JoDaviess County IL Archives News.....Arrest of Free Negroes in Galena July 18, 1854
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright kenneth565@aol.com October 3, 2009, 10:40 am

Clinton Mirror July 18, 1854
Clinton Mirror, Lyons, Iowa, July 18, 1854

Arrest of Free Negroes in Galena

An attempt has been made at Galena to enforce the “Black Law” of Illinois. A
constable of that town named Charles McDonnell, arrested four free
negroes-stewards, cooks, &c., on board of boats running in that trade. Sam
Buchanan, Joe Bruce, Jim Butter and Bill Brodery, were the men arrested and
taken to jail. The Galena Gazette, speaking of the affair says:
“There is a law in this state, the existence of which disgraces every man in it,
and the presence of which pollutes the statue book by which a person of color
coming into the state may be apprehended, imprisoned, heavily fined, and in case
he cannot pay the fine, may be sold to the highest bidder; &c. All this we knew,
and blushed that it was so;  but we still hoped that there was no one in the
state so lost to humanity and self-respect, and so oblivious to a withering
public sentiment, as to attempt to enforce it. In this, however, we were
mistaken.”


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