Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-04-26
Che Anti 9laperp Bnolr
SALEM, ONO, APRIL &c, 1856.
JUDGE M'LEAN AND SLAVERY.
April II, 1856,

pa '
To the Editor of tho Anti-slavery BuglO.
DEAR SIR: Those who prefer truth to falsehood
will find some interest in the following Statement
of facts in regard to a slanderous charge lately
made against Judge M'Lean in the Anti- Slarery
Bugle.
While the Judge resided on a farm in Warren
County Ohio his first wife being in feeble health,
he was DESTROYS of procuring n suitable female to
do houSe-work. Not finding any one in the neigh
borhood he was informed of q colored girl q slave
in Kentucky who was highly recommended as a
good nurse &c. in the neighborhood Of Covington.
He saw the master of the girl and after talking
with the girl and finding she was willing to 60, he
proposed TO the master to purchase the girl and
make her free by taking her to Ohio if he would
give an assurance that she would remain in his
service some three or fouryears, and that he would
clothe her well.
The master on the above proposition agreed to
give up the girl on the payment Of two hundred
dollars which sum was paid. The Judge informed
him that lie could have no claim on the girl as she
would be omanci2ated by being taken to Ohio.
The master gave a writing that the girl would
serve the above time. The time was fixed by pay
ing the highest wages for female labor and in addi-
ton the Judge was to supply the girl with cloth.
ing.
She was brought to Ohio ard for some weeks
she did well and gave great satisfaction to Mrs.
MLcan, but after that, through the persuasion of
some persons, as was supposed who could not see
without envy a sickly and delicate person assisted
by a colored girl in her domestic concerns, poisoned
the mind of the girl and she became illnatured
and worthless-she became so fendish that Mrs.
M'Lean was afraid that she would poison the
family or burn the house. She was afraid to trust
her in the kitchen and gave her little or no employ
mont in the house.
One night this girl left and Mrs. M'Lean was
happily released. Taking her back to Kentucky
never entered into the mind of Judge MLean. lie
had given to her freedom and it was optional witt
the girl whether she would remain in his family
or not.
He was glad when she left and he never mad,
any inquiry about he or her late master. He los
the two hundred dollars and made the ungratefu
girl free. l am advised that Judge MLean neve,
heard of any publication on this subject until yes
terday. If Mr.. A. Brooke who has busted him
self in this matter will find any six persons in hi,
lSouhty lhCluulhS hhhSSi VIII NAVY pdlu . hiuC
money as Judge M'Lean has paid for the emanci
patton Of slaves the evidence oughtto he published
When Judge MLean returned from Washington
f City to Ohio he brought with him a colored maj
his wife and four or FIVE children, all of whom h.
had brought from slavery and emancipated, ant
furnished them in Cincinnati with furniture &c,
for housekeeping They were DESTROYS of remain
ing in his family with whom they had lived som
years in Washington.
He persuaded them to live and act for them
selves and when they left his dwelling both parent
: and children were in tears. In addition TO til
I above the Judge emancipoted and left in Washing
ton City one of the finest Dining-Room Servants il
!, the City whom he might have SOLD for from ten t
fifteen hundred dollars.
. Believing as | do that the publication of til
d above statement is due to truth and the reputa
d ton of Judge M'Lean l ask its insertion in tn
3 Bug,e
= Allow me to ssy that I was a ~neighbor to Judg
M'Lean at the time when it is said the transaction
e referred to in the communication of DR.. and il
n your Editorial article took place.
q My means Of Information ! believe to be perfect
IS ly reliable and that those who have made thes
charges will upon full Investigation be satisfied t
o withdraw them. Very respectfully.
A. HARLAN.