Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-06-30
THE WILL OF ELIJAH WILLIS.

The slave holders Of South Carolina will mos
likely Illustrate the purposes of Mr.. Willis regard
ing his slaves and his other property. They ar
fully awake to the question as appears from til
following from the Charleston Standard of tn
f4lh inst:
Our readers will readily recall the circumstance
of the case of Mr.. Elijah Willis, of Barnwell Dis
trict, who a short time ago fell dead as he was land
ing from the boat in Cincinnati, for the purnose o
liberating n mulatto woman who had lived Will
him as his wife, and her six children that he had
about n year previous executed q will in Cincin
matt leaving to them all his property in South Car
olinla, to the amount of some Sl50,0 00, and that
this will was placed in the hands of Messrs. A. IL
Ernst, Ed. Harwood and John Jolife, whom he
named as his executors, with the power to dispose
OF his other slaves and his other property, as they
might think best. The editor of the Edisto
lOrangeburghl Clarion has lately paid a visit to
Williston, in Barnwell District, where Mr.. Willis
resided, and whence he writes to his paper, as fol-
lows:
In this vicinity at present there is a considera-
able excitement and interchange of feelings and
sentiments respecting the .dispotion which the
late Elijah Willis made of his property. Mr..
Michael Willis, Il brother of the deceased, and Mr..
James Willis, a nepheS, have just returned from
Cincinnati, whittier they had repaired to ascertain
the facts and particulars of the death and will OF
:" " 'H'S' 1hNy llbNuACu ullu Drought UlCK
with them a true copy of the will, and full report
of the particulars. We have not examined or seen
the wlll-but understand that it was drawn up by
that notorious abolitionist and distinguished law
yer oil Ohio, John JOlliffe, and in accordance with
the advice and counsel of Henry Clay.
The substance of this will, is, that said Jollife
(he being the adopted executor) shall sell the real
and personal estate of said Elijah, collect all debts
due and coming to him, and invest the proceeds in
real estate Of Ohio, for the benefit of Amcy and
her children. Jollitfe says that he is determined
to execute the will to the very letter and spirit
and if necessary, will resort to the legal tribunal
OF the United States to justify his claim and sane
ton his proceedings. The other two ildividu.
ais names forgottenl mentioned in the will, have
positively declined having anything to do with the
affair, and wisely we opine. Jollitfe, however, is
II high minded prince among the abolition, free.
soil, mongrel fanatics of Ohio--his reputation is
at stake, and he must push matters as far rs the
rabid helliOns can desire.
"lf he recoils, his name is ruined, his unsullied
phiiantaropic character forever tarnished-the lus-
tire of his former g1ories obscured-and the anathe-
mas OF abolitlondOm heaped upon his remotest pos
terity. These considerations weigh heavily with
him, and therefore he comes on in IL few weeks to
execute the diabolical will Of Il man, whose better
judgement had forsaken him, or who must have
been laboring under mental arrangement when this
unjust, unreasonable and disgraceGul instrument
was concocted and consumated. Jollihe, a rank
abolitionist, comes TO Barnwell district, in the
State Of South Carolina, to carry into effect the
will of a simple old man-which will, in substance
conflicts with the dearest principles and most cher
iShed institutions of our already injured and in
suited State"
Says the Cincinnati Gazette:
We do not see what Mr.. Jollife can do as an
honest man but administer the will as made by
Mr.. Willis. Nor do we see what more proper use
could be made of the property of thcAeceascd than tc
apply it for the benefit of his widow and children,
MIR. Jollitfe may be an abolitionist, but that, We
believe, can not be be urged, as a bar to his acting
as an administrator upon the estate of his deceas.
ed friend. Mr.. Jollife is a gentleman highly re
spccted in this community, and is a lawyer of good
reputc.