The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-22
FHE DAILY DISPATCH
Ine slave Case Decisisn Of JadEe Paine
Interesting statenent Of Mr. Le..
mon.

Anteresun4 Statement of Mr. Is-
mon.
The New York Journal of Commerce r..
views the Lennon slave case, and Judo.
Paine's decision, and trusts the New York
statute, on which that decision was mainly
based, will be repealed at the coming session
OF the Legislature Of that State, and that the
Legjslatu ture will, also, appropriate the sum of
$4,000 to repay Mr.. Lennon for tho property
robbed from him. The following statement
from MIR. Lennon, shows that deliberate
plan had been formed to rob him of his proper
ty, on his arrival at New York:
On the 18th day of October last, left nv
home in Bath county, Va, with view of emf
grating to Texas, taking with me my wife, se-
ven children, and eight slaves. l reached
Richmond on the 3Oth day of October, and re-
manned there until the Tuesday following, en-
deavoring meanwhile to engage a passage in
some vessel for New Orleans. Finding, how
ever, that no passenger vessel would be sailing
from that port 10 New Orleans for some three
weeks thereafter, l went to Norfolk, and took
passage in the steamer City of Richmond, for
the port of New York, with the intention of
proceeding directly from New York to New
Orleans; having no idea, before leaving Nor
folk, that there could be any difficulty in going
to 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 the 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 fa-
vor in New York, and was bound to protect
me in the possession and property of my
slaves; and that the Mayor of that city would
see that it was done, provided any difficulty
should occur. MIR. Ashmead promised me :,
whilst on our way to New York, that he would
Immediately after the City of Richmond got
sage for myself, family and slaves, in some
ship going at once from that port to New Or
leans.
Under these circumstances, and thinking
that all was right, l arrived in the harbor of
New York about half past four o'clock in the
afternoon, on the sth inst.
When the City of Richmond had thus ar
rrived at New York, Mr. Ashmead went ashore,
telling me that he was going to procure pas
sage tor us in a steamer ready to sail for New
Orleans. After an absence of about an hour,
or an hour and half, he returned and stated
to me that he had been unable to find the man
whom he went to see in regard to obtaining the
passage, but handed to me a piece of paper
which he said contained the name Of that per-
son, and directed me to 60 with ii to place in
South street. / went there accordingly, and al
the door met man who said to me that he was
the individual named in that paper. told him
that l wanted to engage passage for New Or
leans in a vessel proceeding at once TO that
port, upon which myself, family aud slaves
could be placed that night. He replied that he
would Immediately transfer all of US that nigh,
to the steamer Memphis, which would sal: for
Nayu nrIe "a /
with him inside the office, where passage tick
cts were given to me. He then stated that he
would send round for my family, slaves and
baggage to the City Of Richmond, and trans
fer every thing on board of the steamer Mem
phis. He and / then went to the City of Rich
mond, and very soon two hacks came there
which he stated had been ordered by him, and
into " hich myself family and slaves got, under
his direction, he saying to US that they were to
convey US to the steamer Memphis.
The hacks. then. instead Of proceeding to
tine steamer Memphis, drove round to his of.
fee in South street. Here l was told that
must pay our fare before being put on board
of the Memphis. l then paid the amount, be-
ing $l6l. As soon as this money was paid,
the hack drivers refused to take US TO the
steamer Memphis, but carried us, against our
earnest :protest, to house, No. 3, Carlisle
street, dropped US down upon the sidewalk, and
drove off. 1t was now dark, and being. utter
strangers in the city, were 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 my slaves had been taken into
court. The result Of the proceedings in court
has deprived me of all my property, amount
ing, at least, to $4,000.
JONATHAN LENNON.