Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-07-26
MIR. BIRNEY, THE LIBERTY CANDIDATE FOR
THE PRESIDENCY.

The following letter has been transmitted to us
for publication, by Mr.. Mitchell. the editor of the
Danville (ky.) Tribune. 1t presents facts worthy
of serious considerations and places Mr.. Birney
in less favorable light than we have boon dis
posed to regard him. Tho facts put forth in
such shape that it scoms impossible to gansav
or controvert them. We only commend
them to the consideration of tho Llborty men of
Ohio, with tho suggestion that it bohooves them to
SEQ that they not deceived in their mani
To the editor of the Ohio State Journal
DEAR SIR-If you think this letter worth pub
fishing in tho Journal. NAV it. If not.
you will enclose and direct it to the gentleman in
Ravcnna, in answer to whose inquiries 1t was
written. Your friond, n. s. NJ.
DANvILLE, Ky, June %, 1911.
To Charles Sanford. of Reycnna. Ohio.
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 2S,h of May ma
king some inquiries into James G.. Birnoys
recr as an AboIitionist. in Kentucky, was rccciv-
cd III good timo, but could not be answered soon
or, owing to necessary delay in procuring the in
formation you desired. ! am not PERSONALLY ac-
quaintcd with Mr.. Brnoy's movements in Dan
Vile in the years 1915, previous 10 his removal
to the north. All of our Older citizens. however
arc, and from them derive my information.
Besides, some things concerning Mr.. Birncy
OF RECORD. and when avail myself of this latter
source of knowledge !, of course speak by the
book. That tho facts shall give. provo Mr..
B., in a signal and remarkable manner. gross
apostacy from the sentiments he had deliberately
and soemnly recorded, there can, think, be no
doubt. That they arc now brought forth from
tho oblivion in which. for the credit of Mr.. B.,
they should have remained, and exposed to
tho gaze of the world, the friends of Mr. b.,
indebted to tho natural resentment which must
DO excited by their long, persevering, and uni just
persecution of others. Their active cndoavors,
by fraud and misrepresentation, to misead the
mind and carry away the feelings of unsuspect-
ing mon and mako them hate one of the bost and
purcst patriots of the age, is the if any be
required, for carrying the war INTO AFRICA. Mr..
Birney's history is briefly this.
He formerly lived (probably was raiscd) in
this county. About the year 1918 10 he
moved to Alabama, taking with him a largo num-
Der of slaves-old citizens tell mo about thirty.
He lived in Alabama till about the year 1888,
when he returned to Danville, bringing with him
but ONE family of slaves six In number. and one
small girl storm from its mother in Alabama.
The remainder of his slaves and their increase
iu before, lenving Alabama. How it be
came necessary for him to sell so largo number
of mon, women, and children, have hoard, but
think it not worth while to state. 1t may be but
tho gossip of tho evil-minded. 1t is certain how
ovcr, that SOLD NEARLY SLAVES before
he returned to kentucky, and that very soon at
ter he returned he began to show symptoms of
Abolitonism. The SMALL REMNANT of his flock
he did indeed actually emanci patio. | have pro-
cured from the Clerk of the county court of Mer-
Ger county a certified copy of his decd of enanc-
patton which here transcribc:
Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Mercer County. Set
Know all men by these presents that |, James
G. Birney, of the said county of Mercer, in the
State of Kentucky, after careful and deliberate
examination to ascertain my duty citizen of
the Unitod States and professed follower Of Je
sus Christ in relation to slavery. and having ar
rived at q very satisfactory conclusion that sa
worry consistent with the great truth that all
mo eted equal, upon which, as conceive
oul Dgan institutions are founded, we'll
as the great rule of benevolence delivered to us
by the Savior himself, that in all things whatso-
ever VIC would that men should do unto you, do
We oven to them-l do therefore. independents
" of long and faithful services, hereby and by
virtue of these presents emancipate, manumit, set
free. and forever discharge from the condition of
slavery, my slave Michael, black man about
forty years DID, his wife Hannah, about thirty
eight years old; and their three children, Mary,
seventeen years old; Betscy, nearly sixteen years
old; and Edwin boy fourteen years old; and
also, mulatto girl between six and sevon years
old, named Amanda, whom | brought with me
from Alabama, whose father do not know, and
whose mother IS slave in Alabama. In testi-
mony whereof have hereunto set my hand and
seal this I'd day Of June, 1884
JAS. G. BIRNEY. [Seal.l
Signed. scaled and delivered in presence Of Jas
Birney. IT,; VIM. Birney; Joshua F. Bell; Wm
Miller.
State Of Kentucky,
Mercer County Set
l. Thomas Allin, Clerk of the Court for the
county aforesaid. do certify that the foregoing is
a true copy from tho record in my office. Given
under my hand this 18th June, 1914.
THO. ALLIN.
have copied the deed of emancipation vERBA-
TIM, and | wish you TO mark the reasons given
G., Il
placed on the highest liberty grounds His duty
as "a follower Of Jesus Christ required that he
should set free his Slaves and he does it ''inde
pendontly of long and faithful services Surely |
a man. after s'careful and deliberate oxamina |
tion.' arriving at such satisfactory conviction
al IN