Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-16
The Exile from Virginia.

following note from Mr. J. c. Underwood
a delegate to the Republican Naliona
Convention held at Philadelphia. from
Virginia. who has been driven from tha.
State, because he spoke in favor of Free
dom:
WILLiRD's HOTEL. July 7, 1876.
DEAR SIR: | thank you for the kind
notice of me in the ECeRiRg Post of the
LIST instant. but would correct one or tive
slight errors in your notice OF that date.
You speak of Clark County As the lar.
gcSt slaveholJing county in Virginia,
and having more slaves than freemcn.
This is mo- strictly correct. Clark is a
very small county on the map, not being
more than ten by fourteen mites in extent.
| believe it is generally considered, by it,
citizens at least, one OF tn richest farm
ing counties in the State. 1t has a great.
or pio%porrionate slave popula ion than
any other county west of the Blue Ridge.
The last census gives the folIowing:-
Wines 3614; slaves the same precise V,
3,6i4; and free colored, 1874.
Your other error was Notifying to me
for you say | am an extensive planter,
for the sweat of unpaid labor has never
moistcned my fields. and, while | should
be unwill NJ to acknowledge any man
master. | would scorn TO call any man
slave. One month ago | supposed |
owned 500 acres of Virginia soil, but
perhaps the respectable gentlemen who
ina driven me from the State have con
fiscated my property by a new code es-
tablished very recently. Ny wife, who
reached me on Saturday evening, in
forms me that when she appealed 10 the
resp ciable gentlemen who demanded
either my blood or Punishment from the
State, TO know what law of Virginia |
had violated F.; they replied to her that
they did not know that | had broken any
law, but that | had broken the '.rulrs of
Virginia" Now. as | am not acquaint-
ed with these rules of Virginia / think
1t very possible that they may apply to
property as well as personal freedom. 1t
5 ems to me that cOnfiScation is Just as
suitable a rule" as exile TO apply to
freedom of up Mon. One OF The old
rules of Virginia, as l had Supposed. was
free speech, and, in the language of JEFF.
ferson, l had thought that even error
of opinion might be safely tolerated
where reason is left to combat it,"
On my return from the Philadelphia
Contention, l received at this place let
tiers from my friends, assuring me that l
could not go home without meeting per
sonal violence. In this difficulty Gene
raj Spinner. of your State, kindly offered
his assistance, and after an absence OF
two days returned on Saturday evening,
with my wife and Il part of my family TO
this place. My poor wife was almost
broken down with loss Of sleep and ex
element, having been haunted for two
weeks. with visions of murder and as
sassinalion. She is now, however, much
improved by the rest OF a quiet Sabbath,
and by the generous sympathy which
has seemed 10 breathe like IA new aimos
phere around h,r.
We intend TO leave this city in a day
or two, seeking a temporary refuge in
Of the quiet hills Of the free North
Yours, truly,
j. c. UNDERWOOD.
What kind of freedom is this which
exists in the old Democratic State OF
For holding political fellow
with a great party, which holds TO
the doctrine that the curse of Slavery
not to be extended to free territory.
here is a Virginia farmer driven from
the State, and Grille from his home, aud
with his family east out from the soil of
his fathers. This is Virginia Democra-
cy-Buchanan Democracy Talk of
.1espoiism in Russia and Austria! Go to
Democrats. if you wish to find
pure unauthorized despolism ! People
DfJen ask why the millions Of non slave
holding whites of the South do not speak
Dul. If you want a reason. ask j. C
Underwood Pittsburgh G.zeHe.
Fremont's Letter of Acceptance.
GENTLEMEN: You call me To a high
responsibility by placing me in the van
Of Il great movement of the people of the
United States. who, without regard TO
party differences, are uniting in a COM
non effort to bring back the action of the
Federal Government TO the principles of
Washington and J,ff, rson. C0mpre-
lending the magnitude of The trust which
hey have declared themselves willing to
in my hands, and deeply sensible
If the honor which heir unreserved con
idence in this threatening position of
public affairs implies, | feel that l cannot
respond, than by a sincere decla-
alton that in the event of my election to
he Presidency, l should enter upon the
.xecution of its du:ics with a single
determination to promote the
rood of the whole country, and to dire CT
10 this end all the power of the
Government, irrespective of party issues,
md regardless of sectional pride.
The declaration of pri ciales embodied
n the resolves Of your Convention. ex
,rrss sentiments in which | have been
ducated, and which have been ripened
nto convictions by personal observation
nd experience. With this declaration
nd avUwal | think it necessary t revert
0 only two of the subjects embraced in
he rcsolu ions, and TO those only, be-
ause events have. surrounded them with
rave and critical circumstances. and
TO them special Importance.
He then gives his Concurrence TO the
Jews of the Convention; d~eprecaling the
he fo,e'gn policy to which it adverts,
nd advocates an open and firm policy
/ our foreign relations.
In regard TO slavery. he goes strongly
l favor OF the admission of Kln-as as "A
rec State. and thereby checking the
inns of the South for securing the un
mited extension of the Institution. He
includes as follows:
Trusting that l have a heart capable |
f comprehending u whole country,
it'll its varied interests, and confident
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