The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-20
Truth as Strange a. Fiction.

Truth as Strange a. Fiction.
ACCOUNT Or TIE DBsxRrIOK or THE SLAVE IsAIl
AT PHILADELPHIA. AND HIS RETURN TO HIS nABr'
[From the Savannah News. Nov. Is
The slave Isaiah was purchased by Mr. PadelfI
some years since from q gentleman who was abb
TO leave the State. His master gave him the us|
privilege IN such cases Of choosing purchaser.
made choice OF Mr.. Padelford, who was induced
bis earnest entreaties to purchase him, his forrl
owner accepting less price for his slave than b
h en- offered for him, in order to gratify him in
see stioD Of future master.
Under the protection OF kind and too indulg|
master, free from the cares and anxieties that nd
lie burthen to so many Of his color in the Il
States he had perhaps never dreamed Of exoh ang
his cond ton for the miserable existence Ut Q ii
negro at the North.
with him to Philadelphia, with view to have n
treated for a disease Of the nervous system. III
and else where at the North, he spent the most Of
sun mer, during which time The interesting inv Il
was, 10 doubt, tempered with by the abolltioni|
who reserved the grand scene OF his liberation
near the eve OF his masters departure Tor Geor
A few days before the sailing Of the steamer for
vaDnah, Isaiah absented himself from his home. !
Mr.. PadelfOrd was shortly after served with WriI
habeas corpus, commanding him to show cause, 4
for the detention Of the said Isaiah Shelley.
Busy with his preparations for departure, Mr..
elford bad barely time to appear in answer to +
witt, when he instructed the return to be made \
he bad purchased the said Isaiah at his urgent
quest that he had brought him to Philadelphis so
for the benefit Of his health, that since he had abs
ed himselt he had not sought TO recover him-tha
did not desire to recover him, and that he would
receive him should he voluntarily return to him:
Such an answer Of course put IN end to the II
proceedings, and sadly disappointed the ab0lluonI
who had assembled to enjoy the excite nent "
they expected would grow out Of the affair.
Meeting Isaiah near the court room accompa
by several of his cOlored friends, Mr.. Padelford
to him that he had put himself to great deal o
NJ cessary trouble, and his friends to expense in
matter; informing him at the Same time that
had made known his wish to remain he would
interposed no objection. II he preferred to rer
with the abolitionists he was free to do so-not
so. but that he mist abide by hia choice, as he
have nothing further to do with him.
His friends were evidently disappointed, and il
difficult to say which were the most ch0pfallen
abolition advisers or their victim.
The steamer was to sail in few days. The
before her sailing, while Mr.: Padeltord was q
hotel be was informed that Isaiah desired ID
him. He at first refused to have any inter
with him, but finally consented to see him. F.
cOntrition and deep repentance for the part hd
acted, the fellow begged and implored to be
back BY his master, and to be permitted to rd
none OF his ent1eaties-he had been deceived
bis confidence abused-he wanted no one about
who preferred the friendship of the abolitiOni
his confidence and good will. The negro burs
tears, and with all the el0quence ne possessed pc
to be forgiven, promising to atone BY future
conduct for the wrong he had committed. He
he had been urged and persuaded by the abolI
ists-that he scarcely knew what he had DONE
that he could not think of remaining with the p
who had deluded and betrayed him by theit
tended friendship. Mr. Padelford felt the for
his appeal, but reminded him that he had SO
would not take him back
He however, consented that Isaiah might 81
mistress, and if he could obtain her consent he
return with the family to Georgia. Isaiah hi
lost 10 time in laying his case before his mis-
and having obtained her consent, was instruct
90 back and remain wish bis abolition friends,
was t,ld that the steamer sailed the next morni
10 o'clock, that if he was there he could go, but
no pains would be taken to look him up, and th
was perfectly at liberty to 60 or stay. He
the same time cautioned that if he made knO
them his intention to return, 1t was possible tina
would find means to prevent him from doing 80
Isaiah kept his intentions profound secret
the abolitionists, whose interest in him had g
abated since the scene at the Court room, On
next morning as Mr.. Padelford, with his family
going on board the Keystone State, among tn
persons who met them at the wharf was the
Isaiah, his ebon countenance beaming with
his escape from the abolitionists, and at the G.
prospect of being borne back to Georgia al
slavery.
To escape the abolitionists and the ''underg
railroad" IL is said he obtained close hack ed
the morning to convey him to the steamer.
How many poor "Uncle Tom" Is now shit
in the cold atmosphere Of Canada, the victim
mawkish philanthropy, who might justly env
good fortune of the self.reclaimed Isaiah.