The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-11-06
The Tender Mercies Of Slavery.
An incident of Life in Washington.

All incident OF Lille IN Washington.
Old residents OF the District of Columbia
given to anecdotes Of its past history can, up
on occasions, recall scenes and events of the
various administrations, and the men who
have houiished under them. that to this dav
form most interesting topics of conversation.
From tie multitude of incidents entailed in
their daily life by a system of slavery. they
can relate stories Of its operation that even
now excite sympathy and cause feeling peo-
pie to wonder that such transactions should
ever have been tolerated at the seat of govern
ment of republic whose liberty Was It's
proudest boast.
Forty years ago wealthy planter came
from Florida or Louisiara,to reside in Wash
ingtcn for time. bringing with him a son,
a fine manly boy OF thirteen or fourteen At
the levees of his father, which were then fash
ionable, he received the caressess of the Ia
dies and the encour agement of lll- gentlemen
that his age, in.elli gence and his fathers PC
sl,ion naturally elected. OF his family none
accompanied his father besides this son,o,. his
visits to Washington. IL due course of time
the hoy. on whom his fathers affections were
evidently centered. was sent North. and was
there educated, graduating at Harvard or
Yale. with an honorable standing in his class.
On his return to this city he avowed a love
for the North, acquired during his college
life. which was rot restrained In is express
ion by his fIther who fostere,! and en-
couraged it zealously. and readily consented
to his permanent residence there. lie des-
ired, however, that his son should remain
with him here during his Own stay An ap-
poin,ment was procured Tor him as a clerk in
the War Department. and he entered upon
It's duties.
Among the acquaintanceS formed at this
time was a gentleman from Pennsylvania.
and the chief clerk of b4reau. who was the
father of girl Vet in her teens, loveahe IN
character, as well as very beautiful. Init
macy 6e@a: friendship. and il vas hardly
a matter Of wonder that Ioye should follow.
Wit the blessing of al they were married
at s.. Johns Church in this city. :. happer-
ing 10 be about the first marriage that ever
took place there; and even no~ II long
rows of carriages. the fair DANES ana rich
l., II =.
srlenlor and JOY which crowned the wedding.
are vividIy depicted by those vino treasure
the chronicles of society ir these days.
The Young mans father had bought and
furnished an elegant house for mis- children,
and they removed Al once TO their own es.ab-
lishment. Not long after thu marriage. and
while in the full tide Of happiness the father
was called home, and left his son and daught-
er. intending sooH TO return. They received
10 intelligence from him for week after we-k.
which caused them anxiety. daily Increasing
to alarm. At last, one day. when the son hq,!
just decided to go in search for lis father.
carriage dashed up to the door. a Young man
stepped out and, followed by the sheriff Of
the district, walked int the War Department.
and before all his companions. in the broad
Light of noon arrested the son Is the slave of
his father
The son solemnly declared that his father
had manumittel him, and that he had seen
tha will long since in which it had been DONE
This outrage shocked the sensiblity of even
an eiiete slave community. Mr. Monroe
then President. and others high in power.
used al the argument. all the entreatv tongue
could utter, offered money without stint. for
the ransom of ore whom all loved ana es-
teemed, and whose condition. 10 that hour,
no one had dreamed. Bu, the young man.
possessed of all power in the case. aud the
son of an enraged family. mockcd them. told
them that money was no object. argument
ard entreaty alike unavailing. What he had
now obtained was revenge, of which nothing
should toll him. The father had net with
sudden death. the will had hesn either con-
cealed or destroyed, and his pet son, in all
appearance of Saxon birth. with the COM
.plexcn Of slight swarthiness ccmmon to
all natives Of the extreme South. was taken.
chained as slave, his house and furniture
sold and accompanied bv his beautiful. heart
broken wife, faithful and unfaltering in this
living death, from this fashionable circle Of
Washin gton society, carried to the "p!anta-
tion," to toll in slavery, beneath the infuriat-
ed lash of an vindctive family
Mr.. Monroe assured him that situation
shorll be given him ii he ever could prove
his manumission OF escape.
He never afterwards was heard from in
this district for, as Napoleon said Of con-
vents, " the terrible mysteries of slave pris-
ons perish unreyeaIed. = Ereatn9 Post.
ARsESICaL ORNAMENTs-A few da;s ago
q little girl had bunch of artificial grapes
given to her. After amusing herself with the
) toy. she gave it to playmate of her own
: aye, who presently D,cked a gram. off ,Ia