Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-07-20
Pleasant "Reminiscences of Gen. Scott.


his slaves, and subsequently visited
many Of the free states, lecturing as he
went, to prove that slavery was bad
system, unjust and inhuman toward
the colored race, and injurious to the
prosperity of states. In the course of
this lecturing tour, III the spring OF
1889, he wrote to the editor of the
Eneoacipator, as follows:
"Comine from New York to Boston,
| fell in with General Scott, who was
on his way to Maine, in consequence
of the border difficulties there. He IS
among the most interesting men with
whom it has been my fortune at any
time to meet His views are large and
comprehensive, such as found only in
statesmen Of a superior order. He
hears patiently and impartially, an
swers without haste, and apparently
without prejudice. In the course of
our conversation, | saw that he rightly
understood the influence of the religi-
Gus principle with men; that he had
clear perceptions of justice and ofright
as rules Of action, and that he consld-
cred them binding upon governments
as we'll as upon individuals. Since
the ants slavery movement has at
tracted public attention, he has not
had leisure to give his mind to its ex-
animation. But shopld he, at any time
hereafter, be called to act in relation
to it, | should rely with strong conf
dence on his giving to the subject the
impartial consideration its Importance
demands, and on his arriving at the
wise conclusions, to which, with such a
temper, the spirit Of truth would con-
duct him. While he cannot be called
an abolitionist, neither can he called
Shareholder.
Gle told me pleasant anccdote
about the emancipation of n large num-
Der OF slaves i'll Virginia, of which State
you know he is native. The sub
stance Of the story was as follows -
When the General was lad, there
was still living an old Indian woman,
named Hannah, reputed to be q slave.
She was almost centenarian. She
had been unusually prolific, and her
descendants, now numbered by the
hundred, were all held as slaves
More than thirty Of them were held by
M. Scott, brother of the General
How they came into his possession, was
not mentioned.
cit began to be whispered round in
the neighborhood, that IIannah's pos
terity could not be held in bondage &C
cording to the laws of Virginia, because
she was free Indian woman, who had
"taken up" with slave. as the phrase
is, and lived with him as his wife, per-
forming servile work on the plantation
for permission to remain there. The
slaves concerned instituted a suit for
their freedom, and the necessary coun-
sci was employed. The chief manage
ment devolved upon Frank, an active,
intelligent and faithful seryant-one Of
the number held by Mr.. Scott. Win
field Scott, now General, became
warmly interested for Frank and his
coplaintiffs. He made memoranda for
him on paper, filled up his blank sub
penas, and did all that a young unpro-
fessional scribe could do to assist him
in preparing the cause for hearing
1t was difficult matter to secure the
attendance of witnesses, many of them
being old and scattered about the coun-
try. On this account the cause was
continued through several terms. A
short time before the court was to be
held, Frank would 60 to his master,
and conversation of this kind would
take place:
''Master, come to ask leave to go
and serve my subpnnas."
'Certainly, Frank: you can go if
you think it is time. With SO much
at stake, for yourself and others, you
ought to be diIigent to secure the at
tendance of your Witnesses
II may stand in need Of a little
money. sir, to pay terriages and other
expenses"
every true, Frank. Here are FIVE
dollars for you But how arc you go
ing?'
"a foot, SIR
"You had better take a horse, Frank
you will be able to get through your
business and come back sooner. Take
Roger; and as he must be fed, too,
here is as much more money to pay the
charges"
''Thankee, MASTER"
cold Hannah was finally proved
never to have been legally slave; and
as partus sequitet' vo1atr az, all her of:
spring were declared free. Frank
came home from the scene of triumph
and exclaimed, ''Well, master, we've
gained our cause!''
"Have you, Frank? Well, what are
you that are with me going to do with
yourselvesr'
ssAs for lis, master, we cannot leave
you"