Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-27
sIsrers In il. nInae.t Form.


II is claimed That in tie District Of Oolum.
bia, and the adjacent portions Of Virginia and
Maryland, American Slavery exists only in its
mldest form. Lot us see what that is.
A Washington correspondent Of the Tribune
who writes that he lives one mile from the plan
tation Of George Washington p Gusts, now
Col. Lees, as CustiS willed it to Lee; states
that Gusts had fifteen children by his slave
women, that he sees his grand children every
day, and they are dark yellow Another
correspondent states the following revolving
facts
IL is well known that the venerable George
Washington Parke Gusts died some two years
ago; and the same papers that announced his
death announced ALSO the fact that on his death
bed he liberated his slaves The will, Tor some
reason, was never allowed any publicity, and
the slaves themselves were oaioled along with
the idea that some slight necessary arrange
ments were to be made, when they would all
have their free papers. Finally they were told
that tUe years must elapse before they could
60. Meantime they have been deprived of all
means Of making little now and then for
themselves, as they were allowed to do durinu
Mr. Custs's life, have been kept harder at work
down TO half peck of unsifted meal week
for each person, without even their fish allow
ance. Three old women, who have seen near
ly their century each, are kept sewing, making
clothes for the field hands, from daylight till
dark, with nothing but the halEpeck Of meal
to eat no tea or coftee-nOihing that old peo-
pie craye-and no time given them TO earn
these little rarties, as formerly One old man,
eighty years old, bent with age, and whom MIR
Oustis had long since told chad done enough,
and might 60 home aud smoke his pipe in
peace, lie now turned out as regular field
hand. A year ago, for some triAing offence,
three were sent to Jail, and few months later
three more, for simply going down to the river
TO get themselves some fish, when they were
literally starved.
Some three or four weeks ago, three, more
courageous than the rest, thinking their five
years would never come to an end, came to the
conclusion to leave for the North They were
most valuable servants, but they were never
advertised, and there was no effort made TO re.
gain them, which looks exceedingly as though
Mr. Lee, the present proprietor, knew he had
no lawful claim to them. They had not pro.
eeeded far before their progress was intercept
ted by some brute in human form, who suspec-
ted them to be tuglives, and probably wished
reward. They were lodged in Jail, and fright.
ened into telling where they started from. Mr..
Lee was forthwith acquainted with their where.
abouts, when they were transported back taken
into barn, stripped, and the men received
thirty and nine lashes each, from the hands Of
the slave-whipper, when ho refused to whip
the girl, and Mr.. Lee himself administered the
thirty aud nine lashes to her They were sent
to Richmond Jail, where they are now lodged
! Next to Mount Vernon we associate 'the
! Oustis place with the Father of this free
country" Shall "Washingtons body guard
be thus tampered with, and never voice raised
for such utter helplessness A.
WASHINGTON, June 81, 1859.