Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-02

COLUMBIA, S. C., Oct =, 1854.
Mr Editor: Having nothing to do, and much
inclined to be idle, owing. to indisposition, !
Z trust it may not be amiss to you or your kind
readers, to give, as near as possible u statement
late Court, Judge Whitner, the distinguished
Sjurist, presiding.
4 Some fourteen years ago, Mr.. Darby, of
q Chester District, purchased girl called Lucy,
z who was carried 10 that neighborhood by a man
4 Washington, D. G., as late ass 1851, practicing
j law. The Girl had the looks of an Indian, but
4 was sold to him as o negro. She Runaway re-
& peatedly, telling her playmates she was an In
a diau-Sone three or four years ago, she was
4 lodged in iail in Columbia as runaway, and ad-
\ yertised. Her owner came for her and was re-
8 uuired 10 show his bill of sale, which was not
i considered altogether satisfactory. Several citi-
d zens were impressed by the girls appearance.
and advised the jailer not to give her up, rs she
\ evidently was m Indian He applied to Gov.
! Means for advice, and the Governor directed
4 him to stand suit, and let the case be decided
1 by un appeal 10 evidence. Governor Manning
A also, upon coming into office, expressed an in
\ tcrest in the trial, as one involving important
I rights to the girl.
After long delays by the party claiming her,
\ to procure evidence, the case was tried at the
late term Some three years since, an old
Cherokee chief visited Columbia, upon hearing
! That an AIndian girl was in Jail, he said Il
4 fourteen years ago, while his tribe was on their
way from North Carolina to Arkansas, an Indian
gill about four years old was stolen from his
party; that great distress was caused to her pa
rents; that she was the child of his sisters
daughter, and that her name was Lut-se; that
4 he came to Columbia with the hope of seeing
Lut-se; and that as soon as he laid eyes on her
his heart was rejoiced to see the face of his
sisters daughter; that this girl is Lut-se, and she
A is as much like her mother as her mothers si5
ter's CHILDREN are like her mothers sister.
The chiefs name is Inauskie. The old man
removed eight years ago from Arkansas, and
now lives in North Carolina. He was Captain
under Gen. jackson, at the battle of the Horse
Shoe Bend, where ne commanded one hundred
and thirty warriors, and fought with much dis
tinction. Commissions were read from several
chiefs of tribes now in North Carolina stating
that 4 girl named Lut-se stolen from one OF
their party about fourteen years ago. COM
mission was read of the examination OF 4 Mrs.
Carter, the wife of q man who purchased the
Girl from Thompson and sold her TO Darby. In
this she stated that, learning from her children
that the girl said she was Indian, she called her
up and questioned her about it, when she said
mo" she WAS not Indian, but her mother was
negro. This was offered as evidence, and,
strange to say, admitted. But it had the oppo-
site effect OF what was intended. As it was
clear that among her playmates the girl told the
truth, and TO her master or mistress she evident
" had been taught 10 say otherwise. Evidence
WAS brought forward that she had, for fourteen
years, been in Chester, in possession OF Darby,
working as 4 negro, and so considered, although
called : Darby's Indian" The most striking
testimony adduced in the case, was that by our
distinguished, talented and scientific townsman,
DR.. r. d. Gibbes. This is not only mine, but
the opinion of others. lie understands the ana
tony of our races us we'll as know my multi
pication table. As proof of my drcaration
he was put upon the stand and called upon TO
explain the chronological distinction OF races.
lie was asked TO point out the characteristics
OF the Indian and Negro, which he did very
infinitely and fully, and in a manner to bring
conviction to the whole assembled crowd. He
exhibited cast of an Indian ssull-of an abo-
riginul-said to be from one in the Academy OF
Science in Philadelphia from mound IN Ohlo.
He explained all its characteristics, and then
called up the old Chief and Interpreter and
showed The identity with their heads. He then
compared it and their heads with that of Lucy,
and established them all as of the same type
He then handled negro skull, and demon
siraed clearly the prculiariies, and showed 10y
comparison the marked difference between them
He explained the prominent differences IN the
anatomical structure OF different parts OF the
body. and gave an exceedingly Interesting ac-
count of the distinction in the hair OF the Cau-
caSian, Indian and Negro>race. He stated We
~ curious fact, as resulting from mlcroscoplcal
observation that in the mulatto cross the hair
of one or the other parent was present, ana
sometimes hairs Of both; but never nnbngrcl
hair that no amagamated hair existed that rs
often the mulatto had straight hair rs kinky.
He stated the microscope revealed that the hair
of the white race was, when transverelY DIVIDED,
orGl That of the lndiad circular: and that of the
Negro ecceniricaliy eihptical, with flattened
edges that the hair of the Negro was not hair,
bul WOOL and capable of being .feiLed; that the
c0Ioring matter Of true hair was in an internal
tube, while in the Negro it was in the epderms
or icales covering the shaft of the hair.
In corrobatiun of his statement that both
white and negro hair were sometimes found in
the same head, Il singular case was mentioned
in my hearing by Dr.. W. He stated that
he once attended half-breed Indian and Negro,
who had straight Indian hair. He was.il, and
had his bead shaved and blistered. On his re-
covery, when his hair grew out, it was Negro
hair-crisped and wiry.
These are very curious facts, and of much
Importance in the distinction of races.
The counsel of the plaintiff proposed and in
sisted on Dr.. Gibbe, to give the facts as'to the
hair of grades of blood but he said he had not
examined by the microscope any bat the half
breeds 1t is TO be hoped that full investigation
will be made of this subject, and the facts pub
liShed.
On The whole, the evidence set forth by DR..
Gibbes was extremely interesting, and developed
some facts never heard Of before. There has
been but one opinion expressed in relation to 1t.
The Jury decided in favor Of The girls being
Indian, and she left Columbia next day,with the
old Chief, on her way TO Arkansas, 10 her parents
and friends Gov. Means was so convinced that
the GIRL was Indian that he was heard to say
lnat if athe case was decided against her he would
: buy her and set her free. This feeling seemed
to pcrvade the community, and it is more than
probable that, had the ease been decided against
her. the citizens would have freed her.
We are hooted al by abolitlonists rs ensiaVlng
men, but here is 4 case where our protection Is
giyen 10 one whom God did not make slave.
Those only whom He has set his stamp upon
do we recognize as such. Is there any free
8 State that annually makes provision for rem
nant of the Aborignees remaning there, as ours
does! South Carolina regularly approprlates
sum Of money for the support of the Cataw bas.
in York District, where part OF the tribe is still
left.