The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-12-04

Correspondence Of the Evening Post.
The Tender Mercies Of Slavery An In
cident Of Life in Washington.

The Tender Mercies of Slavery--An In.
cident Of Life in Washington.
Forty years ago wealthy planter came
from Florida. or Louisiana, to reside in
Washington for time, bringing with him
son. fine, manly boy of thirteen or four.
;een. At the levecs of his fathor. which
were then fashionable, he received the ca.
resscs of tho ladies aud the encouragement
of the gentlemen that his age. intelligence
and his fathers position naturally elected.
Or his family, none accompanied his father
besides this son. in his visit to Washington.
In the course Of time the boy, on whom his
fathers affections were evidently conferred,
was sent North, and was there educated, |
graduating at Harvard or Yale. with an hon.
orable standing in his class. On his return
to this city he svowed love for tho North
acquired during his college life, which was
not restrained in it's expression by his father,
who fostored and encouraged it zoalously.
and readily cous snted to his permanent res.
idence there. He desired. however, that his
son should remain with him during his own
stay. An appointment was procured for
him as a clerk in tho War Department, and
he entered upon its duties.
Among tho acquaintances formed at this
tino was gentleman from Pennsylvania,
aud tbe Chief cIork of bureau, who was
the father of a girl yet in her teens, lovable
in character, as we'll as very beautiful. In.
,imacy begat friendship. aud it was hardly
a matter OF wonder that love should follow
With the blessings of all, they were married
at st. Johu's Church, iu this city, it happen
ing to be about the first marriage that ever
took place there and even now the long
rows of carriages, tho fair danes and rich
attire. tho music. the crowded parlors. the
spendor and JOY which crowned the we'd.
ding, are viv,dly depicted by those who
treasure the chronicles of society in those
days.
The young mans father had bought aud
furnished an elegant house TOR his children,
and they removed at once to their own es'
tablishmont. Not long after tho marriage
, and while in tho full! lido of happiness, tn,
father was called home, and loft his sou an,
daug intending soon to return. The
received no Intelligence from him week at
tor week, which caused them anxiety, daily
increasing to alarm. At last. one day, sber
the son had just decided to go in search O.
his father, a carriage dashed up to the door
u young man stepped out, and. followed by
tho sheriff of the district, walked into the
War Department, and before all bis com
panions, in tho broad light of noon, arres tee
tho son as the slave of his father.
The sou solemnv declared that his fathe
had manumitted him, aud that he had soeI
, tho will long since. in which it bad beef
n done THIS outrage shocked tho sensibilit
of even an e.fste slave community. MI
a Monroe, then President and others high i
q power, used all the argument. oil the or
h treaty tongue could utter. offered none
without stint, for the ransom of one whoa
:, all loved and esteemed, and whose cond
ton, to that hour, no one bad dreamed =
But the young man, possessed Of oil powc
n in the case, and tho son of an enraged fam
n ly, Knocked them, and told them that none
g was no object, argument aud entreaty alik
a unavailng. What he had now obtained va
revenge, of which nothing should foil hin
a The father had met with sudden deatl
n the will had been either concealed or d,
b, stroyed aud his pet son. in all appearance
,y of Saxon birth, with the exception of a slig
10 swartbiness, common to all natives of Il
N extreme South, was taken, chained as
,e slave, bis house and furniture sold. and. a
a. companied by his beautiful, heart broke
p. wife, faithful and unfalteriug in this livir
n death, from the circles of Washington soci
~ ty. carried to the plantation. to toll
4 slavery, beneath the inturiatcd lash of
~ vindctlvo family.
:, Mr.. Monroe assured him that situate
rs should 30 given him, if he ever could pro-
III his manumission or escape.
m He never afterward was heard from in Il
10 district, for, as Napoleon said of couven
Il "the terrible mysteries of slave prisons pc
od ish unrevealed."
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