Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-11-24
Mr.. Lemmon's statement.

WI. Iemmon has made statement of the cir
cumstances under which he was induced to TAX
his slaves within thejurisdction ofNew York, iron
which 1t would seem he has been made the victim
not only OF an unjust and arbitrary law, but also O
deliberate fraud. The statement is as follows
"On the 18th day of October last left m,
home in. Bath county, Virginia, with the view 0
emigrating to Texas, taking with me my wife sew
en- children and eight sl1ves. reached Rich
mond en- the Both day of October, and RENAME,
there until the Tuesday following, endeavotin!
nlealwl,ie 10 engage passage in some vessel 70
New ofieahs. Finding, however, that no passen
ger vessels would be sailing from that port to N
orleans for some three weeks thereafter, I went Il
Noriolk and took passage in the steamer City o
richmond, for the port of New York with the in
tenuon OF proceeding directly from New York tc
New Orleans; having no idea, before leaving Nor
ioiN, that there could be any difficulty in going tt
1 New YORK with my slaves, and proceeding thence
to New Orleans. | had been told and believed
that could do so with entire safety.
"Mr. Ashmead, who was clerk on til City OF
Richmond, told me, on the voyage to New York
that need not be at all Uneasy about losing the
slaves; that the law was in my favor in New
YORK, and was bound to protect me in the posses
sion and property ofmy slaves; and that the May
or OF ihls city would that it was done, provided
my difficulty should occur. Mr. Ashmead prom
ised me, while on our way to New York, that he
would Immediately, after the City of Richmond
got into the harbor of New York, procure pas
sage for myself, family and slaves, in some ship
going at once from that port to New Orleans.
nder these circumstances, and thinking thai
/ oil rifrbf / 81 - -
York, about A. O'Clock in the afternoon, on the
9Th instant
"When the City of Richmond had thus arrived
at New York; Mr.. Ashmead went ashore, telling
me that he was going to procure passage for us
in steamer ready to sail for New Orleans. After
an absence of about an hour or an hour and half
he returned land stated to ME that he had heen
able To find tho --i'o,tI iiU went TO see In re-
| gard TO obtaining the passage, but handed me a
piece of paper which he said contained the name
of that person, and directed me to 90 with il to
place in South ST. went there accordingly. and
at the door met man who said to me that he was
the individual named in the paper. told him
that wanted to engage passage for New Or
leans, in vessel proceeding at once to that port.
upon which myself, family and slaves could be
placed that night: lie replied that he would i'm
mediatey transfer all ofns that night to the steam
er Memphis, which would sail for N. Orleans the
next morning. | then went with him inside the
office where passage tickets were given to me-
He then stated to me that he would send round
for my family, slaves, and baggage, to the City of
Richmond, and transfer everything on board the
steamer Memphis He and | then went to the
City OF Richmond, and very soon two hacks came
there, which he stated had been ordered by him,
and into which myself, family and slaves got, un-
der his direction; he saying to us that they were
to convey us to the steamer Memphis. The hack
then, instead of proceeding 10 the steamer Mem
pnis drove round to his office in South street.
Here was told that must pay our fare before
being put on board of the Memphis. then paid
the amount, being $l6l. As soon as this money
was paid, the hack drivers refused to take us 10
the steamer Memphis, but carried us, against our
earnest protest, to house, No. Carlisle street.
dropped us down upon the sidewalk and drove off,
1t was now dark, and we being utter strangers In
the city, We're compelled to stay at that place till
morning: The next morning, the 9th instant, the
steamer Memphis sailed, leaving myself, family
and slaves, and while she was departing from the
wharf, word was sent to me that nv Slaves had
been taken into court The result of the proceed:
ings in court has deprived me of all my property;
amounting at least to $1,000.
JONATHAN LENNON.
New York, Nov. IL, 1892
On Saturday the contributions toindemnify Mr.
Lennon had reached 1920. The N. Y. Com
mercial of Saturday afternoon, says
The decision of Judge Paine has been appealed
from, and the case carried to the Supreme Court.
by cetiorari, granted by Justice Edwards. The
Journal of Commerce says that except that for
NAL REIMBURSEMENT of Mr. Lommon's claim at this
time would make it impossible to test the leqal
question involved,"t gentlemen would have no
objection to relinquish all claim to the slaves after
receiving the indemnity money which is in pro-
cess of collection"
The ". Y. Tribune comments upon the propo-
sitian of the Journal Of Commerce, as follows:
"Here is case which appeals directly to the
gizzard of Cotton. If Mr.. Lennon is not compen-
stated for his lost chates there can be no rational
hope that New York will hereafter enjoy any por-
ton of the carrying trade in slaves between the
slave-breeding and slave consuming States-atrade
already considerable, and certain to be largely in
creased by the annexation of Cuba. And, as we
apprehend the prospect of re- payment by the
Legislature is not particularly bright, we URGE the
contributors to hurry up their sl0s, S20s and $50s
forthwith. The names ofthe contributors are to
be printed IN full, and the jobber or cotton broker
aOho gives $50 may reasonably calculate on an ac-
ceSston TO has Southern tade ,cor al least ten times
has outlay. So Union-saving, Business, and Be
hevolence may all be combined in one operation,
yielding larger profit than any Quartz Mine yet
discovered"