Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-07-31
VOL. 5-..NO. 300
DAILY VIRGlNIAN.
From the Rochester Advertiser, July 2o.l

From the Rochester Advertiser, July 20.
TnE boy HENRY DIXON OBsTINATELY RE-
FUSES HIS FREEDOM. 1t will be remembered
that during the winter we published several
touching appeals in behalf Of free born negro
Z .amed Henry Dixon. who had been sold into sla-
sery under the laws OF Southern State md Was
then held rs slave in the State Of Alabsma.-
These appeals proceeded from the pen Of our
esteemed fellow citizen, Judge Sampson, and
were credtabe alike 10 his head and heart
They were widely published by the press Of 9TH
or localities and tho substance Of them repeated
from the pulpit. The result was enough money
was rnised to buy the boy" and effect his resto-
alton To freedom.
Thip money was sent 10 some attorneys in
Dixon's neighborhood, who. IN accordance with
their instructions, announced to the .'boy' that
they were charged with the agreeable duty Of
purchasing him and setting him at liberty. Tho
''boy" thanked his liberators and agents, but
''respectiuy declined" the proffered BOOM
Judge Sampson was notified of the failure Of the
mission" and the same fact was published in
loonl paper, whose account of tho matter we re-
published in full Judge Sampson aud the friends
of tho boy Henry were incredulous. lbey
naturally suspected that bogus "lIenry Dixon"
had been go, up for the occasion. who had play
ed the part assigned him in most admirable
manner The Democrat, tho organ Of the
Friends If Human Freedom" according to Gus
'pln' HHsHipu us HNIhp Cuiiehoy W 'o' nv
count If tho matter which we copied from the
Alabama, paper and charitably accused us Of
some sinister object or design in so doing. They
were determined 10 probe the affair to the bot
tom aud show up the gumo of fraud that had been
PLAYED in tho name OF the "boy" Dixon. SO Mr..
$. ID, Porter selected for the purpose, md in
duccd to make journey 'way down in Alabama.
to find the genuine Henry Dixon and redeem him
from u cruel iate worse than death.
Mr. bortar Inns now rpturnpd-hut he brought
no Henry Dixon. lie found the boy as we learn
without dioulty-,ho genuine Henry Dixon,
whose misfortune Ind evoked so much sympathy
Mr.. Porter oonverscd with him about Rochester,
and Rochester people,tll ho satisfied himself that
the Henry who stood before him WAS no ooun-
tcrfeit; and then he preferred him his liberty
But the "hoy" refused his freedom; thought he
was better oi where he is: and no measure ct
rntrony sutlioed to change his sentiments on that
point but stay in Alabama lao would. He had
lived good part of his lfo as free negro Mt tho
North. aud his comparatively brief experience as
n Southern slave taught him that tho latter con-
don is tho best. Strange NJ 1t may appear the
fact is established beyond oil question. For Mr.
Porter il u man of rare intelligence, and he is an
nbolilonist in principle. Were IL possible to
have induced Henry Dixon to exchange slavery
for freedom, Mr. Porter would have done ii. But
ho fniled. The Democrat will please ignore this
whole matter lest it be suspected of having ian
object" at heart adverse to tho cause of "human
freedom"
Those who subscribed their means TO purchase
the boy will learn those facts with astonish-
mem, but they certainly need feel modification
at tho result. Their contributions do them hon
or; II IL not their fault thnt they failed in their
benevolent purposes.
We would suggest that this Dixon fund be mp
proprintod to some other humane object under
the direction of n committee of the contributors.
They will probably not be obliged to wait long
for nn opportunity to US" il in us good cause
Us tho redemption of negro who preferred sla-
very 10 liberty.