The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-10

to the works, and, taking Governor aside, whis-
pered something in his ear. Down went the
mans shovel, and away he sprung, and-all on
ire with rage and jealousy man no longer,
but an unreasoning brute-run and leaped,
bounding over everything that came in his way,
and taking q bee-line to his cabin, the door of
which he burst open. A moment, and the
overseer lay dead, slain by the hand of the in
jured husband. Governor did not hurt hair
of Milly's head; even in his mad and blind
rage, ne had spared her, still SO beloved.
Neither did he attempt to save himself by
flight, but lay moaning and groaning upon the
cabln.hoor until he was taken into custody.
This was the substance of the story related
to Valentine.
"I'se sorry / killed him, Brudder Valley |!
dough l hardly knowed what was dom of.
Use sorry, dough it was all so tryin' from fuss
to las. 1esl l is berry sorry, dough it amt
no use to say it, cause knows how, eff it wur
to do over agin, / should be sure to do it ober
agin SO, what's de use O. pentin'?"
Valentine pressed his hand in silence, scarce
ly knowing what to reply just then, sadly think
ing of the many thousands whose positions
were just as false and just as trying, as mad
dening, as his own and Governors had been.
About noon that day, Major Hewitt came
into the cell to see his slave. The Major was
very much overcome at the sight of Governor,
and spoke with great feeling;
ooh, Governor! my heart bleeds for you,
and for what you have done, my poor fellow |!
Obi Governor, why, why did you take your re-
venge in your own hands, in this horrible man.
ner? Why did you not, long ago, complain to
me? would have seen you righted."
"Ah, Marse Major, you never would hear no
plants we-dem made against de oberseer. It's
been tried often, and you never would !"
ayes, but my poor fellow in such a case
would have listened to your complaint. would
have protected your family peace, at every cost.
If necessary, | would have discharged Mort
arty. Yours was an exceptional case, and l
would have attended to it."
"Ah, Marse Major, honey l dessay you
think you would now, as it has come to dis
yerl But you wouldn't O done it, Marse Major,
honey deed you wouldn't, cause you see it
has been tried afore, an you never would list
en- to nothin' t all bout de oberseer. It's
on'y cause it's come to dis yer; you thinks
different" said Governor, sadly, but respectful
ly, and even affectionately,
Major Hewitt did not reply; perhaps he felt
that the slave had spoken the truth, for he look
ed extremely distressed, and told him that he
would engage the best counsel to defend him
that no cost should be spared, even to the halt
of his estate, to save him.
And Major Hewitt kept his word, and hasten.
ed to secure the best legal aid to be had for
Governor.
The day of the trial was at hand. 1t was
known that tfcQ slaves were to be tried for sim
liar offences. But every one was interested in
Valentine, and no one, except his master, seem
ed to care one farthing for Governor. Those
who saw him said he was "an Unlocking fel
low" and there left the subject.
Valentine was the first arraigned. When
his case was fully investigated, it was obvious
to all minds, that had the fatal encounter in
which Mr.. Waring fell taken place between two
equals, either two white men, or two negroes
the survivor would scarcely have been arraign
ed; and, if arraigned, the verdict of the jury
must have been, "Justifable Homicide" II
was shown that Valentine had struck only in
selfdefence-only after his own blood had been
drawn, and he had been once felled to the floor
But then he had struck his master; the blow
had been fatal. And though his cause was in
itself favorable, and though he YVES well and
ably defended, yet the jury was not of his peers
but of his masters, and the verdict they render
ed against the prisoner was "Wilful Murder
Valentine heard the verdict, and afterwards re
ceived his sentence quietly, as matter Of
course. AT its conclusion, he bowed gravely
and was conducted from the courtroom.
TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.