The Denouncement of the Archy Case – Great Excitement on Steamer Day

Dublin Core

Title

The Denouncement of the Archy Case – Great Excitement on Steamer Day

Subject

California
slave
steamer
Supreme Court
C.A. Stovall church
Judge Freelon
Mississippi
Archy Lee
Pacific Wharf
fugitive

Description

This is a newspaper article reporting the story of the attempted kidnap, by steamer, of an African-American, Archy Lee, from San Francisco to Mississippi during his judicial case at the Supreme Court. Archy arrived in the state as a slave-for-rent with his master C.A. Stovall in 1858, but claimed freedom under the State Laws of California because Stovall became a permanent citizen. Stovall ordered Archy’s arrest under the Californian Fugitive from Labour Act (1852) and hailed him a fugitive.
Even though California was a free state, this source is significant because it shows how runaway slaves could potentially be caught, tried and returned to the State from which they escaped. Also, steamers were a common method of transport for people entering and leaving the state hence linking this source to the theme of transportation.

Creator

Unknown

Source

Sacramento State University Library Collection
http://digital.lib.csus.edu/cdm/ref/collection/curr/id/265

Date

1858

Contributor

Leah Guy

Rights

Sacramento State University Library
http://digital.lib.csus.edu/

Language

English

Type

Textual - printed newspaper

Identifier

19th century California

Files

Archy Case.png

Collection

Citation

Unknown, “The Denouncement of the Archy Case – Great Excitement on Steamer Day,” The American Pacific Rim: Colonisation, Conflict and Connections, 1800-Present, accessed May 5, 2024, https://theamericanpacificrim.omeka.net/items/show/171.