The Trials of Abolitionists Thomas Garrett and John Hunn

By the early 1830s, a sharp division within the United States had occurred regarding the issue of slavery. In the northern free states, the most intense abolitionists demanded an end to slavery throughout the United States. In the southern slave states, these demands were seen as a threat to the southern way of life and the southern economy.

Congress had undertaken steps to maintain an equilibrium between the northern and southern states regarding the issue of slavery. For example, Congress implicitly agreed that new states would be admitted to the Union with an eye towards keeping balance. Therefore, a new non-slave state would be admitted only when a new slave state was admitted as well.

A flash point between the northern and southern states was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. This act required all states (north or south) to assist enslavers in recovering enslaved people who had fled their enslavers. Many northern states had enacted legislation limiting officials within their state from cooperating in returning formerly enslaved people who were living within their state.

These issues were central to a set of trials that occurred in 1848 in Delaware regarding the actions of two abolitionists, Thomas Garrett and John Hunn. The articles below explore important aspects and background regarding these nationally publicized and followed trials that took place inside the New Castle Court House, one of six sites of First State National Historical Park. One can read these articles in any order, but we recommend they be read in the following order:

1. The Flight of the Hawkins Family
2. Legal Underpinnings
3. The Trials of Thomas Garrett
4. Trial of John Hunn
5. Delaware and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

 

 

Bibliography of Articles:

Glanding v. Garrett, U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Delaware, New Castle, May 26, 1848.

Glanding v. Garrett, U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Delaware, New Castle, May 29, 1848.

Glanding v. Hunn, U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Delaware, New Castle, May 24, 1848.

Prigg v. Pennsylvania. 41 U.S. (16 Pet.) 539 (1842).

Turner v. Garrett, U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Delaware, New Castle, May 27, 1848.

Turner v. Garrett, U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Delaware, New Castle, May 29, 1848.

Turner v. Hunn, U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Delaware, New Castle, May 25, 1848.