The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-07-25
Weminisconcc OF Gen. scott.

In 1850, James u. Birncy, Esq, District
| Attorney in Alabama. aftcrward resident in
kentucky, cmancipated all his slaves, and
subsequently visited many of the free States,
lecturing us he went to prove that slavery
was bad system, unjust and inhuman to-
ward the colorcd race, and injurious TO the
prosperity of the States. In the course of
this lcctwng tour, in the spring of 1899 he
wrote to the editor OF the Emancipation, as
follows:
Coming from New York to Boston. fell
! In with Gen. Scott who was on his way 70
Maine, in consequence of the border difficult
ties there, lie is among tho most interes-
ting men with whom it has been my fortune
ut any tmo to meet, His views are largo
and comprehensive, such as we find only in
statesmen Of superior stamp. lie hears
patiently and impurtially, answers without
haste, and appmcuu ywitlout prejudice. In
the course OF uur COuN crsation. | saw that
= he rightly understood the influence of tho
religious principle with mon; that lie had
clear perceptions of Justice and of right, as
rules of action, and that he considered them
! binding upon governments as well as upon
! ndividuals Since the auti-slaverv move
mcnt has attracted public attention. he has
not had leisure to give his mind to its cN-
aminaton But should he at any time here
, after, bc called To act in relation TO it, |
should rely with strong confidence on his
giving to the subject the impartial consd-
: Grafton it's importance demands, and his ar
irving at tho prices conclusions, to which,
with such temper the spirit of truth would
: conduct hm While he cannot be called an
=, AhoGtonistu neither can he be called a slave
u holder.
u He told me pleasant anecdote about tho
emancipation of large number of slaves III
. Virginia, of which State you know he is
), native. The substance of the story was AZ
" follows:
l. When the General was II lad, there was
: still living an old Indian woman, named
u Hannah, rcputcd to bra slave. She was al
! most n ccntcnarian. She had been unusu-
= ally prolific. and her descendants, now nllm-
" bercd by the hundred, were all held as
>, slaves. More than thirty of them wcro
u, held by Mr., Scott, brother of the General.
- How they come into his possession was not
., mentioned.
" II began to he whispered round in tho
=, ncighborhood that llamah's pOsterity could
~ not he held in bondage, according TO the
g. laws of Virginia, because she was FREQ
- Indian woman, who had "takcn up with
u slave, ps the phrase is, and lived with
" him as his wife, performing scrvile work on
~ the plantation for permission to remain
w there. The slaves concerned instituted a
suit for their freedom, and the necessary
counsel was employed, The chief manage
IL ment dcvolved upon Frank an active, in
n tclligcnt aud faithful serVaht--onc of tho
of number held hy Mr. Scott.
&C Winfield Scott, now General, became
IN warmly Interested for Frank and his CO.
a. plaintiffs. He made memoranda for him on
paper, filled up his blank subpnuas. and did
nc all that young, unprotcssioual scribe could
il do to assist him in preparing the cause for
ne II hearing 1t was difficult matter to Sc
" cure the attendance of witnesses, many of
It's them being old and scattered about the coun-
ls- try. On this account the cause was continu-
TX ed through several terms. short time be-
he fore the Court was to he held, Frank would go
m to his master, and conversation OF this
ne kind would take place.
IL Master, came 10 ask leave to so and
c; serve my subpmnas."
lg "Ccrtainly, Frank; you can go If you
re think it is true, With so much at stake,
III for yourself and others, You ought to be
MT deligcnt to secure the attendance of your
It. Witnesses
us al may stand in need of little money
rs. sir, to pay ierragCs and other expenses"
&C. VERY truc Frank. Here are five dollars
he for you. But how are you going?"
lac "A-toot sir"
'ir "You had better take a horse, Frank
Sc, you will he able to get through your busi.
on ness and come back sooner. Take Roger;
in and as he must be fed, too, here is as much
nc more money to pay the charges"
'r "Thankcc, MASTER
It's Old Hannah was finally proved never TO
NJ havo been legally slave; and rs partus
nj scquitur venrem, all her offspring We're
'el declared free. Frank came home from the
ed scene Of triumph, and exclaimed "Well, mas
Ell or, we We gained our casc''
int "lave you, Frank? Well what are you
ke that arc with me going to do With your
oi sclvcs?"
p AS for us, master, we can't loave you
MS but cannot afford to pay the wages
c"l you will expect Frank
is "Therc won't be much in the way as to that
he sir. Wohave thought that take us all :ogeth.
,st or, old and young, big and little, we should
he he worth to you what we have been used to
us receiving all along"
'l- "But that will never do, Frank. | cannot
90 agree to that, Iou must have wages fol
ed, your work"
re, Mr. Scott accordingly made an estimate
nd of what he ought 10 pay them, ranging from
NY one dollar to six dollars q month, These
ho cmancipated slaves remained with him
ort to the day of his death. When he saw ono
gh who he thought could do better for himself
rn) by his industry and enterprise, he would
Sc advise him to seek other employment; and
las they bore such good character, that there
'sc was no difficulty in their procuring situa
nat tons, It was only in this way that any Of
zen them left him.
a This instance of immediate emancipation
&c ought to put to light the gloomy appre
&c hcnsions that many people entertain.
lrt !, Neither Mr., Scott nor any of his family
lis had their throats cut.
Ies 2 The cmancpated slaves did not leave
n- the service of their master, and roam around
ng the country rs idle vagabonds.
)ut 3. They were content with moderate wa
lay ges. They all supported themselves, and
of some were enterprising and prosperous.
or 4. 1t proves that freedom is eagerly de
I'M sired by those in bonds since these people
as took much trouble 10 obtain it, though they
De- were perfectly willing to remain with then
'uS master ON the same terms they had been
m accustomed to as slaves,
Mt. This anecdote is also pleasant as ilustrat-
M ing the feeling that prevailed in old Vir'
of ginia, as conrasted with the fury ofmoderl
md Virginia.
it -
len Indictment Of John Merryman.
es- The soul of Tancy, c. j., is now probably
w. tranquilzed, Mr., John Aerryman, is no