Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-07-04
The slave Case in Reading.

oouudiu "eo inahi'S MS elutS'hNi', ""'N"
) was much abridged from that made in court
Mr.. Slas A. Robinson was the next witness,
He he'd had two conversations with Calvin
l., Robinson about his colored girl. On one
OF these occasions there was music up the
street of fife and drum, Told Robinson that
the reports were that he was a stakeholder,
and the owner Of the girl. asked him if
he was going to send her TO school--that the
people wanted to know what were his in
tentions. He made no particular reply, and
would let them know in few days, but
would not be drove. The first time l spoke
to him about her, he said he had bought her.
Told him the reports were that he had
brought on three slaves, and that two of
them had escaped from him while in New
York. He was excited, and acted as if he
thought | was meddIing with that which
was none of my business. (Laughter.)--
Robinson said that he was at his fathers
house. and would do as he pleased. About
this time crowd came down the street, but
it was not intended as any insult TO him or
his folks. Mr., Written had just had new
head put into his drum, and they we're try
ing the drum.
A brief statement was made by Hiram
Goddard, Esq, relative to the abuse of the
child, which had been alleged as a reason
for not sending the child to school. BY his
statement, it appeared that the girl had been
insulted, and called names, and that It had
been done by Clarke's boy--a boy who now
lives in the same family where Robinson is
now stopping The boy had called her " a
d-m Niger" &c.
This was all the testimony directly called,
and the remainder of the hearing was made
up mainly of running controversy between
Mr.. Pike and Mr.. Robinson.
Mr.. Pike now stated tina: he had con.
versation with Robinson about the girl, and
that he said he had bought her, and paid
for her, and was not going to loose
and here he dropped the sentence. How
he was going to finish it, he would not I'M
dertake TO say. This man before us was a
STAKEHOLDER. He had been slave trader
in Florida, and had dealt and trafficked in
the flesh and b'ood of human beings. He has
brought slaves to the free states, two of
whom had escaped, and the other was here
in Vermont. He is an intensely pro-slavery
man, and believes that slavery-the chief
cause of the present troubles of the coun-
try-is divine institution. Only one year
ago last spring, he published an article here
in Vermont, in the Bellows Falls Argas,
sustaining the rebellion and some two years
since, when on a visit to his native town,
openly boosted how he had punished his
slaves till the blood ran down their backs
Mr.. Robinson here interrupted, denying
the charge, and saying it was not true, while
one or two voices in the audience declared
that it was true, and could be proved y
Mr.. Pike continued that lie did not, of him
self, know how 1t might be, but that sucl
was the reports Holding the views anC
opinions upon the subject Of slavery which
he did, he was not fit man to be the guar
| dian of colored person, much less of on,
whom he T" had bought and paid for ant
! held as slave. If one STAKEHOLDER cal
i come into Vermont and bring his slaves
and then ask the Judge of Probate to ap
, point him as guardian over such slaves, an
other can do the same thing, and thus sus
tain authority over such persons, and tax,
them back TO bondage. MIR. Robinson ha
said be viii give her free papers, and he ha
/ done SO, but of what value are free paper
in Florida, or the souths Besides, no sucl
t papers are recognized in Vermont. Per
: sons do not secure their freedom in Yer
E mont by having free papers; their freedom
, belongs to them as a natural right, and Il
, give slave owner jurisdiction and author
, ity over his slaves, when brought from sla
very to land of freedom, through our Pro
bate Courts, will be most unsound and IN
5 safe precedent. Mr.. Robinson is a traffick
] er in slaves, and commenced the traffic i
I Florida against the most earnest wishes an
: remonstrance of his brother-in-law in Bos
ton. Such man, engaged in such bust
i ness, was not fit person TO become tn
{ guardian Of one who had came into his pos
! session by way of slave trade. He believe,
: this 10 be the view of niLe-tenths of tn
o the people of Reading. who had petitione
q and Tor whom he was acting as representa-
n tive. He did not desire 10 act as guar
!. dian Of the Child, and would most gladly b
n relieved from it, but the people had desie
mated him TO present their petition, and h
:, must do his duty. He had no doubt III
!. child was well treated now. But when sb
: first came there, she was treated as a slaY,
. and they refused to send her to school,
. The people became indignant, and chang
= had been made by mere force Of public OF
pinion.
= Mr.. Pike was followed by Merritt z. Coz
' dard, and also briefly by Charles Buck, Esq
on the same side.
% Mr.. Robinson then replied. He denie