Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-05-07
Horace Preston and his Alleged Owner
LETTER TO WILLIAM REESE, No. $50 SHARP
STREET, BALTIMORE

STREET, BALTIMORE.
Sir: The public prints inform me that you
have recently laid claim to the man Preston, and
have gained possession of him as your property
Concerning your agents in this nefarious bust.
ness, have only to say, now, that leave them
with the public which keeps"a book of YEMEN.
brance," and will not fail, ultimately, to reward
them according to their deeds.
But have some special reasons for address
ing you, which will appear soon. You will re-
member that was your guest and enjoyed your
HOSPITALITY four days and nights in succession
about four years since, while on my "ay TO our
General Conference at Pittsburgh, Penn |
have ever been grateful to you for the hos pitali
ty extended TO me; and my soourn was plea
SAINT one. Our intercourse was friendly, and
our worship together delightful. 1t was my pri-
vilege to preach in the Washngton-s ST and Wes-
ley Chspels, on the Sabbath and you made my
stay with you the more delightful, because you
appeared and cOnversed like a kind humane
Christian man.
cannot think that / am violating any rnle oil
proprety or courtesy by making public some Of
your declarauonS--your professions aud promi-
ses. These were not "prvate and confidential,
nor were they made al my solicitation They
were your own, and in whole and in part, rOkun-
tGry | made a few "notes by the way" and
therefore DO not depend on memory for the facts
am about to publish.
You introduced the subject Of slavery in con-
versaiion, and in the most PLAIN and direct terms
expressed your disapproba,on of the uh0!e Sgs.
tenn and practice; but confessed yourself a Lee
gal but involuntary Shareholder. You said you
became a widoWer, several years before, and
married again, without caring or thinking of the
tact that this second wife was the daughter of a
STAKEHOLDER. AtIcr time, her father died and
your wife became the owner, by inheritance, OF
several young slaves. This, you told me, was
cause of much perpleXty to both your wife
and yoursclt--that You often conversed togtth-
er about it, and were OF one mind, not desiring to
own that kind of property, and being, on princl-
pie. opposed TO il. You said il was perfectly I'M
derS,ood and agreed that the s!areS stouId all be
m d. free as fast rs they should arrlre at the
proper az. This second wife died also, leaving
You to carry olit her desire in this matter; and
his dsSured M you shouu Io. as II ,rGS yur
otcn deslre and IN accordance 'rlh your owa con-
ric:io1S y right
To convince me more fully Of your own op-
position 10 slavery, and of your determination 10
d. the viii of your deceased wife, you told me
that two OF those slaves, the only males among
them, had already gone off! You said you were
siad they had 9ore--that you knew their where
abouts--had seen them several times since
SAID they rere fine telLOirs, doing acel! and yots
wollld nerer troubie them.
10 set your opposition to slaveholding in a
still stronger light you related incident which,
10 the, was peculiarly Interesting:
A slave trade. had purchased several slaves in
Baltimore, one OF whom was personally known
by YOU. After the sale and before the trader
was ready to leave with his gang, ihi, man was
MISUNDERSTANDING in some way became acquant-
ed with the transaction. Search was made for
some days, but he could not be found. In the
mean time his friends besought you To buy him,
and prevent lis removal TO the south and his sep
uratI"n from those he loved You told them
gou pOHid not be q stakeholder; and besides, ycu
might never fluid him if you should purchase
him. They gave you assurances that he sho d
be produced, and their en,reales so wrought up
on you as to induce you to offe: the trader $500
for The man at your own risk. The bargain
WAS closed, you took a bill of sale and returned
home. Shortly the man was IN your house, full
OF gratitude and willing to be your servant for
ever. You said to him, Il shall charge you $500
and as fast you puy me will give you credit.
When YOU have paid me that amount with such
interest Is may accrue, you shaI. have your free
paaers Go, and do the best you can" And
YOU assured me that the whole was pa.t in IS
months. The man was made tree, and still re-
sided in Baltimore, prosperous and upright.
Now, Sir, II was on the strength of such state
menis out OF your own mouth, voluntarily made,
that wrote you that letter, some months after
giving you credit for sincerity, and honoring
vour nuulGncsS OF soul In that letter | vouu-
iecred word OF advice Reminding you OF The
uncertainty OF hte and your inability TO toresfe
what might be The disposition OF your heirs, |
entreated YOU 10 execute deeds OF emancipation
tor all those slaves, both at home and abroad, 10
take effect al such times as 2oI judged would
be 10 their advantage. In this way YOU could
shield them from all evil after you should have
gone To the grave with her whose IctH you de-
clared 10 me you should sacredy execute
That Letter had not been written, nor that advice
given, had not believed in your sincerity and
honest intention TO do the rlght. yourself and
your wife being the Judges OF what right Is.
Judge, then, OF my surprise, If you can, when
| learned thai you had sent your son 10 \. ORR
To identity Preston as your pr0perty-lhat yon
had forgotten all your declarations 10 he OF yonr
views Of hnmqnug aud riSh-that You had dis
regarded he oH.repeI,sd tcH Of yo1r departed
uits, by whom those slaves came into your pos
session; and had torn the man from freedom
from the bosom of his earthly partner and from
his child.
On the strength of your professions and prom
Uses, have often argued with my Northern
friends in behalf OF a class OF shareholders vino
are made such by the force Of circumstances
have insisted that they are good men-haIng
slavery, and dongalI they can for the good Of the
boudman. But your action in the case Of Pres
ton has sealed my lips. How can | ever urge
that plea again? As have often referred TO
WIN. REESE, as living witness of the human
iGy and mora! uprigh,ness OF a class of slavehol-
ders; so Wa REESE will hereafter be called
upon the stand before the world]ury, TO prove
Jus, the contrary! As you have volunteered to
prove that no reliance can safely BE placed upon
such professions by that class, shall do my