The text quotes scripture, the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and various public documents to bring attention to the injustice of using publicly funded jails in the Washington area as depots for private slave traders.

Published by the American Anit-Slavery Society, this letterpress broadside has engraved vignettes titled: 'The Land of the Free', 'The Residence of 700 Slaves', 'The Home of the Oppressed', 'Hail Columbia', 'Jail in Alexandria', 'Jail in Washington, - Sale of a Free Citizen to Pay his Jail Fees!', 'View of the interior of the Jail in Washington, - Fanny Jackson', 'Slave House of J.W. Neal & Co.', 'View of a Section of Alexandria, with a Slave Ship receiving her cargo of slaves', 'Franklin & Armfield's Slave Prison'

The text quotes scripture, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and various public documents to call attention to the injustice of using jails in the Washington area built with public funds as slave depts for private slave traders.