Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-08
His E1calIency the President Of h
MR. CUSTIS,S SLAVES.


Subjoined, will be found note from Col. Robert
L. Lee, the sonIn.law, and executor OF the llate
George w. p. Cutis, Esq, of this county, in refer
ence TO letter vhich has appeared in the Boston
Traveller, concerning the slaves belonging 10 the es-
tate of Mr. Custis which sufficiently explains itself
and is emphatic il it's contradiction Of the statements
made by the writer of the letter referred to. We
learn that the slaves have been tampeTed with since
the probate of ths will, aud made discontended by
the false misrepresentation Of evilmnded persons
Such course deserves not only apprehension, but
the punishment OF the law upon the offenders. AS
for the will ITSELF lie contents, when il was offered for
probate, in regard TO the slaves, were published in
this paper, and it is now in the office OF the Clerk Of
the County Court of this county, record, open for
the inspection OF ALL and upon the honor and integ
ry Of the executors, any human being bond or free,
might contide. Mr. Washington of Mount Vernon,
received letter few days ago from Baltimore, ac
quantng him for the fret time Of the introduction Of
his name in the matter-a matter with which he has
nothing in the world to do. The mperlinent ntermed
ding of oicious persons in such cases, can do the
negroes nothing but harm. 1t s these continual and
perssvering aunoyances which irritate, and cause
the bad feeling which exists between the different
sections of our country Alerandria Gazette.
ARLINGTON, Jan. 4th, 1853.
o. My attention has been called to an article from the
Boston Traveller, dated Washington, December "a,
published in the New York Times Of the Both, under
the caption of ".The Slaves Of Mr.. Custis"
1t is there charged that the emancipation Of the
slaves will be much retarded if not wholly prevented
by his heps; that all attempts to the will Of MIR.
Gusts have proved abortve; that it ia whispered
about Washington that foul play is in progress, in
gard to the negroes on his plantations in Virginia;
that they ere being sold South; that all of them
will be consigned 10 hopeless slavery unless some
thing done, and that nothing be done unless the
will is produced, &C., &c.
As it is also. stated that Mr. Washington of Mount
Vernon, il the chief among the heirs, who have con-
spired suppress the will of Mr. Gusts, and to de-
fraud the negroes of their rights, think it proper TO
state that Mr.. Washington is not one of the heirs,
has interest in Mr. Custiss estate and, 80 far as
my knowledge extends, is ignorant of the provisions
of his will Mr. Gusts left his property 10 his daughter
and only child and her children. His will was sub
mted to the Alexandria County Court for probate
the Let day OF ts session, 1.-THE 7th OF December,)
after the arrival of the executor at Arlington and is
there on record in his hand writing, open to in
specton. There is desire on the part of the heirs
TO prevent the execution of its provision in reference
to the slaves, nor is there any TRUTH or the least
foundation for the assertion that they being sold
south.
What Mr. Gusts is said to have stated to the Wash
ington correspondent Of the Boston Traveller, or to
his assembled slaves, his death bed, ia not known
to any member Of his family. But it is well known
that during the brief days Of his last illness, he was
constantly attended by bis daughter, granddaughter,
and niece, and faithfully visited by his physician and
pastor So rapid the progress OF his disease, af'
ter it's symptoms became alarming, that there was no
assembling of his servants, and he took leave OF out
one. who was present, when be bade farewell to hs
amiy. X. E' LEE, EAscr'