His master was very indignant at the decision, and complained loudly that a Pennsylvania court should presume to discharge a Carolinian slave.

When Ben was set at liberty, he let himself to Isaac W. Morris, then living at his country seat called Cedar Grove, three miles from Philadelphia.  Being sent to the city soon after, on some business for his employer, he was attached by the marshall of the United States, on a writ De homine replegiando, at the suit of Mr. Butler, and two thousand dollars were demanded for bail.  The idea was probably entertained that so large an amount could not be procured, and thus Ben would again come into his master’s possession.  But Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas Harrison signed the bail-bond, and Ben was again set at liberty, to await his trial before the Circuit Court of the United States.  Bushrod Washington, himself a slaveholder, presided in that court, and Mr. Butler was sanguine that he should succeed in having Judge Inskeep’s decision reversed.  The case was brought in October, 1806, before Judges Bushrod Washington and Richard Peters.  It was ably argued by counsel on both sides.  The court discharged Ben, and he enjoyed his liberty thenceforth without interruption.

DANIEL BENSON.

Daniel and his mother were slaves to Perry Boots, of Delaware.  His master was in the habit of letting him out to neighboring farmers and receiving the wages himself.  Daniel had married a free woman, and they had several children, mostly supported by her industry.  His mother was old and helpless; and the master, finding it rather burdensome to support her, told Daniel that if he would take charge of her, and pay him forty dollars a year, he might go where he pleased.

The offer was gladly accepted; and in 1805 he removed to Philadelphia, with his mother and family.  He sawed wood for a living, and soon established such a character for industry and honesty, that many of the citizens were in the habit of employing him to purchase their wood and prepare it for the winter.  Upon one occasion, when he brought in a bill to Alderman Todd, that gentleman asked if he had not charged rather high.  Daniel excused himself by saying he had an aged mother to support, in addition to his own family; and that he punctually paid his master twenty dollars every six months, according to an agreement he had made with him.  When the alderman heard the particulars, his sympathy was excited, and he wrote a note to Isaac T. Hopper, requesting him to examine into the case; stating his own opinion that Daniel had a legal right to freedom.  The wood-sawyer started off with the note with great alacrity, and delivered it to Friend Hopper, saying in very animated tones, “Squire Todd thinks I am free!” He was in a state of great agitation between hope and fear.  When he had told his story, he was sent home to get receipts for all the money he had paid his master since his arrival in Philadelphia.