...rly, then as in 1861, the pro-slavery invasion—in fact began with the execution of the law, as was first made clear when, on February 15, 1851, pending a postponement of Shadrach's case before Commissioner George T. Curtis , in Boston, the prisoner was lost to view in the crowd of his own color that filled the court-room. This simple incident, which would scarcely have furnished the press with a police item had a pick...