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| 702 THE UXDEBOSOUXD RAIL ROAD. glanoee toward the judge, when a doubtful point arose in the investigation of the case? Who has not caught the lively expression of delight which beamed from his countenance, when a feet was disclosed which bad a favorable bearing on the liberty of the captive ? Who has not admired the sagacity with which his inquiries were dictated, and the tact and acumen with which he managed every part of bia cause? His principle was unhesitatingly to submit to existing laws, however unjust their decrees might be, but to scan well the bearing of the facts and principles involved in each case, and to see that nothing was wanting in the chain of evidence, or in the legal points in question, fully to satisfy the requisitions of law. If a doubtful point aroee, he was unwearied 'ill investigating it, and devoted hours, days, and even weeks, in the collection of testimony which he thought would have a favorable influence on the prisoner. Through his untiring vigilance, many victims have escaped from the hand of the oppressor, whose title to freedom, according to the laws of this commonwealth, was undoubted, and many others, whose enslavement was at least questionable. The time and labor expended by Thomas Shipley in protecting the interests of his colored clients, would be almost incredible to those who were not aware of his extraordinary devotion to the cause. The only notice which can be found among his papers, of the various slave cases in which he was engaged, is contained in a memorandum book, which he commenced in the summer of 1835. In this book lie has noted, in the order of their occurrence, such instances of difficulty or distress as demanded his interference, almost without a comment. I find from this book, that his advice and assistance were bestowed in twenty-five cases, from Seventh mo. 16th, to Eighth mo. 24th, 1836, a period of little more than a month. A number of these cases required the writing of letters to distant places; in some it was necessary for him to visit the parties interested; and others demanded his personal attendance at court This perhaps, may be considered as a fair average of the amount of labor which he constantly expended in this department of his benevolent efforts; and when we consider the time occupied in the necessary duties of hb ordinary avocations, it must be evident that he possessed not only extraordinary humanity, bat uncommon activity and energy, to have accomplished so much. In the memorandum book referred to, under date of Twelfth mo., 1835, I find the following note: Spent eighteen days in the trial of A. Hemsiey, and his wife Nancy, and her three children, arrested at Mount Holly, the husband claimed by Goldsborough Price, executor of Isaac Bogga, of Queen Ann's county, Maryland, and the wife and children by Richard D. Cooper, of the same county. John WHlonghby, agent for both claimants. B. R. Brown and B. Clarke, attorneys for the claimant, and D. P. Brown, J. R. Slack, E. B. Cannon, and G. W. Gambles, for defendants. After a fall |