The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-24
Incident Of Life in Washington

). incident of Life I'm Washington.
! MAsHINaToN, Oct. g., 1863. old resi-
oents OF the District Of Columbia, given to
anecdotes OF. its past history, can, upon oc..
casion, recall scenes and events. of the var
I have fiourished under them. that to this
10y form most interesting topics of CONVEX
sation. From the multitude of incidents
entailed in their daily life by system of
slavery, they can relate stories of its oper-
alton that even now excite sympathy and
cause Ieehng people to wonder that such
transactions should ever have been tolera-
ted at the seat of government of a republic
whose !" liberty" was its proudest boast.
Forty. years ago a wealthy planter came
from Florida or Louisiana, to reside in
Washington for time, bringing with hlm
son, fine manly boy of thirteen or four
teen. At the levees of his father, which
were then fashionable, he received the ca
resses OF the ladies and the encouragement,
or the gentlemen that his age, intelligence,
and his fathers position naturally ELECTED.
~ MS family, none accompanied his ia
ther beside this son, in his visits to
Washington. In due course of time
the boy, on whom his fathers affections
We're evidently conferred, was sent North,
and was there educated, graduating at
Harvard or Yale, with an honorable STAN
ding In his class. On his return to- this
city he avowed love for the North, ac-
quired during his college life, which was
not restrained in its expression by his IA
ther, who fostered and encouraged it zeal
ously, and readily consented TO his per-
manent residence there. He desired, how
ever, that his son should remain with him
| here during his own stay. An appoint.
ment was procured for him as clerk in
| the War Department, and he entered upon
its duties. -. .....'
Among the acquaintance formed at this
time was gentleman from Pennsylvania :,
and the chief clerk of bureau, who was
the father of girl yet in her teens, lovea--
BILE in character, as well as very beautiful.
hardly matter Of wonder that love shord
follow. With the blessings Of all, they
were married at st. Johns Church. in this
city, it happening to be about the first
marriage that ever took place there; and
even now the long rows of carriages, the
crowded parlors, the splendor and joy
which crowned the wedding, are wildly
| depicted by those who treasure the chroni-
cles OF society in those days. ..gayy
The young mans father had bought and
furnished an elegant house for his children,
tablishment. Not long after the marriage,
and while in the full tide of happiness, the
father was called home and left his son and
daughter, intending soon to return. They
| received no intelligence from him week
after week, which caused them anxiety,
daily increasing to alarm. At last, one
day, when the son had just decidedto go
in search of his father, carriage dashed
up to the door, young man stepped out,
and followed by the Sheriff of the district,
walked into the War Department, and be-
fore all his companions, in the broad light
OF noon, arrested the son as the slave Of his
f,ther. -NH .... -. ..I--,
The son solemnly declared that his father
had manumitted him, and that he had
seen the will long since in which it had
been done. This outrage shocked the sea-
slblllty OF even an etete slave community.
Mr.. Monroe, then President. and others
high In power, used all the argument, all
the entreaty tongue could utter, offered
money without stint, for the ransom of one,
whom all loved and esteemed, and o
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
enraged family Knocked them, told them
that money was no object, argument and
entreaty were alike unavailing. What he
had now obtained was revenge, of which
nothing should foil him. The father had
met with sudden death, the will had been
either concealed or destroyed, and his pet
son, in all appearance of Saxon birth, with
the exception of a slight swarthiness, COM
mon to all natives Of the extreme South,
was taken, chained as slave, his house
and furniture sold, and accompanied by
his beautiful. heart broken wife, faithful
and unfaltering in this living death, from
the fashionable circles of Washington soci-
ETY., carried to the plantation" to toll in
slavery, beneath the Infatuated lash Of
vindictive family. u '''.'a", ia.t
Mr.. Monroe assured him that a situation
should he given him, il he could ever
prove his manumission or escape.
He never afterward was heard from in
the district, for as Napoleon said Of con-
vents, ''the terrible mysteries Of slave pris-
ons perish unrevealed."