Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-04-17

The ORIGINAL DREu ScoTT.-The distin-
guished colored individual who has made
such a noise in the world in the case of
Scott against Sanford. and who has be-
come SO tangled up with the Missouri Com
promise and other great suhects-Dred
Scott-is n resident, not citizen, OF st.
Louis. lie is well known to many Of our
citizens, and many frequently be seen pas
sing along Third street. lie is an old inha-
bitant, having come to this city thirty years
ago.
bred Scott was born in Virginia, where
he belonged to Capt. Peter Blow, the father
Of Henry c. Blow and Taylor Blow, OF this
city He was brought by his master to St.
Louis about thirty years ago, and in the
course Of time became the property of
DR.. Emerson, surgeon in the army, whom
he accompanied on that trip to Rock Island
and Fort Smelling on the ground of which
he bas sed his claim to freedom The wife Of
DR. Emerson was formerly Miss Sanford and
is now Mrs Chatiee, wife Of Hon. Mr.. Chat
fee, of Massachusetts. He has been married
twice, his first wife, by whom he had no
children having been sold from him. lie
has had four children by his present wife,
two boys, both dead, and two girls, both
living. bred was at Corpus Christi ut the
breaking out of the Mexican war, as the
servant of Captain cambridge, whom he
speaks of as good man
On his return from Mexico he applied to
his mistress. Mrs. Emerson, then living near
ST. Louis, for the purchase of himself and
family, offering to pay part of the money
! down, and give an eminent citizen OF st.
! Louis, an officer in the army, as security
! for the payment of the remainder. Ills
mistress refused his proposition, and bred
being informed that he was entitled to his
freedom by the operation of the laws regu-
lating the Northwest Territory, forthwith
| brought suit for it. The suit was COM
menced about ten years ago, and has cost
Dred $500 in cash, besides labor TO nearly
an equal amount. 1t has given him heap O
trouble, he says, and If he had known that
it was gwine to last SO long, he would not
have brought it, The suit was defended by
Mr.. John Sanford, us executor OF DR.. Elmer
sons will.
Dred does not appear at all discouraged
by the issue of the celebrated case, Though
it dooms him to slavery. lie talks about
the affair with the ease OF veteran litlgant
though not exactly in technical language,
and is hugely tickled at the idea of finding
himself parsonage of such Importance,
lie does not take on airs, however, but
laughs heartily when talking of de fuss dey
made 'dar in Washington bout de ole
niger.
He is about fifty five years old, we should
think, though he does not know his own
age. lie is Of unmixed African blood, and
as black us a piece OF charcoal. For two or
three years past he has been running at
large, no one exercising ownership over him
or putting any restraint upon his move
ments. II he were disposed to make the
attempt, he could gain his freedom at
much less cost than even One-tenth OF the
expense Of the famous suit, lie will not DC
50, however, insisting on abiding by Tho
principles involved in the decision of the
suit, lie declares that he will stick to hl
mistress as long as he lives. Ills daughters
r Eliza and Lucy, less conscientious abou
the matter, took advantage Of the absence
of restraint on their movements, year o.
two since, to disappear, and their where
abouts remain mystery,