Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-12-03

he lay perfectly quiet, his eyes were closed,
md i concluded he was disposed to sleep Z
He suddenly reused from this state, with the !
word - Remorse," I" Remorse." II was '
repeated at the last time at the top OF I
his voice, evidently with great agitation, he ]
cried out, LET me see the word" NO re- !
ply followed having learned enough oil me :
character Of my patient to ascertain, maj
when | did not know exactly what TO say, u {
was best to say nothing. lie then exclalm.
ed-''Gel a dictionary, let me see the word'
| cast my eyes around me, and told him
believed there was none in the room. "Wnte
IL down then-let me see The word" l pick
ed up one of his cards from the table, Kan
dolph Of Roanoke" and inquired If ! should
write on that. "Yes, nothing more proper"
Then with my pencil | wrote remorse. He
took the card in his hand in a hurried man.
ner, and fastened his eyes on It with intense
". "Write it on the back" he exclaimed.
! did SO, and handed it to him again. He
was excessively agitated at this period he
repeated, "Remorse! you have no idea what
it is; you can form no idea of it whatever (;
it has contributed to bring me to my present
situation: but | have looked to the Lord Je-
sus Christ, and hope l have obtained par
DON" He then said, snow let John take
your pencil and draw a line under the word"
which was accordingly done. l inquired
what was to be done with the card : he re-
piled, "Put it in your pocket: take care of
it; when | I'm dead look at it,"
This was an impressive scene. All the
plans Of ambition, the honors and the wealth
of this world, had vanished as bubbles on the
water. He knew and he felt that his very
moments were few, and even they were num-
bered. 1t afforded his physician an opportu-
nifty, without being obtrusive, Of offering TO
him a few serious observations, and pointing
the expiring Statesman to a hope beyond the
grave. My situation at this period was seri-
Gus and embarrassing. Locked in the cham
Der Of a patient, and solemnly called upon as
a witness, confirming a will already made
for liberation and support of his slaves; when
the only human ear that heard these declara-
lions, except myself and the ~testator, was one
of the very slaves included IN the bequest.-
1t required no unusual foresight to anticipate
the construction which might be put upon
such testimony ; perhaps in a distant court,
where the witness might be personally I'M
known, especially when, added to this, it
was found he was a member of the religious
Society of Friends, who long since had wash
ed their hands from the stain Of slavery, and
whose sentiments on that subject were uni
versally known. l saw that even under a
charitable construction of the testimony, the
force Of early impressions and the bias of ed
ucation might be supposed imperceptibly to
influence even an upright mind and give a
c%oloring to words and facts, which TO others,
differently educated, might be viewed in an
other light.
Under these views, | introduced the sub
ject of calling in some additional witnesses
and suggested sending down stairs for Ed
mund Badger, whose attentions were very
great to him. He replied, II have already
communicated that to him." / stated that il
was my intention to be with him as steadily
as possible until his death, but with his con-
c%urrence l would send for two young physi-
clans, who should remain and never lose
sight of him until he was dead, to whom he
could make the declaration. My son, DR..
Isaac Parrish, and my young friend and late
pupil, Dr.. Francis West, were proposed to
him, saying the latter was a brother to Cap
tain West. He quickly asked, captain
West of the packet?" On receiving an afir-
native reply, he said, 'Send for him he is
the man; I'll have him." From SOM cir
cumstances that had come to my knowledge,
| have reason to believe that Captain James
West was a favorite with the patient. Be-
fore the door was unlocked, he pointed to a
bureau, and requested | would take from it a
remuneration of my services. To this |
promptly objected, informing him | should
feel as though ] were acting indelicately to
comply. lie then waived the subject by
saying, sin England it is always customa-
ry."
The witnesses were sent for, and soon ar
rived. The dying man was propped up in
bed, with pillows, nearly erect. Those only
who know his form and singular physiogno-
my can form an idea Of his appearance at this
moment. Being extremely sensitive TO cold
he had a blanket over his held and shoul.
ders, and he directed John to place his hal
on over the blanket, which aided in keeping
it close to his head.
With a countenance full Of sorrow, Johr
stood close to the bedside of his dying mas
ter. The four witnesses, viz: Edmund
| Badger, DR.. Francis West, my son. DR.
Isaac Parrish, and myself, were placed in
t semi-circle in full view. 1t was evidentl,
an awfully interesting moment to the patient
He rallied all the expiring energies of mint
and body 10 this last effort: his whole sou
: seemed concentrated in the act; his eye
e flashed feeling and intelligence.
Pointing towards US with his long indie,
finger, he thus addressed us-"I confirm al
n the directions in my will respecting m
d slaves, and direct them to be enforced, pal
y t~icularly in regard to a proviso for their sun
port; and then raising his arm as high as h
could, he brought it down with his open han
on the shoulders of his ~favoriie John, addin
these words, ''especially for this man." Fl
y then asked each Of us whether we understood
er him.
y, At the close Of this exhausting effort, / re
marked to my fellow witnesses, that m, pa
g tient short time before informed me in Or
Z, vate, that according to the laws of Virginia
s. a will might manumit slaves. yet in order fr
10 their subsequent support, it was necessar
that a declaration should be made, in the prt
sence OF one or more white witnesses, VIII,
~ after receiving it from the party, should T,
III main and never lose sipbt of him mil n