Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-12-06
who wouId Have Thought III


The following very candid and truthful
paragraph we clip from the editorial columns
of the Dayton weely Gazette, of November
26th, and we confess it strikes us very pe'
ouliarly, coming as it does from one Of the
Organs of that party who have been so
profuse in their laudaiions Of the admirable
workings Of the Underground Railroad, and
contributed so liberally Of the material aid
to keep its machinery in working order;
CRIME AMONG FUGIrIvE NEGROES --Canap
da that portion cursed by the population Of
runaway negroes, is beginning to feel the
legitimate effects Of the seryile fugitive emf
grafton. OF ten persons convicted at the
Kent County assizes, recently held at Chat
ham, seven we're negroes. Levi Harris,
negro, was sentenced to the penitentiary
for Ave years for an assault with intent to
commit a rape; Henry Woodward, negro
was sentenced to the penitentiary for five
years for msnslaughter, and two of his sons,
parties to the crime, were sentenced to jail
for four months each; William Chapman
vas ssnteneed TO be hung on the 10th of
December for rape.
"Cursed by the population of runaway
Negroes that is the word, is it2 1t is just
what we have ever been preaching to these
gentlemen, but they have kept their ears 50
stuffed with wool that they couldn't, or
wouldn't hear the truth. They have been
told time and again, and the assertion sub
stAnitRted by facts and figures, that "the
legitimate effects" of their dishonest policy
would be the increase of every species of
crime and rascality throughout the country,
particularly "that portion cursed by the
population of runaway negroes" but we did
not expect so soon to near one of the High
Priests Of the Order, candidly admitting
the fact The truth is, they have never for
one moment been actuated by any sentiment
of real sympathy for the negro, in their dis,
honest and dirty business. No, indeed il
was not from any feeling of friendship for
the "poor slave" that they would lend them.
selves and give of their means to steal him
from his legitimate owner, where he was
provided and cared for and thrust him into
the world to take care of himself, without
the means or ability of doing so, and where
the Legitimate effects Of his position would
be compulsion TO the commission Of crime
If 1t were not already inherent in him, and
he takes to it as naturally as a duck does to
water, and he becomes curse to that
portion Of the country where he dwels. II
is not sympathy for the negro that actuates
these men, and their profession of the senti-
ment is most hypocritical-it is the prospect
Of personal ggrandizement-the hope that
by dabbling in this dirty business they may
succeed in gaining such in influence over
soft-hearted and soft-headed fanatics and
old women, as will ultimately succeed in
elevating them to positions of place and
power which they have no earthly prospect
of ever reaching through the good sense oI
their fellow-citizens-knowing and feeling
that they do not possess the real worth anG
moral integrity to entitle them to the posts tC
which their ambition aspires. This, anG
this only is the handspring of their actionI
the sum aud substance of their sympathy
and they will wickedly persist in theii
course, though crime Of every hue follow
as the Legitimate effects" of their treaehery
and dishonesty, and every section of oui
fair country becomes dubly "cursed by tn,
population Of runaway negroes" J.