Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-05-01
Horace Preston and bis Alleged Owner.
Leiiter 10 William Reese, No. 1GO iSharp-,irsei,
Baltimore

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Baltimore.
Sin; The public prints inform me that
you have recently nd claim to the man
Preston, and have gnined possession of him
MS your property. Concerning your agents
IN this neiarious business, | have only to
eay, now, that | leave them with the public,
which keeps ga book of remembrance" and
viii not fail ultimately, TO reward them ac-
cording to their deeds.
But have some special reasons for nd
dressing You, which will appear soon. You
will remember that ! wns your guest and
enjoyed your hospitality four days mud nights
III succession, about four years since, while
on my way to our General Conference Mt
Pittsburgh, Penn. have ever been CRATE
ful to you for the hospitality extended to
nc; and my solourn wns pleasant ONE
Our intercourse was friendly, and our wor-
ship together delightful. II was my priyil-
eye to pr'ach in the Westinghouse. and
Wesley Chapes, on the Sabbath: aud you
mnde my stay with you the more delightful,
because you appeared aud converscd like
kind, humane, Christian man.
| cannot think that ] am violating any
rule of propriciy or courtesy toy making
public some of your declarntiUus--your pro-
icsson1 and promises. These were not
"prvaic aud confidential" nor were they
mldo at my solicitation. They were your
own, and in whole aud in part, polunluy.-
] made II few "notcs 10y the way" aud lhcro-
fore do not depend on memory for tho facts
am about to publish.
You introduced the subject Of Slavery in
conversation, and in tllc most plain and di-
rect terms expressed your disupprobation of
the ,chole system and practice; but confessed
Yourself Legal but involuntary Slave-hol.
der. You said you became widower, sew
crdi years before and married, agnin, with
ont caring or thinking of the fact that this
second wife was the daughter of n slave
holder. Alter time, her father died and
Your wife became the owner, by Inheritance
OF several young slaves. This, you told me,
was cause of much perplexity to both your
wife aud yourscll,-ihnt YOU often conyerscd
together about IL, and were of one mind, not
desiring TO own that kind Of property, md
being on principle, opposed to it, You said
II was perfectly understood and agreed that
The S'dr55 should all be male free as fast as hfY
sl1Md ari0e at he proper age. This second
wlte dind also, leaving you 10 carry out her
desire in this matter; and this yju assured
me you should do as il ioas your o,cn desire,
and ia accordance igih your oisu conviciions Of
rigid
To convince me more fully of your own
opposition to slavery aud your determine
llOn to do the Nill OF your deceased wife,
you told me that two of those slaves, the
only males nmong them, hml already gone
on! You said you were giaA they hit goae
that you knew their whcreabont-hud
seen them several times sincc-sud they
were fine Jeliors doing icei, and you trould
nerer trouble them.
10 set your opposition TO slnvelolding in
still stronger light you related an incident
which to me- was peculiarly interesting:
slavc.tradcr had purchased several
slaves in Baltimore, one OF whom was pcr-
sonally known hy you. After the sale and
hetore the trader was ready to leave with his
glng, this man was missing hnying in some
way become acquainted with the transnc.
ton. Search was made for some days, bnt
he could not he found. In the mean time
his friends hesUught you to buy him, and
prevent his removal to the South and his
separation from those he loved. You told
them you ,ooltid not be Shareholder; and be-
sides, you might never find him if YOU should
purchase him. They gave you assurances
that he SHOULD he produced, aud their en-
treaties so wrought upon you as to induce
you TO offer the trndcr 5000 for the man at
your own risk. The bargain was closed,
you took II bill Of sale and returned home.
shortly tie man was IN your house, full of
gratitude aud willing TO he your servant for
ever. You said to him, ~ shnlI charge you
$500, aud as fast ms you pay me will give
you credit When you have paid me that
amount with such interest as may accrue,
you shall have your free papers. Go, and
,lo the best you can" And you assured me
that the whole was paid in Is months. The
man was made free, and still resides in Bal
iimore prosperous and upright.
Now, Sir, it was on tho strength of such
statements ont Of yonr own mouth, volunta-
rily made, that wrote you thai letter, some
months niter; giving you credit for sincerity,
mud honouring your nobenrss of soul In
Tint letter volunteered word of advice
Reminding you Of the uncertainty of life
and your inability to ioresec what might be
tho disposition of your heirs, | enireated you
10 execute deeds OF emancipation for all
those slaves, both at homo and abroad, TO
take etitct at such times AS you judged
would be 10 their uhyan'aga IN this way
you could shield them from all evLliler YOU
should have gone TO the grave with her
whose toiI You declared TO me You should
sacrcdly execute. That letter had not been
written, nor that advice given, had not be-
lieved in your sincerity and honest intention
10 do the right, yourself aud your wie being
the Judges of what right is.
Judge, then, Of my surprise, if you can,
when learned that you had sent your son
10 New York to identify Preston MS your
proPaiy-that you had forgotten all your
declarations 10 me of your views of humani-
~ and right-lhat YOU had disregWded The
efrPsdisd wiH Of your departed ,ci6, hy
whom those slaves came into your posses
sion; and had torn the man from Freedom
from The bosom of his earthly pariaer aud
from his child.
On the strength Of your professions and