The story of the rescue of Jane Johnson, a community effort to free Jane Johnson and her two little boys! The Great Escape a Community Aids… Dozens of Celebrated Abolitionists Gather and Sign a now endangered Book, an Artifact destined to be lost without our support! It seemed that the longer Williamson endured imprisonment, the more respect he earned. Passmore is very cheerful, & firm as a rock, Lucretia Mott recorded after visiting him in September (connect to primary source and full transcript.). In addition to Mott, he received a long string of distinguished visitors, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. Supportive letters arrived for him daily, and even the prison staff seemed to sympathize with him: he was granted unprecedented privileges, and on one occasion was even escorted from prison to visit his newborn daughter at home (Brandt 96-99). In July of 1855, Slaver, John H. Wheeler, the United States ambassador to Nicaragua, brought Jane Johnson and her two children, the family he enslaved, with him on a journey to South America. Although they would be travelling through free states--even stopping overnight in Philadelphia and New York--Wheeler apparently was not overly concerned about the liberty laws or about Janes love of liberty and her plans to escape. He thought hed keep a close eye on the family, but he underestimated the will and resolve of this mother, and her desire to be escape. While still in Philadelphia, she approached some free blacks and confided her desire to run away; someone sent a hurried message to the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society; and just after Wheeler had settled with his slaves on a ferry to depart from Philadelphia, Passmore Williamson, William Still, and five colored dockworkers boarded the ship. Passmore Williamson quickly located Johnson and explained to her that she was free. William Still later recalled his words: You are entitled to your freedom according to the laws of Pennsylvania, having been brought into the State by your owner (Still 88). Wheeler protested, but two of the colored dockworkers, John Ballard and William Curtis, held him back. Johnson exclaimed, I am not free, but I want my freedom--ALWAYS wanted to be free!! but he holds me (Still 89). William Still led Johnson and her children off the ferry and into a carriage, and that day, July 18, 1855, they were free. TOP Case of Passmore Williamson Liberty Laws vs. The Newly revised Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 A furious Wheeler petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus that would force Passmore Williamson, Johnsons liberator to produce her to the court. Reinstating her rights to due process, whereby a warrant must be issued by her slaver if he attempted to kidnap her and re-enslave Jane and her sons. Legally Jane did not escape, because similar to the Dred Scott case, their slavers mistakenly presumed their captors were ignorant of the liberty laws in the North and therefore would not strike out for freedom. The writ was granted by Judge John K. Kane, who, disregarding William Still and the other five black freedmen who assisted Johnsons escape, placed all responsibility with Williamson. He was the only white man, the only citizen, the only individual having recognized political rights, the only person whose social training could certainly interpret either his own duties or the rights of others under the constitution of the land (Kane qtd. in Williamson, 12). When Williamson refused to comply, claiming (truthfully) that he had no knowledge of Johnsons whereabouts, he was held in contempt of court. From July 27, 1855, Williamson spent over three months in Moyamensing Prison in Philadelphia. As with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, however, the anti-abolitionists excessive zeal backfired: the main result of Williamsons imprisonment was that it attracted support for his cause. The opportunity seemed favorable for teaching abolitionists and negroes, that they had no right to interfere with a chivalrous southern gentleman, William Still later wrote of Wheelers hubris; but Williamsons resolute course was bringing floods of sympathy throughout the North (Still 92, 93). It seemed that the longer Williamson endured imprisonment, the more respect he earned. Passmore is very cheerful, & firm as a rock, Lucretia Mott recorded after visiting him in September (connect to primary source and full transcript.). In addition to Mott, he received a long string of distinguished visitors, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. Supportive letters arrived for him daily, and even the prison staff seemed to sympathize with him: he was granted unprecedented privileges, and on one occasion was even escorted from prison to visit his newborn daughter at home (Brandt 96-99). Williamson was defended by the extremely capable legal team of Edward Hopper (son of Isaac Hopper and son-in-law of James and Lucretia Mott) and Charles Gilpen, and his trial stretched on. Meanwhile, it was becoming quite clear that his imprisonment was not aiding the pro-slavery cause. Wheeler withdrew his complaint on November 3, 1855, and Williamson was released from prison. Case of William Still et al While Passmore Williamson waited in prison, the other participants in Johnsons escape--William Still and the five black dock-workers--were facing riot and assault charges. John H. Wheeler was still claiming that Jane Johnson had been forcibly abducted, even though she had already submitted an affidavit swearing that she left Wheeler of her own volition. So, now Johnson tried an even bolder approach: she travelled to Philadelphia and personally appeared in court to testify on behalf of the defense. It was a risky move, for under the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act Wheeler could easily conscribe local authorities to recapture Johnson for him. Nonetheless, Johnson appeared as a surprise witness on August 29, 1855. She was escorted to the courtroom by a cadre of female abolitionists: Lucretia Mott, Sarah McKim, Sarah Pugh, and Rebecca Plumly. After giving her testimony, which Mott described as very clear & satisfact[or]y, Johnson was whisked out the back door of the courtroom by J. Miller McKim. Mott recounted breathlessly: we didnt drive slow com[in]g. home Miller, an officer--jane & self--another carriage follow[in]g. with 4 officers for protection--and all with the knowledge of the states attorney. Johnsons surprise appearance had the desired effect. Still was acquitted, the remaining five freedmen were found not guilty of riot charges, and only two freedmen--the two who physically restrained Wheeler--were sentenced for assault. They served just one weeks imprisonment. Jane Johnson, meanwhile, deserted her former master in Philadelphia for the second time in two months. She was widely commended for her courage--risking her own freedom to defend the men who had helped her achieve it. References Brandt, Nat, and Yanna Kroyt Brandt. In the Shadow of the Civil War: Passmore Williamson and the Rescue of Jane Johnson. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2007. Mott, Lucretia. Letter from Lucretia Mott. 1855-09-04. Mott Manuscripts, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College, MSS 035. Still, William. The Underground Rail Road. Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872. 86-97. Williamson, Passmore. Case of Passmore Williamson. Philadelphia: U. Hunt & son, 1856.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 06:56:13 +0000
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