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

1
solemnity of his situation. Through the kind
ness of these friends, the best counsel that
could be prevailed upon to take up his hopeless
cause was retained, to defend Valentine in the
approaching trial.
There was one affecting circumstance that
occurred just before the sitting of the criminal
court. Mrs. Waring had been subpOnaed to
attend as witness for the prosecution. She
came up from Louisiana and, soon after her
arrival in the city, she sought out the poor little,
obscure wife of the prisoner, and gave her what
comfort she could impart-telling her, that
though she was the principal witness, her
testimony would not bear hard upon Valentine,
whom she felt persuaded was mad, and uncon-
scious of his acts at the moment she wit
messed them. And that she hoped his life
might yet be spared, for she felt convinced that
capital punishment was in no case corrector
or preventer of crime. And that, if the trial
should terminate unfavorably, she would petit
| ton the Governor for Communication of the
| sentence. And that her petition, under the
circumstances, would be the most powerful
that could be presented. These and other
merciful promises and reviving hopes did the
neutrality-suspicious. infuse into the poor girls
sinking heart.
And oh how Fannie knelt, and covered the
lady's hands with loving kisses, and bathed
them with grateful tears. And Mrs. Waring,
when she left her, went directly to the most
eminent lawyer in the city-one who had in
dignantly repulsed clergyman who wished to
retain him for the prisoner-and, after telling
| him very much what she had told Fannie rela-
tive to the character of her own testimony, sue
ceeded in retaining him to defend Valentine: for
this gentleman seemed to think that the favor
able opinion and testimony of Mrs. Waring
| N rp-
spectability, popularity, and security, of the
cause that he no longer hesitated to embrace.
OF course, there was much diversity of opin-
| ion in regard to Mrs. Warnings course. All
wondered at her, many ceusured her, while a
| few saw in her conduct the perfection of Chris
tan charity. But, like all who have thought
and suffered much, and profted by such expe-
rience,. Mrs. Waring was Indifferent to any
earthly Judgment outside the sphere of her
own affections; and so, ignorant or regardless
of popular praise or censure, the lady went
calmly on her merciful course.
The day of the sitting of the court drew
near when, one morning, hustle in the gal
lery leading to Valentines cell attracted the
attention Of the latter, and he had just con
cluded that the officials were bringing in new
prisoner, when the noisy group paused before
his own door, unlocked it, and introduced Gov
ernor, Mr.. Hewitt's big negro. With few
parting words, the turnkey and the constable
left him, went out, and locked the door. Then
for the first time Valentine recovered from his
surprise, and spoke to the new conner. But
Governor, standing bolt upright until his tai
figure and large head nearly reached the low
ceiling, looked the image of stupor, and an
swered never a word. Valentine knew, of course
that he was in desperate trouble, or he would
not be in that cell. Kindly taking his hand
he led him to the bed, and made him sit down
upon it. He was as docile as the gentles
child, though seemingly more stupid than any
brute. And it was hours before he recovered
sufficiently to tell Valentine the cause of his
arrest.
The story gathered from his thick and inco
herent talk was this He himself was huge
black, unsightly negro, painfully conscious o.
his personal defects. He was married to Milly
a pretty muiatto woman, whom he loved with
the idolatrous affection that often distinguishes
his race, and who had loved him in return, fol
the wealth of goodness under his rude exterior
And he had been very happy with his wife and
two little girls, until the new overseer came
This person was young unmarried man, and
his name was Moriarty. He took fancy to
Milly; used to stop every day at the door o.
her cabin, to ask for drink of water; then
after while, he got into the habit of going
into her cabin to sit down aud rest, and was
never in hurry to go away. If there was
any work to be done In the overseer's house
Milly was always sent for to do it, and always
detained long time. Governor was despatched
to labor upon the most remote part of the
plantation and whenever a messenger was re
quired to 90 upon distant errand, Governor
was selected. Poor fellow he was not acute
enough to be suspicious, or bad enough to be
jealous. On the contrary, he was very good
natured, stupid, and confding. And he might
have gone on forever without suspecting tina,
there was anything wrong, had not Milly upon
every Sunday and HOLIDAY appeared in fnery
better than any of her companions could sport
and so excited their envy, quickened their per
ceptions, and stimulated their tongues. AND
rudely enough were the poor husbands eyes
opened, and from that time no more wretcheG
man than Governor lived upon this earth. he
expostulated with Milly, who tearfuly confessed
to receiving presents from the new overseer
and protested her innocence of everything bu
their acceptance. And it is probable that W
to this time, and for long time after, Milly
who sincerely loved the ugly but good-hearteC
father of her children, was innocent of every
thing except vanity; and, could she have beer
delivered from the power of the tempter, would
have remained blameless.
But there was no such deliverance for her
And now commenced the most troubled life
that could be imagined for the slave husband
He felt that Milly still loved him with undmin
ished fidelity, but he knew also the power O
temptation and of example. How many virtuou,
women were there, on that or any other planta
ton? Why, virtue was not taught them-wa,
not expected of them; and if they were borr
with the instinct, it was soon lost among {
class, where RIGHTEOUSNESS was the rule, anC
integrity the exception. The generality o
, this misfortune among his ow-slaves-whos,
wives, any more than their own individua
souls and bodies, were in no sense theirs, whel
higher power wanted them-did not make i
any the less painful to this poor man to see hi
beloved Milly tempted from his bosom. Ant
he saw, with increasing anguish, that Milly
notwithstanding her penitence, and tearfu
declaration that she would be faithful to Gov
r ernor forever and forever, could not proven
the daily calls of the overseer st her cabin, AM
r dared not disobey his commands, when b.
/. summoned her to work in his house. Governo
) was still and ever kept at work upon the mos
? distant parts of the plantation, and the over
e seer still and ever appropriated as much as b.
, possibly could of Milly's time and services
r There was no help for them. Their class wer
t not usually credited with the possession of tn
o common feelings of humanity under such trials
Major Hewitt, in many respects a kind master
r had, for his peace, long closed his ears to com
plants of the slaves against their overseer an,
Governor knew full well that his master woul,
y hear not one word against Mr.. Moriarty.
Why lengthen sad story? All the wome,
!. of that plantation knew that, sooner or later
Milly would have no right to look down from
her pride of integrity upon them. Yet it wa
q some time-more than year-before she va
:. numbered among the frail ones. And then, a
!, guilt is so much more circumspsct than innc