Description:

Slavery
Boston, MA, ca. 1854
Controversial Boston Trial of Anthony Burns Recounted in Contemporary Pamphlet
Pamphlet/Booklet
[SLAVERY; ANTHONY BURNS.] Boston Slave Riot, and Trial of Anthony Burns. Boston: Fetridge and Company, 1854. 86 pp., 5.75" x 8.375". Bound with string; trimmed at bottom. With separate internal title page. 1 p., 5.75" x 9.125". Lacking cover with engraving of Burns.

The trial of fugitive slave Anthony Burns in abolitionist Boston in late May 1854 was one of the most controversial of the nineteenth century. Returned to slavery under the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, Burns became a symbol of southern oppression. This pamphlet was published soon after Judge Edward G. Loring rendered his decision and Burns was placed on a steamer for his return to Virginia.

The Burns trial provoked large demonstrations, protests, and violence, and increased support for abolition. Although Burns was sold to a new owner in North Carolina, supporters in Boston arranged to purchase and emancipate him.

Massachusetts soon passed the most progressive personal liberty law in the nation, giving accused fugitives several important procedural rights, and the trial of Burns was the last rendition hearing for a fugitive slave in Massachusetts.

Excerpts
"The Decision of Commissioner Loring. / The issue between the parties arises under the U.S. Statute of 1850, and for the respondent it is urged that the statute is unconstitutional." (p80)

"This Statute has been decided to be constitutional by the unanimous opinion of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts on the fullest argument and the maturest deliberation, and to be the law of Massachusetts as well as, and because it is, a constitutional law of the United States...." (p81)

"I think the statute is constitutional, as it remains for me now to apply it to the facts of the case.
The facts to be proved by the claimant are three:—
"1. That Anthony Burns owed him service in Virginia.
"2. That Anthony Burns escaped from that service....
"these two facts are removed entirely and absolutely from my jurisdiction, and I am entirely and absolutely precluded from applying evidence to them. If therefore there is in the case evidence capable of such application, I cannot make it.
"The 3d fact is the identity of the party before me with the Anthony Burns mentioned in the record.
"This identity is the only question I have a right to consider. To this, and to this alone, I am to apply the evidence.. .." (p82)

"On the law and facts of the case, I consider the claimant entitled to the certificate from me which he claims.
"As soon as the decision was rendered, the court room was cleared of all the spectators, to allow the necessary preparations to be made for the sending back of the fugitive." (p83-84)

Anthony Burns (1834-1862) was born enslaved in Virginia and became a Baptist slave preacher as a young man in Falmouth, Virginia. His master frequently hired him out, and he learned to read and write in these leasing situations. In 1854, he escaped from slavery in Richmond, Virginia, and settled in Boston, where he had jobs as a ship's cook and a clerk in a clothing store. When Burns sent a letter to his enslaved brother to tell him he had escaped to Boston, his owner discovered his location and obtained an arrest warrant under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Burns was tried in a federal court in Boston, and his case spurred protests in several northern cities. After an abortive riot to rescue him failed, President Franklin Pierce sent U.S. Marines to transport Burns back to Virginia after the trial. Sympathizers in Boston ransomed Burns from slavery, and he was educated at Oberlin Collegiate Institute in Ohio and became a Baptist preacher in Upper Canada (Ontario) among fugitive African Americans who had escaped slavery. He died from tuberculosis.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 5.75" x 8.375"
  • Medium: Pamphlet/Booklet

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000