The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-20

should rely WIN SlrOnS commence on MS giving
to the subject the impartial consideration its i'm
Iporance demands and on his arriving at the wise
conclusions, to which, with such temper, the spir
tive-which, substantially is as follows:
When the General was lad, there was vel
a centenarian-an Indian woman
called Hannah, reputed slave. Hannah had been
unusually prolific in early life, and her defendants
all held as slaves-were now numbered by the
hundred. More than thirty Of them were held by
Mr.. Scott the Generals brother. The manner in
which they came into his hands is not mentioned.
1t began to be whispered about in the neighbor-
hood that Hannah's posterity were unawfully held
in bondage,-as She instead of having been made
slave under the Virginia law, which authorized
the ensaving of hostile Indian captives, had only
"tahen up' Ito use slave phrase for marriage)
with a slave, with whom she lived as a wife,-re-
naming on the plantation, nd--for the permission
to do so, -performing servile work. The estab.
lishnent of this fact was all the courts of the
State reqired, for the liberation of her defendants.
A suit was instituted by the slaves concerned, for
their freedom, and the necessary counsel employed.
The chief outdoor manag ement-such as finding
tire known Understanding out others-serv-
ing the subpenas, &c &C., devolved on FRANK, an
active, intelligent and faithful servant ofthe num-
Der held by Mr.. Scott. The General-as all the
boys in the south used in such cases to feel twenty
or thirty years ago-became warmly interested for
Frank and his co-plaintifs He would make the
proper memoranda for him on paper-fll up his
blank subphenas-and do for him all that young
and unprofessional scribe could, to assist him in
his cause for hearing.
Most of the witnesses-as might well be suppos-
very DID, and scattered about the coun-
&c 4
the attendance of all of them at any one term of
the court Owing to their n-attendance, the
cause was continued several terms. A short time
before the court was to be held, Frank would go
to his master, and conversation of this kind
would take place:
Master, come to ask leave to 60 and serve
my subpenas."
"Certainly, Frank, you can go, if you think it's
lime. With so much at steak for yourself and
others, Frank, you ought to be dligent to secure
he attendance of your Witnesses"
81 may stand in need of little money sir, to
Jay ferriages and other expenses occasionally"
True Frank, you may; and here are five dol
ars for you. But how are you going?"
"Afoot, sir"
Would it not be better, Frank, to take horse
You will be able to do your business and get back,
Roger-take him; and as he
must be fed, too, Frank, here's as much more mo-
ley as will pay his charges"
"Thank'ee master" (erit Frank
At last, however, all the witnesses were forth
examned-old Hannah was proved
ever to have been slave according to laaO, and
S pGrtuS SeQuitur ventrem, all her offspring were
ecared free. Frank came home from the scene of
riumph, and announced his success to Mr.. Scott.
"Well, master, we have gained our cause"
"Have you, Frank we'll, | have no doubt JUS
zee has been done. But what are such of you
S are with me going to do with yourselves 2"
why, master, as for us, we can't leave YOU"
"ButI cannot afford to pay you the wages you
ill expect, Frank"
"Why as to that sir, there won't be much in the
'ay We have thought take us all together,
tile and big, old and young-we would be worth
you what we have been used TO receiving all
long" s
" But, Frank, that will never do. | can't agree
that. You must have something for your work. {
must pay you wages; at least III try it for a
hie." S
MIR. Scott accordingly made an estimate of what
ought to pay them, ranging from one dollar to {
x dollars month. These emancipaed slaves S
manned with him from that time to his death, 6
hich took place a short time since, except when t
eing one, who, by his industry and enterprise, he
ought could do better for himself--such an one {
would advise to seek other employment. twas r
lily in this way, that any left him. Since the t
ath of his brother Gen. Scott had understood
ey were seeking places in the neighborhood P
hch, he supposed, they would easily obtain, be- y
use of the good character they always bore.
The foregoing instance of immediate emancipa- p
m ought to putto flight many of the gloomy pre- 6
ctions Of our opponents for u
l. Neither Mr.. Scott nor any of his family f
d their throats cut. p
2. The emancipated did not leave the service C
the former master, and rove the country as idle |
gahonds. s.
3. They were content with moderate wages e
pported themselves-some were enterprising u
d prosperous L
a. They prove the eageness fthose who are
bonds, to be FREE,--n fact, that after they
d obtained their freedom, they were willing to
main with Mr. Scott, without any other provis- W
l than that which they had been accustomed to W
slaves. sc
S. 1t shows, also, the spirit which prevailed W
long the Virginians Of the old school, who re- n;
rded slave trading as but grade above pilerng, al
the robbng of hen-roosts-in contrast with that w
hbited by Prof Dew, when coolly calculating C
profit which Virginia derives from the annual
e of SIX THOUSAND of her own natives-or with al