trespassed against me."
To all who knew him well, of whatever class in the community, the
tidings of this unexpected event brought a personal sorrow. It was felt
that a man of rare probity and virtue had gone to his reward. But to the
colored people the intelligence of his death was at once startling and
confounding. Their whole community was bowed down in public lamentation,
for their warmest and most steadfast friend was gone.
They repaired in large numbers to the house of their benefactor to
obtain a last glance at his lifeless body. Parents brought their little
ones to the house of mourning, and as they gazed upon the features of
the departed, now inanimate in death, they taught their infant minds the
impressive lesson, that before them were the mortal remains of one who
had devoted his energies to the disenthralment of their race, and whose
memory they should ever cherish with gratitude and reverence. When the