Anthony Burns in Canada E-Book

Fred Landon

• Herausgeber: Alien Ebooks
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 13

Beschreibung

Anthony Burns was a runaway slave, who was incarcerated in Boston in 1854 as a result of the Fugitive Slave Act. A sensational trial ensued which led to a riot and the government enforcing civil obedience by a massive influx of government troops. Although Burns was returned to his slave owners, he was later repatriated and eventually made his way to St. Catharines, Ontario where he remained until his death.

Leseprobe

ANTHONY BURNS IN CANADA

By Fred Landon, M.A.

The most dramatic fugitive slave case ever fought out in the courts of the United States was that of Anthony Burns. His fate interested millions, he was the cause of riots in Boston and he was returned to slavery in Virginia by the courts of the free state of Massachusetts under circumstances of a strikingly sensational character.

The body of Anthony Burns lies buried to-day in the cemetery at St. Catharines, Ontario, forgotten and neglected save for the attention that it gets from one humble coloured family in that city. In the summer of 1924 the tombstone lay in three pieces, as it had fallen over some time before. But the name of Anthony Burns is not forgotten, nor is it likely to be forgotten while men recall the great issue that divided the United States during the first six decades of the last century and that was settled at last by a long and costly civil war.

The career of Anthony Burns is one well known to students of American history, though probably few Canadians have heard of it. In the year 1850 there was legislation passed by Congress, known as the Fugitive Slave Act,[1] the purpose of which was to enable the owners of runaway slaves to secure their property, wherever it might be found within the bounds of the republic, and return it to the South. There had been other Fugitive Slave Laws before that of 1850, but none so drastic.[2]