The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-29

| A Gross Calumny.
We lay the following exposition before our readers
that our northern friends may have an opportunity o.
seeing the in which they are gulled by the fana
ical abolionss. We know Mr.. Joynes, of Petersburg
whose character is high and unblemshed We were ac
quanied with the gentleman who freed his slaves, and
have visited HIS estate repeatedly We have the
honor OF being intimately acquainted with his ex-
eelent executor, and the other highly respected
gentlemen who have been concerned in this whole
| transaction; and vouch for their honor IN
teligence, and philanthropy We know that the slaves
advised against going to Boston, account OF the
climate but they in Massachusetts, we trust
they will be kindly treated and rather different spirit
from that in which the emancpated slaves OF John Ran
doph treated in Ohio. Should the people oil Massa-
chusetts their faces against them any hundreds
thousands who might settle among them IN like manner,
because of their dislike 10 that species of population,
they might then learn 10 appreciate the difficulties which
the south might sustain in being crowded with free peo-
pie OF color who cooped up in those States, and de-
MED the privilege of migrating TO other States, some
have attempted, and of having their slaves distributed in
any of the unsettled territory of the United Sates
others have resisted
We have doubt, from the knowledge we already
possess of the facts and the characters of the gentlemen
and submit it warning 10 northern friends to
beware how they indulge their prejudces and listen to
the abolition calumnes OF the enemies of the south
Never have we seen ver Roorback than in the article
which Mr.. Joynes exposes in the following letter.
From Richmond Enquirer
It's unnecessary for us TO add word to the following
conclusive vndicaton of the parties concerned from the
ISLANDERS of the Boston fanatics We will, however, make
the single remark that intimately acquainted with
the gentlemen named below and know them to be of the
highest character and the most enlightened humanity
PErEnsBuKG Sept. %, 1917.
To the Editors of the Enquirer:
GENTLEMEN: have Just seen in the New York Tribune
following article taken from the 'Boston Journal, the
greater part which copied into your paper of
erday, Twill thank you copy it again, it contains
one statements omitted in your extracts
GAN INTERESTING cAsE-We learn from a core spondent
that of interest," TO all such believe that the coored
people were designed To-, anythng else but slavery has Just
II. Thompson arrived at this port, from Richmond, Vr-
gina, bringing sixysix colored peope-men women, and
children These people We're once slaves Of Mr. Edge
gentle died about four and by his will
vded that his slaves should be set Tree 70 go where they
pleased But, not to turn them oil utterly pennies alter
working for him all their lives he further provided that if
til they had earned equal to fifty dollars apiece
and above the cost OF their maintenance This they decided
| to do.
"Ater working four years the estate they learn from
its that their earnings for that time average
charges of maintenance and commissions on sales OF farm
produce! lawyer whom they employed to act for them
charged them $50 for services, which learn from dis
Interested authority were not worth more than fpe.
These people, finding it would be very long, at this rate
no longer The managers tried every means to dissuade
them from coming, telling them they would be immediate
this, and engaged their 10 Boston above The
capain who is fine specimen of AN honest, generous
some considerable inconvenience TO himself
Gle speaks in terms OF strong commendaton of their be-
They have been quiet Che says) clearly and obgng, and
he believes them trustworthy They mostly farmers,
boston Journal
You right in believing that the main statements OF
this article Essentially erroneous In point of fact,
hardly of them is true, from beginning end Being
nyserthe ''lawyer" referred TO, and being familiar with
all the facts, beg leave submit brief statement of the
whole matter, in order vindcae myself and the other
gentlemen alluded to from these base imputations.
The slaves othe late Carter II. Edoe, who cmanc-
pated condonally set at liberty, and sent of the
commonwealth by Mr. John A. Seden. the executor, in
pursuance oa decree the superior of Petersburg
In order the will OF the esator into effect the court
directed consult the slaves for the purpose
OF asceranng whether they would accept FIRE edom the
offered by the will, and whether they would depart
from the commonwealth Immediately, remain on the
plantation which be kept up for that purpose until
they should raise by their labor fund sufficient to pay the
expenses of their removal any free State colony and
also give them the of 80 dollars each And in order
that justice might be secured TO the slaves the comms
oner directed by the court to give them full expla
nations of the will, and any other information and advice
that might be necessary enable them make udcious
election They accordingly advised the negroes remain
the plantation until they could raise the fund conem
plated by the but only three Of Them were willing
to do Indeed, anxious they 10 depart in the
mollhof May that some of them away, and others
refused work; and when visited them in June, at Mr.
Sedcn's request in order persuade them to remain a
little longer, only by that they should
90 by the of September, prevailed upon them
until they could get the proceeds of the wheat
then nearly ready for the harvest So important did the
regard it, that they should if possible, receive the
benefit of that crops that, with that view, it gave the exc
cuor the option if he had chosen exercise it, of deain
ing them in service until the 18th day of October, thus
putting it in his power to force it upon them.
The held upon the construction of the WILL that all
the expenses of the slaves and of the plantation while cu
tivated for their benefit to be paid out of the crops
including medical bills, clothing purchase of utensils
cesary current repairs of buildings, &c and only the nett
profits after January 1885, applied to the objects above
mentioned About onehalfo of the slaves children, and
many of them SEVERAL not sent TO Boston, were
chargeable from old age the land poor the crops in
different leaving scarcely any surplus in one OF the years
The expenses for provisions clothing, &c. &c, lage
and upon settlement of the accounts from January l.
court there remained in the hands of the the
latter date only little $500 The subsequent vouch
ers, with few exceptions laid before the commits
sioner the 3D. of September, who determined which
should be brought into the accounts and the 9th OF Sep
tember day of the departure of the slaves closed the
upon the principles adopted by the by add
ing ssny items for which vouchers had been obtained af
the by the commissioner the 3D.. After
striking the balance, deducted $50 each, directed by