Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-07-06
From the Illinois Intelligencer, June %.
E.ctract 81 q Letter. aiated

nous publication, which lately appeared in the
Illinois intelligenccr, in which it was asserted
that had emancipated six or eight old and
worthless negroes, and yet hold in bondage, in
IN neighboring state, many young and yaua-
BILE ones, will state the facts, and leave you to
judge what foundation there is for the asser-
ton, and how far my conduct deserves censure.
In accordance with my principles and teel-
ings, which have, from an early period OF my
life, been very strongly opposed to slavery,
emancipated, as soon as could dispose of the
property left me by my father, all the slaves
he bequeathed me, amounting to about twenty
in number, except two old and superansated
women, one of whom has since died OF old age,
and the other still lives and is supported by
me. But among the negroes thus left me,
there was woman who was the mother OF
five children, the oldest of whom was not large
enough to nurse the youngest; and whose
husband belonged to man living in the neigh
borhood. Finding her in this helpless situation,
and knowing that it would be impossible for
her to support herself when freed, with so
large, helpless, and, at the same time, increas-
ing family, felt it my duty to assist her, as far
as it was in nv power; and knew no more
eifectual way Of doing so, than by purchasing
her husband. He, however, was not a slave
for life. He had formerly belonged to an old
Quaker, who had left in his will that he should
become free in August, 1925. | accordingly
purchased the remainder of the time be was
to serve; but told him as | was principled
against holding slaves should lberate him as
he had repaid me the money had paid for
him. After brought him to this country,
him and his family lived in st. LOUIS where he
rented a house, and worked when and for
whom he thought proper, for near two years,
during which time, owing to the sickness OF
himself and family, and TO the hard tines &c.
&c. he was barely able to support his family
and at the expiration of that time was inform
ed by him that DR.. Walker had an account of
ninety-siX dollars and fifty cents against me
for medical attendance on him and his family.
He then told me that he despaired of being
able to repay the money | had paid for him,
and proposed that should let DR.. Walker
have the remainder of the time he was bound
to serve by the will of his old master, and adj
ded that he and his wife both liked the doctor
and his family, and preferred living with them
to any other persons. On this agreed to let
Dr.. Walker have him and his family until Au-
gust, 1925. ! say him and his f;.inily, for know
ing, as said before, that the woman could not
support herself and family without the assist
ance of her husband, executed her free pa
pers to take effect when her husband should
become free; in the mean time the support OF
her and her family devolved upon me. So far,
therefore, from freeing old and worthless ne.
groes, have taken upon myself the support
OF all those left me by my father, who were
unable from age or other circumstances, OF
supporting themselves. And among those
emancipated there were but three above the
age of thirty, and to those three gave q quar-
ter section of land each as remuneration for
their past services. And so far from holding
i'll bondage many young and valuable negroes,
| own none. but have liberated all, in the man
ner above described and have not even had
any oftheir children boand to serve me during
their minority, except the children of the wo-
man whose husband purchased In addition
to this, might add, that notony emanclpated
my slaves, from a conviction of the improperly
OF holding them, but, from a desire to Serve
and betriend them. l removed, at my own
expense, all those WHO were willing to come
to this free, new, and prosperous country.
You have now the whole, in minute detail,
fmy owning, buying, and selling negroes
For assure you own none; nor never own
ed, nor bought, nor sold one, except as above
stated. And if there be any thing in my con-
duct, as above related, or indeed IN relation to
any of the unfortunate descendants Of Africa,
which is in violation of my religious Or polti-
cal creed. am not aware of it. #ts
The subject of this letter is one about which
l have not been in the habit of speaking until
of late, when / have been constrained to do
so in answering the inquiries of my friends,
and also from the obligation felt myself under
to correct the falsehoods and msrepresenta-
tons which some of my political opponents
have circulated for the purpose on injuring my
standing in the estimation of the public. |
am, very respectfully, ..
EDWARD COLES.