The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-04
NAsHyILLE TENNEssEE sATURDAY July 4 1858.

Of support for herself and her children.
My only regret in the case was that
Mr.. Cox had not been considefate enough
TO leave = carriage and a pair Of bays on
my hands, that / might have had the
satisfaction Of enabling his daughter 20
disport herself about the city In q style
corresponding TO her Importance as a
member Of so wealthy and respectable
family.
And this story that l have just told
reminds me Of another, similar in many
respects.
One Sunday morning, late last sum
mer, as / came down stairs 10 the break
fast room, was surprised to find large
number of persona assembled in the IL
brary When / reached the door,
member Of the staff took me by the arm
and drew lne into the soon toward a
young and delicate mulattO girl who was
standing against the opposite wall, with
the meek, patient bearing Of her race, so
expressive of the system Of repression
TO which they have been so long sub
iccted. Drawing down the border Of
her dress, my conductor showed me a
sight more revolving than trust ever
again to behold, The poor girls back
was flsyed until the quivering flesh re-
sembled a fresh beeisteak scorched on a
grid-iron. With a cold chill creeping
through my veins, turned away from
the sickening spectacle, and for an ex-
planation of the affair scanned the va
riOus persons about the room.
In lho ,onNnr of fbo ...o,..e - II.
ting table, sat the General. His head
rested on his hand, aud he was evidently
endeavoring TO fix his attention upon the
remarks of tall, swarthy looking man
who stood opposite, and who, soon dis
covered, was the owner of the girl, and
was attempting defence Of The foul out
rage he had committed upon the unSe-
sisting and helpless person of his anfor-
iunate victim, who stood smarting, but
silent, under the dreadful pain inflicted
by the brutal lash
By the side of the STAKEHOLDER stood
our Adiutant General, his face livid
with almost irrepressible rage, aud his
fists tight-olenehed, as if to violently re-
strain himself from visiting the guilty
wretch with summary and retributive
justice. Disposed about the room, in va
rious attitudes but all exhibiting in their
countenances the same mingling of hOr-
ror and indignation, were other members
of the Staff-while near the door, stood
three or four house servants who were
witnesses in the case.
To the charge Of having administered
the inhuman castigation, Landry (the
owner of the girD pleaded guilty, but
urged In extenuation that the girl had
dared TO make an effort for that freedom
which her instincts, drawn from the
veins Of her abuser, had taught her was
the God given right Of all who possess
the germ Of Immortality, no matter what
the color of the casket in which il il is
hidden l say "drawn from the veins Of
her abuser," because she declared she
was his daughter; aud every one in the
room, looking upon the man and woman
confronting each other, confessed that
the resemblance justified the assertion.
After the conclusion Of all the evil
dence in the case, the General continued
in the same position as before, and re-
manned for some time apparently lost
in abstraction. ! shall never forget the
singular expression ON his face.
| had been accustomed 10 SEQ him in a
storm of passion at any instance Of op-
preston or liagrant injustice; but on this
occasion lac was too deeply affected 20
obtain relief in the usual way.
His whole air was one of detection,
almost listlessness; his indignation too
intense, and his anger too stern, TO lnd
expression even in his cOuntensnce.
Never have | seen that peculiar look
but on three or four occasions similar 20
the one am nsrrating, whom knew he
was pondering upon the baleful curse
that had cast its whitening blight upon
all around, until the manhood and hu-
manity were crushed out of the people,
and outrages such as the above were
looked upon with complacenoy, and the
perpetrators treated as respected and
worthy citizens, and that he was realiz-
ing the great truth, that, however man
might endeayOr TO guide this war to the
advantage Of fayorite idea OF a sagac-
ious policy, the Almighty was directing
IL surely and steadily for the puriGca.
tion Of our country from this greatest of
national sins
But to return to my story. After sit-
ting in the mood which have described
at such length, the General again turned
to the prisoner, and said, in quiet, sub
dued tone Of voice
"Mr. Landry, dare not trust myself
20 decide to-day what punishment would
be meet for your oiIense, for | am ia that
state Of mind that ] fear l might exceed
the strict demands OF jnsiice. / shall
therefore place you under guard for the
present, until | conclude upon your sem
tence."
A few days alter, a number Of in1u-
ential citizens having represented to the
General that Mr.. Landry was not only .
"high-toned gentleman" but person Of
unusual AVAILABILITY" of character, and
was consequently entitled to no small
degree Of leniency, he answered that, in
consideration Of the prisoners high
toned character, and especially OF his
amiabiliiy," Of which be had seen 50
remarkable a proof, he had determined
TO meet their views, aud therefore ordered
that Landry give a deed OF mAnumission
TO the girl, and pay fine Of Eve hum
dred dollars, 60 be placed Ia the hands
Of a trustee for her benefit.