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New York had a long history of slavery (abolished beginning only in 1817) but also a thriving Black community as well. Yet because of its financing of southern cotton, much of the city was pro-southern, led by the Democratic Tammany Hall political machine. The US constitution included a clause on the return of fugitive slaves. In his new book, The Kidnapping Club: Wall Street, Slavery and Resistance on the Eve of the Civil War, Jonathan Daniel Wells quotes Harriet Jacobs describing New York in the 1830s as a “city of kidnappers” waiting to seize Black people, free or enslaved, and deliver them to slavery. The stories are shocking: 26 abductions in December 1837 and January 1838 alone, an arrest of a boy at his school desk, all aided by police, officials, lawyers representing slaveholders and racist judges.

New yorkUnited statesBennetth youngDavid rugglesBen montgomeryBill bradleyHarriet jacobsYork kidnapping clubKidnapping clubDemocratic tammany hallWall streetCivil warJonathan daniel wellsYork kidnappingFugitive slave actGeorge dinning