The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-30
How Gen. Scott's Brother Lost His
Slaves,

| hentucSy, emancpatcd all his slaves, and
subsequently visited many of tho Froc
States. lccturing as he won't. to prove that
slavely was q bad system, unjust and in.
human toward tho colorcd raco, and inju-
rious to tho prosperity of States. In the
course of this lecture tour. in tho Spring Of
1882 he wyoto to the editor of The Emdaci-
pdror, as follows:
Coming from New York to Boston,
fell in with Gen. Scott, who was on his way
to MainN In consequence of the border diff.
culties there. Ho is among tho most in.
terosting mon with whom it has boon nv
fortune at any time 20 meet. His viows arc
largo and comprehensive, such as arc found
only in statesmen OF superior order. He
hears patiently and impartially, answers
without haste. and apparently without pref
udico. In tho course of our conversation.
sew that he rightly understood tho influence
Of the religious principle with men; that he
had clear perceptions Of Justice and of right
and that he considered thom binding upon
| Governments as well as individuals. Since
tho Anti Slavery movemeut has attract Cd
public attention, he has not had leisure tC
giVo his mind to its examination. Bat,
should he, any timo hereafter, be called tc
act in relation to II, | shopld rely with
strong confidence on bis giving to tho sub.
! ject tho impartial consideration its import.
ance demands. and on his arriving at the
wise conclusions to which, with such a tom.
por. the spirit of truth would conduct him
| While ho cannot be called an abolitionist,
neither can he DO called stakeholder.
"lo told mo q pleasant anecdo;e about
tho emancipation of largo number of
slaves in Virginia. of which State YOU know
ho is a native Tho substance of tho story
was as follows Whom tho General was q
lad, there was stil living an old 1udian
woman named Hannah, roputed to be n
siave She was almost q cen entenarian. Sho
had been unusually prolific, and her do
scendants. now numbered by tho hundred,
wore all hold as slaves. More ;han thirty
of them woro hold by Mr. Scott, brother Of
the General. How they came into his pos.
session was not mentioned.
1T began to be whispered around in tho
neighborhood that Hannah's posterity could
not be held in bondage accordi.g to the
laws OF Virginia. because sho was FREQ In,
dian woman, who had "tnken up with a
slave, rs the phrase is,and lived with him as
his wifo, performing servile work on the
plantation for permission to remain there.
Tho slaves concerned Instituted q euit for
their freedom. and tho necessary counsel
volved upon Frank, an active, intelligent
and faithful servant-onc of the number
held by Mr.. Scott. Winfield Scott, now
General, became warmly Interested for
Frank and his CO plaintiffs. He nIado a
memoranda for him on rapor, filled uo his
blank subpsenas, and did all that young,
unprofessiona! scribe. could do to assist
him in preparing the cause for hearing
II was difficult matter TO secure the at
tendance of witnesses, many of thcm being
old and scattered about tho country. On
this account the cause was continued
through several tcrms. A short time before
tho Court was to bo hold, Frank would 20
to his master. and u conversation of this
kind would tako place:
"Mastor, come to ask lcave to 90 aud
servo my subpGnas."
Certainly, Frank; you can go If you
think it is time. With so much at stake.
for yourself and others. you ought to be
diligont to secure the attendance of your
witnesses"
IL may stand in mood of a littie money, -,
sir. to pay ferriages and other expenses"
"Very truo, Frank. Hero arc fivo dollars
for you. But how arc you goingi"
IA foot, sir"
"You had botter tako q horse, Frank !;
you will bc able to got through your bust
ness and como back sooner. Take Roger !;
and as he must DO fed. too. here is as much
more money to pay the charges"
''Thankoe, mastor."
"Old Hannah was finally provcn never TO
have been legally u slave; and, as parius
soqreiur uentr'm. all her offspring woro do
clared FREQ Frank came home from the
scene of triumph, and exclaimed, "Well,
master. we've gained our cause! !"
"Iiave you. Frank Well, what aro you
and those with me going to do With your.
solves 2"
"As for us. master. wo can't leave you"
"Rut | cannot afford to pay the wages
you expect. Frank.
"Thore won't DO much in the way as to
that, sir. We havo thought that, take us
all. old and young. big and littlc. we should
receiving all along"
"But that will mover do Frank. I can
not agree to that You must have wages
for your work."
"Mr. Scott accordingly mado an estimate
of what he ought to pay them, ranging from
one dollar to six dollars a month. These
emancipatcd slaves remained with him 10
the day of his death. When no saw one
who he thought could do bettor for himself
by his industry and enterprise, he would
advise him to seek other employment and
they bore such good character that thoro
was no difficulty in their procuring situations.
1t was only in this way that any of them loft
him.
"This instance Of immediate emancipation
ought to put to flight the gloomy apbre-
hensiUns that many people entertain. l.
Mother Mr.. Scott nor any of his family had
their throats cut. 2. Tho emancipnted
slaves did not loave tho service of their mas
ter, and roam round the country as idle
vagabonds. 8. They woro content with
moderate wages. They all supported them
selves, and some were enterprising and
prosperous. It proves that freedom is
eagerly desired by those in bonds, since
these people took much trouble to obtain
it, though they were perfectly willing to
remain with their master on the same terms
they had been accustomed to as slaves.
"Fhis anecdote is also pleasant as illus.
trating the feeling that prevailed in old Vir.
ginia, as coutrasted with tho fury OF MODERN
Virginia"
Recuperative Force in Children.
We watch in children with pathetic
interest tho degree in which thoy possess
recuperative force. When thoy are hurt by