Richmond (VA) Dispatch, "A Case in Point," January 3, 1857

A Case in Point - Arrest of a Runaway

WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 31

As there is much said at this time about negro insubordination, if you will allow me space I will endeavor to throw out some hints that may be predictable, and by way of illustration I will relate a little transaction that occurred in my presence at the depot of the Washington and Baltimore Branch road, at Washington, on the afternoon of the 26th, just a few moments prior to the departure of the 4 1/2 train for Baltimore.

It appears that a negro girl named 'Margaret Cooper, the servant of a Mrs. Spencer, of Cumberland county, Va., made her appearance at the ticket office at Washington, accompanied by a white man, who purchased her ticket and one for himself. The agent being in doubt as to her being white, followed her on the train, and upon enquiring of the white man if she was white, he replied he did not know. She was taken off the train and carried into the ticket office, and after the train had left she acknowledged all - told where she lived, &c., and remarked she had been advised by white persons to leave her home, that they could not blame her. That may be true or not; but who was this white man that seemed to be taking especial care of her? Why, no doubt some abolitionist, who had been up in that neighborhood and persuaded her to leave her happy home. So soon as the girl confessed she was a runaway, Mr. Parsons, the ticket agent, telegraphed the police of Baltimore to arrest said white man; but as the conductor could not (upon the arrival of the train in Baltimore) designate him, he had to be permitted to go scot free. We have among us plenty of the same sort at this time, pretending to be our friends. They come with their boots, wooden nutmegs, clocks, patent agencies, &c. &c. Let us be on the look-out for them, and when caught let them be properly punished. We have our firesides to protect now from the tools of Beecher, Giddings, Sumner & Co. They come among us to produce insubordination, and at the same time make us pay their expenses by selling us some of their trash, gotten up to pay their way. Southern men should be on their guard against these emissaries.

You will please publish the foregoing, which is intended for the benefit of the community at large.

G.W.L.