A warrant was accordingly granted, and one of Mr. Hunter’s negroes,
on Saturday last, was apprehended, and the officers were conveying
him to the ferry boat for transportation home, there being no doubt
of its being Mr. Hunter’s servant from the evidence of parties
present, satisfactory to the magistrate. Not pleased with the summary
proceedings of the parties executing the warrant, the negro refused to
accompany them, when they essayed gentle “coercion.” This not meeting
with the approbation of the negro, was creating some excitement, and
promised to lead to serious difficulty, when some of the provost
guard interposed and carried the case before Colonel Gregory, the
Provost Marshal, who retained possession of the negro until the 23d,
when a decision was rendered. After receiving the statements of
Mayor McKenzie, Mr. Hunter and his friends, the negro and others,
in connection with the report of the guard, the Marshal refused to
acknowledge the claim of Mr. Hunter, and released the man, stating that
he would not permit the arrest of any fugitive from labor while in
command of this post, thus setting aside the lawful authority of the
State of Virginia. The case will be reported to the President at an
early day.