The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-23

I1ON. COHN EAhSON, Odutll6, 1u-OlT.
We, the undersigned, friends of Judge
Douglas, take the liberty of addressing you
in reference to stories that have been long
afoat in Republican papers, to his preju-
dice. We are aware that you have known
him from his advent in Illinois to the present
hour that you have watched with vigil
lent eye, his early struggles with poverty,
his triumphs over adverse fortune, his pro-
fessional advancement, and every step of his
political course.
He is charged with being the owner of
plantation and slaves; also charged with
using the proceeds of slave labor for elec-
pioneering purposes, and to carry forward the
sinister plans of an unbridled ambition.
Partizan malice has gone step farther in
bitter impeachment, and pronounced him an
inebriate. We know that these allegations
are untrue, but we solicit REPUTATION of
them from high and responsible source
from one we are proud to recognize as son
Of Western New York, and whose talents
have conferred honor CD the State of his
adoption. An early reply from your pen
will much oblige,
Very respectfully yours,
R. P. WIsNER,
A. G. CAMPBELL,
VIM. H. C. HosMER,
A. D. BEECHER,
GEORGE SHAFER.
DANvILLE, ILL.,, Feb. 20. 1860.
Messrs. Reuben P. Wisner, A. G. Camp.
bell, W. H. G. Hosmer, A. D. Beecher, Geo.
Shaffer, and others-Gentlemen Your ia.
vor making some inquiries in relation to
Judge Douglas was received this day. I
am happy to know that 1 can answer your
questions satisfactorily. 1t is true, as you
intimate, that have known Judge Douglas
since "his advent in Illinois to the present
hour" and l know the facts to which you
refer from the most reliable source-from
the Judge himself, and part from another
former Senator of ours. In the first place
1 will say while conversing with Judge
Douglas upon this subject, and referring to
the charges of the Abolitionists "of his
owning a plantation, and several hundred
negroes"-he remarked "that never owned
negro in my life, and never expect to own
one." l then remarked to him that his
enemies had the story in circulation, as he
must be aware, "that he owned a large
plantation in the Lower Country we'll
stocked with negroes" He replied in SUBJ
stance-"you know it is impossible for me,
or any public man to contradict all the false
statements made about him, and in this case
l feel delicacy In dragging before the pub
lie my family concerns, and to explain all
the particulars of my connection with my
first wife's property and Col. Martin, my
father-in law. I can, and will, explain to
you, however, all the facts about this plan-
tation, and the negroes on it. Soon after
my marriage with Col. Martins only daugh.
ter, in North Carolina, the Colonel made
out a deed to me of this plantation and the
negroes upon it--worth some 100000
and came and presented me the deed as
gift, saying he intended it for me and bis
daughter. at once remarked to Colonel
Martin that duly appreciated his kindness
to me and his daughter-but must decline
the offer, that had not been brought up in
Slave State, did not know how these me-
groes should be treated, and could not do
justice to them living, as did, at dis
tance-that they ought to be properly taken
care of, and even if was inclined to receive
this gift, the responsibility was such attach
ing to me as their owner, that would rather
not undertake the trust, and, therefore, I
must decline the Offer" The Colonel did
not press the subject further, but thereupon
burned up the deed. The Judge further
remarked "that before Col. Martin died, he
made will making me sole executor, and
required in the will that this plantation and
negroes should 60 to Mrs. Douglas heirs,
and on the children coming OF age, if the
negroes wished to go to Liberia they were
to have that right and option, and means
are to be set apart to take them there"
Col. Martin died few years after, and soon
thereafter Mrs. Douglas, leaving two sons as
the sole heirs of this plantation and all that
is on it. Judge Douglas, as executor, only
manages the estate, and to do so successfully
and humanely dhas engaged as Overseer, one
of the best and kindest hearted men In that
country, as was informed by planter
who lives neighbor to him. Hence bis duty
and the duty he owes to his children, re-
quires of him to visit the plantation occa-
sionally, as he does, to look after this PLAN
tation, and the way and manner these slaves
are treated and Mr.. Greeley, in one article,
admits that Judge Douglas treated them
kindly and LIBERAL -but called them Doug.
las slaves.
By law Judge Douglas can no more sell
or set free those slaves than can; they
must be disposed of as directed by the wife,
and no law in any slave State allows an ex-
ecutor to sell slaves off the plantation con-
trary to the will. 1t is, You say, asserted
=" that Judge Douglas has grown rich off
these slaves, and is using slave labor for
electioneeriDg purposes" In the converse.
ton to which I referred, the Judge re-
marked to me that he had never touched
dollar of money from that plantation-he