n_4	CORRESPONDENCE OF	[1827
and had been appointed by him Sec^ of the Panama
Mission.
In this County, the result of the election was as ex-
traordinary as the total result in the State. We gave
Clinton a majority of 300, and Aaron Ward, one of 600
for Congress. Mr. Ward's competitor was John Haft,
formerly of the Custom House in New York. Jn. Put-
nam had 200 majority. Ward is just now making himself
very conspicuous in Congress. Last summer a free black
man, who had lived in the family of John Owen of Som-
ers, was arrested at Washington, on suspicion of being a
runaway slave, and in pursuance of an execrable law of
the District, notice was given in the public papers, that
unless his owner appeared to claim him he would be sold
as a Slave to pay his Jail fees. A few of us called a
County meeting, at which we passed some strong reso-
lutions, and requested the Gov^r to claim the release of
Horton (the man's name) as a citizen of this State. Mr.
Clinton, much to his credit, wrote a very proper letter
to the President, claiming Horton as a citizen of New
York, and the man was discharged. Ward has just intro-
duced a resolution instructing the Committee on the Dis-
trict of Columbia to inquire into the circumstances of the
case. The resolution was vehemently opposed by the hot
bloods of the South, and the Mover treated with some
rudeness, but the resolution passed by a large majority,
and Ward has obtained a victory w^h does him great
credit. The people of this County have likewise for-
warded a petition to Congress for the abolition of Slavery
in the District. This petition when presented will prob-
ably cause an explosion, but I have no doubt that the
ultimate result will be good.
If in your power, I wish you would give me in your