The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-11
NUMBER 6.

him. He had this slave Il refer now to one
case the testimony ofwhieh is published in his
( life) for some time; and finally subscribed q
written instrument promising to free the
man, when by his labor he should have paid
for himself Surely this does not look as if
Mr.. Jay-whosc legal intelligence made him
the first Chief Justice Of the United States
esteemed slavery either maiga PrOhiJ'fam,
or NAHUM IN 81. If was unlawful, but in
itself wicked, he wonld have freed the negro
outright and paid him for his past labor'--
But let me cite stronger, and even more IL
lastrious witness. Ihave examined an origi-
nal autograph letter of Washington, written
in 1885. Its subject IS his own vSnnteer ei-
fort to catch and put in Jail the runaway
slave Of a friend. Gen. Washington caught
the negro, and sent him to the most suitable
Jail; but in critical moment the fellow slip
ped off, and had not yet been rc-taken, de-
spite the dilligent search of our great Gener-
al and patriot.
Now, unless we are to believe that Wash
ington, Jay, Jefferson, and all the Southern
revolutionary leaders, as well as great many
Of the Northern, were incfabe villains, whose
whole life was lie, how can we receive the
doctrine that they persisted TO hold slaves IN
violation of the laws they themselves had
created How can we believe that Greene,
Of Rhode Island, a Quaker by birth, hero
aud patriot by conduct, could haze been so
base rs to accept The present Of Southern
plantation from the gratitude Of South Caro-
lina--aud, abandoning his native soil be con-
tent TO end his days there Shareholder! 1t
may suit with the taste of some people to
maintain doctrines that are not only untrue
in themselves bnt which logically depend up
on theiathcrs Of our State having been double
eyed scoundres. Such doctrines do not suit
me. Independently Of the personal feelings
that must entertain for the memory Of the
friendship and confidence that, in n greater or
less d gree existed between Washington,
Knox. Jay, John Adams aad Others of that
rank, and persons from whom have leaned
much Of what | know respecting The alIlirs of
this coaniry-I do not intend that the Amer
lean people shall be so ma'cncl without -
contradiction. The simple reference to the
New England newspapers Of the Revolution
will show how entirely they were then pro-
slavery people. Thcirmerehants grew rich in
the slave trade. Their houses abounded in
slaves. believe am authorized in repeat
ing the assertion of a Bostonian, that some Of
the most furious Boston Aboiitionists are the
descendants of Boston Shareholders. No char
actcr in that town was too pure to buy and
sell negro. Nospot was too sacred to Free
dom to be disturbed by the fall of the slave
hammcr On the third of Jarua-
~, 1875, the Boston Gaz5ttc adverti;es in
the sale Of the effects Of deceased clergy
also likely negro lad the sale to be
at the house in Auehmuty's Lane, West End,
not far from liberty tree"
The Journals contain plenty more such no.
tees, all through the Revolution; but when
one reflects what the Liberty Elm of Boston
was, and how its clergy behave to-day, l think
this particular citation ought to be rather hard
Of digestion At all events, do not think it
will be easy to show that black men and
white men stood on an equal footing in the
Revolution.
?. S. | had almost fogotten to mention
onc fact that ought in itselfto settle the ques-
ion. BY the eth article Of the Treaty of
Peace with England, signed at Paris, Sd
l7s3, Benjamin Franklin, John
idams and John jay, on behalf of America
expressly obtained that the English armies,
hould evacuate this country without "carry-
ag array negroes or other property Of the
imeyican iahaJitdRts.' Ifthis does not show
hat negroes were property in the United
'ta!cs at that period, do not know what
viii.