Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-11-04
THE TENDER MERcIEs OF SLAVERY.

An Incident Of Life in Wush ington.
The following reminiscence OF Washington
lite, during the dark sad days when the Ma
tional capital owned the usurpation of the
Slave-power, we find in the correspondence
OF the n. 7. Evening Post
"Forty years ago, wealthy planter came
| from Florida or louisiana, to reside in Wash-
ngion tor a time, bringing with him son. a
| hne manly boy of thirteen or fourteen. At
| the levees of his father, which were then fash
ionable, be received the caresses of the ladies
| and the encouragement of the gentlemen that
his age, inte diligence and his fathers position
naturally elected. Of his family, none
| companied his father besides this son, in his
! visits 10 Washington. In due course of time
! the boy, on whom his fathers affections were
| evidently centered was sent n North, and was
! there educated. graduating at Ii irvard or Yale
with an honorable standing in his class. On
| his return to this city he avoged a love for
| the North, acquired during his college life,
which was not restrained in its expression by
his father, who fostered and encouraged it
zealOusiy, and readily consented to his per-
manent residence there. He desired. howev-
er, that his son should remain with him here
during his own stay. An appointment was
procured for him a clerk in the War De-
partment, and he entered upon its duties.
Among the acquaintances formed at this
time was gentleman from Pennsy lvana and
the chief clerk of a bureau, who was the faith
er OF girl yet IN her teens; lovable in charac-
ter, as well as very beautiful. Intimacy he
gat friendship, and it was hardly matter of
wonder that love should follow. With the
blessings OF all they were married at St. Johns
Church, in this city, 1t happened to be about
the first marriage that ever took place there
and even now the long rows of carriages the
lair DANES and richattire, the music, the
crowded parlors, the spendor and joy which
tvia Iy n aI
those who treasure the chronicles of society in
those DAYS.
The young mans father had bought and
furnished an elegant house for his children
ami they removed at once TO their own estab- |
Ilshment. n ot long after the marriage, and |
while IN the full tide OF happiness. the father |
was called home, and left his son and daugh- |
ter, intending soon to return. They received |
no intelligence from him for week after week |
which caused them anxiety, daily increasing |
to alarm. At last, one day, when the son |
had just decided to go in search of his father
a carriage dashed up to the door, a young
man stepped out, and. followed by the sheriff
of the district, walked into the War Depart. i
m.ni, and before ali his companions, in the
broad light OF noon, arrested the son as the
slave of his father
The son solemnly declared that his father
mad manumitted him, and that he had seen the
will long since in which il had been done |
IhiS outrage shocked the sensibility of even
an ehete slave community. Mr.. Monroe,
then President, and others high in power
nsed all the argument, all the eDtreaty tongue
could utter, offered money without stint, for
the ransom OF one whom all loved and esteem
ed. and whose condition, to that hour no one
had dreamed. But the young man, possessed
OF all power in the case, and the son OF an en-
ragged family, mocked them, told them that
money was no object. argument and treaty
alike nnavailing. What he had now obtained
was revenge, OF which nothing should foil
him.
The father had met with sudden death, the
vi IL had been either concealed or DESTROYED, |
ihd his pet son, in all appearance of Saxon
1irih, with the exception of slight swarthi-
less common 10 all natives of the extreme |
south, was taken, chained as a slave his
iouse and furniture sold, and accompanied by
lis beautiful, heart broken wife, faithful and
infaitering in this living death, from the
fashionable circles OF Washington society
;arred to the ''plantation.'' - TO toll in slavery
ieneath the infuriated lash of a yindictive
amily.
Mr.. Monroe assured him that situation q
hond be given him il he ever could prove
lis manumission or escape.
He never afterwards was heard from in this
district, for, Napoleon said of converts.
the terrible mysteries of slave prisons per- '
sh unrevealed.'' :