Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1821-10-06

bers or them from every regret which
their change Of situation might have
occasioned. l parted with a few ne.
groes, the sons OF some Of those who
were sold, aod whose services I knew
not how to dispense with, at prices
greatly below what / would have taken
for them from others, and would
cheerfully have given one-third OF
those prices to retain them, II my feel
isgs could have permitted me to do 90.
Five young women, the daughters Of
same that were sold, belonged to other
persons, to two of VIII m offers were
made, but without effect, Of prices ex
ceedinS those which had obtained.-
Two out Of the 1--WE were purchased,
aud undertook, without authority,
and upon my own responsibility, to sell
one OF them, the property of distant
nephew, but in whose affections for
me, l trusted for an apology.
Tits, after all, an extraordinary cir
eumstance, that, while emigration TO
this country Of parents who have vol.
UNFAIRLY separated themselves from
their children, and of children who
have left their parents, never to revisit
their native homes, pass daily before
our eyes, without observation, 80 much
sensibility should De felt, when similar
occurrence take places in relation to
this particular class of people. Imay
be permitted to add, that have never
heard sigh or complaint from the
parents OF the two most valuable ser.
"ant' 1 ever owned, that their sons had
abandoned them, aud my service, and
sought new habitations in the northern
states. where they now are.
That the writer Of the letter NAV IA e n, :.
served detection in the countenances of some
OF the negroes with whom he covered at
Mount Vernon, on account of a separation
from their former companions, is possible,
because 1t was natural. But it is we'll known
70 those who were witnesses Of the seoara.
ton, That those who were sold, carried with
them no teelings OF dependency OF regret
In answer to short address which | made
to them, che elders admitted the necessity
which compelled me to part with them, and
co0iiding IN the assurances made to them by
the respectable gentlemen to WHOM they
we're sold, as TO the treatment they might ex.
pect. they expressed their belief that their
situation would be improved, aud cheerfuly
consented GO go with them. Their behavior
during the two days that they remained in
Alexandria, indicated a continua6ce of these
feelings, and the almost unlimited iicence al.
lowed them oy their new masters, proved
how confidently they trusted in the sincerity
OF their declarations.
pass by the inSinUdtioia, that, because
General Washington thought proper 10 e.
nanclpate his slaves. his nephew ought to
do SO Likewise, with she single observation.
that do not admit the right of any person
to decide for me on this point. / am the
last man in the world who would ATTEMPT 70
depreciate that, or any other act of tpis most
revered relative. H- was ir fiuenceo on ma
as on all other occssions, by the moral recti.
tude wsich invariably governed him through
lite. He believed the measure to be right.
and this was always decisive with him.
ihe rule which | have prescribed to nv
'eh- 10 confne this letter, as far as il is DOS.
siole, 10 mere statement of facts, for bid nv
entering Into the reasons which influence nv
conduct On this particular subject, Ii is possible
at they may have misled my udgment: but
am conscious Of the purity of my motives.
and trust that those at least who know me.
will in this respect do me Justice.
1t IS somewhat mortifyiDg to me, that il
never occurred to the visitor at Mount Yer.
non, who seems to have taken so great an
interest in my concerns, to enquire of nv
manager, or OF some one of my neighber5.
what were the motives which induced me In
make this sale Had he done 50, he would
have been Informed that the prominent ora,
were the following
1. That had struggled for about 90
years to pay the expenses of my farm, g. to
afford comfortable support to those who
cultivated it,JTons the produce of Meir Ia
boar. In this way to have balanced that
account, would have satisfied me. But
always had to draw upon my other resources
Tor those objects, and would state upon nv
best Judgment, that the produce of the farm
he's in general fallen short Of its support from
$500 to $1,000 annually. To the best of nv
recollection, have during the above period.
I two years excepted had to buy corn for
the negtors, for which have sometimes paid
s, o. and dollars the barrel Last year
commenced the purchase ofihis article for 90
negroes in the month Of May, and so contin
ned to The end of it.
ID The INSTRUMENTATION Of my negfoes,
and their total disregard of all authority.
rendered them worse than useless to me
S"ulhtrn gentlemen understaild, and well
Know how TO appreciate the force Of thi,
motive, end therefore forbear to enlarge up,
on it.
But If it should be asked. as il well NAV
be, why this temper was more Observable at
Niount Vernon, than upon other plantations
in the neighborbood, | answer, that, that
place has at times been visited by some un-
worthy persons, who have coodescendsd to
hold conversations with my negroes, and to
impress upon their minds the belief that. as
the nephew ofGen. Washington, or as pres
Ident OF the Colonization Society, or for 9th.