Feb 21, 2008 - Sale 2137

Sale 2137 - Lot 11

Price Realized: $ 360
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 600 - $ 800
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) STEVENS, SAMUEL. An Autograph Letter Signed as governor of Maryland, regarding a captured slave on free soil. Folio leaf written on both sides. Not dated but docketed in Stevens' hand "Copy of a Letter to Messrs. Brown and Morris of Philadelphia relative to Jacobs." (Maryland, circa 1822-1826)

Additional Details

Stevens (1778-1860) refers to a request from the governor of Pennsylvania to have a Mr. Arnold Jacobs arrested and returned to Pennsylvania for having taken captive one Emory Sadler, "a man of color . . . contrary to an act of the Commonwealth of 27th of March 1820." Stevens acknowledges the illegality of taking a slave from free soil, and even adds that Jacobs should be punished; but states that unless papers manumitting Sadler are presented, he can do nothing. This, in spite of a letter from Jacobs to Sadler's mother that indicated that he had indeed manumitted Sadler--"which is liable to be revoked at any moment."