Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-08-05
RandOlph'S Slaves.


formerly the slaves, and property of John
Randolph, of Virginia, and who were liber-
ated by him in his last hours, and for whom
he left On amount of money with which to
purchase land and for their settlement in a
free State, were lately brought to this State
forthe purpose ofsettling them in the County
of Mercer. The negroes arrived at Bre-
MIN, in that county, on the morning ofSun-
day the 9Th Of last month, in charge of a
Mr.. Cardell, who had contracted to deliver
them there. The following brief history
of the transaction in Mercer county we copy
from the St. Mary's Sentinel:
"The news Of their arrival spread very
rapidly through the county, and by twelve
o'clock on Sunday, large number of the
citizens Of the county had collected, and
resolved that the contractor should remove
them by ten o'clock on Monday morning.
"Mr. Cardell asked to be allowed to re.
main with them at their encampment three
days, and offered to place thousand dol
lars in the hands of any person the meeting
might select as security for the good be-
havlor Of the blacks during that time, and
that he would remove them from the coun-
ty at the end Of the three days, in case
Judge Leigh did not arrive and take charge
of them by that time.
"The proposition. was declined by the
citizens, and fear was expressed that he
would 60 away and leave the blacks on
their hands. Mr.. Cardwell then proposed
to be locked up in the Jail of the county for
three days. This proposition was also re.
jected, and the removal of the blacks in.
sisted upon at the time fixed upon, unless
security was given according to the provis-
ions Of the statute. Mr.. Cardwell did no,
seem disposed to comply with this PROPOSE
ton, and we are told that he was advised
by some the abolitionists to adhere to his
determination not to remove the blacks, anc
he would thus be able to overcome the op
position of the inhabitants. 1t seems thai
Judge Leigh had agreed to meet Mr.. Card
we'll at Bremin, and in case of his inability
to do so, he had made arrangements with
Mr.. Jay to meet him there, and take charge
Of the blacks. Mr.. Jay was accordingly
sent for, and arrived on Monday morning,
but declined receiving them, or having any
thing to do with them on the ground that he
had no written authority to do so from
Judge Leigh, and that he had found the op
position Of the people to their settlement il
the neighborhood so strong, that he had de
sisted from making any further purchases
of land.
On Sunday evening the citizens in larg,
numbers made their appearance at the CAM
OF the blacks, armed with muskets and bay
onets, and placed strong chain of senti
nels around the camp and took MIR. Card
we'll into custody. On Monday morning
they required him to charter boats and max
immediate arrangements for the departure
of the blacks, according to the resolution.
of the previous afternoon. Mr.. Cardwel
had discovered by this time that the people
were in earnest and determined to carry
out with firmness their resolves. He there.
fore chartered two boats, and put the blacks
on board, and at about IL o'clock they
moved off, under the escort of the armed
citizens so far as the Mercer county line
where they left him in full possession of his
sable cargo, and in the enjoyment of hi.
liberty"
An effort was made to settle them ir
Shelby county, but, like the previous at
tempt in Mercer, it has failed. They
were driven by threats of violence. A
writer in the Cincinnati Gazette states thai
Judge Leigh has determined on abandoning
all further efforts to colonize them in free
State, and, as by the laws of Virginia they
cannot remain there over year after they
were emancipated, he has concluded to sene
them to Liberia.