This is an interesting letter and I’m not sure why it is in the collection except that one of those signing the letter is a Mr. “S. Parke” or “S. Parker.” May this be related to the “Parke” in Katurah Taylor Parke’s family? I don’t know.
The letter discusses the conviction of a Mr. William Chapin for assisting two slaves to secure their freedom and was forced to pay $6,000 because he skipped bail. The anti-slavery people were trying to come up with the money to help Mr. Chapin. Images of the actual letter are below the translation.~ CCJ
This is a remarkable document — a different artifact entirely from the family letters, and a significant one. It’s an 1853 abolitionist fundraising circular concerning the William L. Chaplin bail case.
Washington, D.C. Feb. 1st, 1853.
Dear Sir:
It is probably known to you, as to most of the community, that William L. Chaplin, of the State of New York, was, in the Autumn of 1850, arrested and committed to jail in this city on a charge of aiding in the escape of two slaves from their masters. It is not doubted that the charge is true; and to all who know the man, it is equally clear that his purpose was to give them their freedom. The act, however, was in violation of a law in force in the District of Columbia, under which, if tried and convicted, he would have been liable to a pecuniary fine of $200 for each slave, or $400 in all. This was the extent of his liability.
But that he might consult his friends, and, under their advice, prepare judiciously for his trial, he applied, as any one accused of a crime not capital may of right do, to be enlarged on giving bail. This request was acceded to only on condition of his giving bail in the sum of $6,000. This demand was looked upon by his friends, and especially his Anti-Slavery friends of the North, as a practical denial of justice — it was, as they thought, a demand in conflict with that injunction of the Constitution which prohibits the exaction of “excessive bail,” and it aroused in them a determination to give him all the means of a fair trial, to which the laws entitled him. A Committee from New York, representing the Anti-Slavery party, was despatched to Washington, and instructed to take such measures as they deemed advisable, for meeting this demand. They applied to the undersigned to become the bail of Chaplin. This Committee assumed to speak both for the Anti-Slavery society and for Mr. Chaplin; and they represented that the latter, on being bailed, should proceed to the North and make proper dispositions for his defence, and then return here, and take his trial, which would discharge his bail; and second, that if he failed to do so, or to indemnify bail, the friends of the Anti-Slavery cause would do it for him.
Upon this distinct understanding that substantial indemnity should be guaranteed, either by the surrender of Chaplin, or the payment of the money, the undersigned agreed to assume the responsibilities of bail in this case, and they entered their recognizances accordingly. Chaplin failed to appear, and the recognizances were forfeited. The consequence is, that the bail are held liable to the full amount of their bond, in the sum of $6,000 (six thousand dollars).
It now becomes a question, whether the bail, who, at the earnest solicitation of the friends of Mr. Chaplin, and of the Anti-Slavery Cause, assumed this responsibility, shall alone bear the burden of it; or whether it shall not rather rest on the shoulders of the Anti-Slavery party, who are honorably bound to stand between them and all harm.
The Hon. Gerrit Smith, with a full knowledge of all the facts, has, in his published letter, declared that the party will be disgraced, if they allow the bail in this case to suffer loss; and, in proof of his sense of their duty, he has, as a member of that party, contributed $2,000 to be applied to the satisfaction, in part, of the judgments against the bail. This leaves $4,000 to be provided for, with the costs of suit.
Judgment has been rendered against us, and a levy has been made upon our property, the advertisement and sale of which has [heavily struck-through / illegible line obscured by tape staining] … to issue this Circular to enable us to raise the amount by collection among the friends of the Cause. Besides the odium which attaches to us here on becoming bail, (which we cheerfully bear,) one of us has already lost in his business an amount perhaps equal to his present liability.
Now, in consideration of the above statement of the case, the undersigned, Bail for Wm. L. Chaplin, ask that the friends of Freedom protect us by such contributions as to them may seem best — and that this be done speedily, inasmuch as the District Attorney urges immediate execution on the judgments, which, to some of us, would, at this time, prove of ruinous effect. Whatever amount you may collect, or think proper to remit, may be sent to G. Bailey, editor of the Era, at Washington, or, if more convenient, to Wm. Harned, Anti-Slavery Rooms, 48 Beekman Street, New York. Respectfully and truly yours,
Wm. Blanchard S. Parker D. A. Hall
