The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-04-11
Tnc ORIGINAL Dred Scott n Resident of st
LOuls-Skctch Of his History.

Ine distinguished colored individual who has
aae suen noise In the world in the case of Scot,
vs. SANFORD, and who has become tangled up
WHO the Missouri compromise and other great sub
Jeets-Dred Scott s . residsnt-not Q citizen<-ol
OF Louis. He Is well known to many of our citi
aens, and may frequently be seen passing along
n.a street: de is an old inhabitans having came
10 this city thirty years ago
Drea scott was born In Virginia. where be be.
ioDged to Captain Peter Blow, the father of Hem
~ T Blow and Taylor Blow. of this city. He
was Drought oy his master to St Louis about thir'
" years ago and 10 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 based
MS cisiia TO freedom. The wife of DR.. Emmer.
son was formerly Miss Sanford, and is now Mrs.
Chafee wife of Hon. Mr.. Chaffee, Of Massachu
setts He has been married twice. bis first wife,
by whom he had children having been sold
from oim. He has had four children by bis pres.
ent WIFE, two boys, both dead, and two girls both
living. Dred was at Corpus Christi At the break
ing out of the Mexican war, a. the servant of
Captain Baiabridse, whom he speaks Of as
good man."
On bis return from Mexico he applied to his mis- :.
tress, Mrs. Emerson, then living near ST. Louis
Tor the purchase of himself and family offeriag to
pay part OF the money down, and give an eminent
citizen OF ST. Louis, an officer in the army as se~
curity for the payment of the remainder His mis.
tress refused his proposition and Dred being in
formed that he was entitled TO his freedom by the
operation of the laws regulating the Northwest
Territory, forthwith brought suit for it.. The suit
was commenced about ten years ago, and has cost
Dred SoUO IN cash. besides labor to nearly equal
amount 1t has given him q heap of trouble" he
| says, and if he had known that sit was gwine to
last SO long" he would not have brought it. The
suit was defended by Mr. John Sanford as execu.
tor of DR.. Emerson 8 will.
Dred does not appear to be at all discouraged by
the issue of the celebrated case although it dooms
him to slavery He talks about the affair with the
case OF veteran litigant, though not exactly in
technical language, and is hugely tickled at the
idea of finding bimself parsonage of such impor-
taDce. he does not take on airs, however, but
laughs heartily when talking of de fuss dey made
dsr in WasLic gton bout de ole nigger"
He Is about 50 years old, we should think, though
he does not know his own age He is of unmixed
African blood, and as black as piece of charcoal
For two or three years past he has been running
at large, no one exercising ownership over him tor
putting any restraint upon his movements. If he
were disposed to make the attempt, he could gain
freedom at a much less cost than even onetenth
OF the expense Of the famous suit He will not do
so however, insisting on abiding by the principles
involved in the decision of the suit. He declares
that he will stick to his mistress long he lives
His daughters, Eliza and Lizzy less conscientious
about the matter, took advantage of the absence of
restraint on their movements a year or two since,
to disappear, and their whereabouts remain mys>
terry.
bred, though illiterate, is not ignerant He has
travelled considerably, and has improved his sock
of strong common sense by much Information pick
ed up in his journeyings. He is anxious to know
who owns him. beiog ignorant whether he is the
property of Mrs. Chaffee, or Mr.. Sanford, though
presume there is doubt that the former is bis
real legal owner. He seems tired of running about
with one to look after him, while at the same
time he is slave. He says grinningly that he could
make thousands of dollars, if allowed, by travelling
over the country and telling who he is
St Louis NeSs