Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-07-18
The Workings of Slavery.

2 letter from Rev. j. G. Aspenwal, who has
lately visited the settlement Of the runaway
slaves in Canada. Some of his statements
are curious enough aud furnish most sig
ni6cant illustration Of the workings of the
peculiar institution Among the Canada
fugitiyes is Mr.. Daniel Chinn, who is both
brother-in-aw and faiher-in-law of Hon.
Richard NJ. Johnson of Kentucky. That
is, Col. Johnson married Mr.. Chinns sister
Julia Ann, one of his own slaves, by whom
he had TWO daughters that he recognized
and educated as his children. Mrs. John
son died of the cholera when that disease
first made its appearance in the United
States and respectable men from Kentucky
testify that Col. Johnson has since lived with
one Of Mr. Chinn's daughters, as though
she was his wife. This, according to COM
mon calculations, would make Mr. Chnn
father-in-law of the venerable ex-Vice-Presi-
dent of our great republican nation. 1t APP
pears that Col. Johnson took Mr. Chinns
oldest son, Marcellus, on his first election
eering tour for the Vice Presidency and
that the boy left him at New York. John
son tried to obtain information respecting
the boys Whereabouts of Lewis Tappan,
Esq, who offered TO bring him forward on
condition that his free papers should first be
made out and signed. This, the Col. relus-
ed to do. On his second eectioneering
tour he took with him his body servant, the
elder Mr. Chinn, in whom he placed I'M
bounded confidence. But, like his son, he
too chose to be man, and left Johnson at
Detroit, crossed over into Canada and has
Il.l al. H.
written him two letters urging him to return
to his service, one of which contained some
rather severe threats if he did not 'Lud-
wick Daviess,' one Of Johnson's slavehold-
ing companions, has also visited him at Lon
don, and used his best endeavors to persuade
him to return.
Much credit, says Mr. Aspenwal, has
been given TO the Col. for his generous con-
duct to this family, but his conduct in be-
coming the father of children by three wo-
men, the sisters Of Mr. Chinn's wife, who is
in fact, both his brother-in-law and father-in
law, and then selling them all, both tie wo-
men and his own children, to James Peak,
TO be carried off in slavery, as Mr. Chinn
states that he did. may not be quite so high
y commended, though in point Of morality
ii VIII well compare with his other conduct.
Strenuous efforts are frequently made by
masters 10 recover their lost slaves, and not
unfrequenty are fugitiyes tempted, by the Of
fer of freedom TO themselves or their rela-
tives, TO betray their fellow fugilives. Mr.
Aspenwell furnishes one example of this
Mr. Chinn, the slave of Col. johnson above
alluded to, was written to by Mr. Newton
Craig, the keeper Of the Kentucky Peniten-
tiary, and told that if he would betray a
slave of the latter, who was supposed to be
in Canada, his son Daniel should be set free,
and Col. Johnson, his former master, would
also send him free papers for himself The
letter of Mr. Craig is cunningly worded and
offers inducements which must have had
great force with a man situated like Mr.
Chinn, but TO his honor be il recorded, the
temptation was not TO strong for his manly
virtue and integrity. No selfish desire to Sc
cure the freedom of a darling son or to rem
der his own situation more free from danger
could induce him TO betray companion in
trouble No man of sound principles can
read the letter of Craig, knowing at the same
time what answer was given to it by the flu
gitiye, without feeling contempt for the for
mer, and admiration for the noble conduct
of the latter. The slave was certainly most
of man.
This system of slavery may well be called
peculiar institution" for in its princi-
Piles and workings it has no parallel in the
heaven above or in the earth beneath. That
will be glorious day for our Country which
shall witness its peaceful overthrow.-Nc,o
York Tribune.
The Sailor and his Brsde--The Boston
Transcript tells good story, in which ven
cradle and lamented pastor Of a Baptist church
and an honest Jack Tar and his wife were the
principal actors. The sailor with his chosen
partner went to the house Of DR. -, TO be
married. and were accordingly made one with
all the solemnity proper to the occasion. At
the conclusion of the service, Jack told the DR.
that he understood that seventy-6ve cents was
the lawful fee, but that he hadn't a brass cent
to bless himself with, he should defer payment
to a more convenient opportunity, adding
promise that he would honestly pay the minis
ter, with one proviso-that if his vile proved
to be good woman and true helpmeet, he
should reward him generously for the 'splicng,'
but il she turned out 'lo be good for nothing
the minister would not hear from him again.
DR. - was so much pleased with the straight
forward manner OF the tar, that he drank his
health and that Of lis bride in glass Of wine,
and saw them depart with fatherly blessing.
Time passed away, and the DR. had almost for
gotten the Circumstance of the wedding, when
one day cart was seen TO stop before his door
and man began to unload and deposite in his
house q whole cargo of lemons and oranges
The DR. had not ordered the ltut, and he forth
with proceeded 10 stop the process of delivery.
The man affirmed that all was right; but when
the DR. persisted that there must be mistake,
the man asked him he remembered hav-