Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-07-09
THE ATROCITIES OF SLAVERY.
An Episode in Gen. Buffers Ad-
ministration at New Orleans,

lantic Monthly gives an interesting history
of the eventful times in New Orleans dur
ing the administration Of Gen. Butler
The author was member of Gen. Butlcr's
staff. We quote one or two incidents:
Since my return to the North, have
heard number Of gentlemen-formcr po.
litical associates Of Gen. Butler-compare
bis marvellous conversion" there they al
ways look, and apparently mean to be,
severely sarcastic) on the slavery question
with that of Saul OF Tarsus to Christianity.
If the last two years Of our history have
failed to educate them up to the meaning Of
this war, confess that think them almost
incorrigible; yet cannot believe that even
they, if they had had the experience which
has placed not only Gen. Butler, but almost
every one Of the twenty thousand men com
posing the old Army of the Gulf" firmly
on the side of freedom to all, of whatever
complexion, could longer Withstand the die
tates of God and humanity.
Let ME describe one or two of the scenes
l witnessed in New Orleans, that opened
our eyes to the true nature of human bond
age. The following incident is the same so
well told by the General himself to the
committee of the New York Chamber of
Commerce, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in
January last, and which was then reported
in full in the New York Times. One of my
objects in repeating this story is to illustrate
my implicit nfidence-inspired by my
knowledge of his character-in the Gener-
ais humanity and championship of the
weak and down trodden.
Jus. previous to the arrival Of General
Banks in New Orleans / was appointed
Deputy Provost Marshal of the city, and
held the office for some days after he had
assumed command. One day during the
last week of our stay in the South, young
woman of about twenty years called upon
me to complain that her landlord had Or
dered her out of her house, because she
was unable longer to pay the rent, and she
wished nae to authorize her to take posses
sion of one of her fathers houses that had
been confscated, he being wealthy Rebel,
then in the Confederacy, and actively en-
gagged in the Rebellion.
The girl was perfect blonde in complex
ion her hair was of very pretty, light
shade of brown, and perfectly straight; her
eyes clear, honest gray and her skin as
delicate and fair as child's. Her manner
was modest and ingenious, and her langu-
Considering these circumstances, think
1 was justified in wheeling around in my
chair and indulging in an unequivocal stare
of incredulous amazement, when in the
course of conversation she dropped q re-
mark about having been born a slave.
DO you mean to tell me" said l, 'that
you have negro blood in your veins?" And
l was conscious of feeling of embarrass
kofa on AM IL
preposterous.
"Yes," she replied, and then related the
history OF her life, which l shall repeat as
briefly as possible.
"My father" she commenced, sis Mr.
Cox, formerly judge of one of the court.
in this city. He was very rich, and ownet
them over there" she remarked, naively
pointing to handsome residence opposite
my office in Canal Street. "My mothe
was one of his slaves. When l was suffi
ciently grown, he placed me at school at tn,
Mechanics Institute Seminary, on Broad
way, New York. i remained there until
was about fifteen years Of age, when Mr.
Cox came on to New York and took M
from the school to hotel, where he oblige'
me to live with him as his mistress an
to-day, at the age of twenty. one, | am tn
mother of q boy five years old who is m
fathers son. After remaining some tim
in New York, he took me to Cincinnati an
other cities at the North, in all of which
continued to live with him as before. Dul
ing this sojourn in the Free States, il
duced him to give me deed Of manumi
sion; but on our return to New Orleans }
obtained it from me, and destroyed it. A
this time | tried to break off the unnatur
connection, whereupon he caused me to
publicly whipped in the streets of the cit!
and then obliged me to marry a colOre
man and now he has run off, leaving n
without the least provision against want {
actual starvation, and ask you to give n
, one of his houses that may have hon
for myself and three little children"
Strange and improbable as this story o.
peared, l rendered, as it progressed, tn
/ had heard it from Gov. Shepley, who,
o we'll as Gen. Butler, had investigated
and learned that it was not only true
|. every particular, but was perfectly famili
to the citizens of Now Orleans, by who
Judge Cox had been elected to administ
JUSTICE.
The clerks of my Office, most Of who
we're old residents of the city, were well i
formed in the facts of the case, and attest
2 the truth of the girls story.
~ Twas exceedingly perplexed, and knt
not what to do in the matter; but ait
: some thought answered her thus:
"This Department has changed rulel
and | know nothing OF the policy OF t
new commander. If General Butler we
still in authority, l should not hesitate
moment to grant your request for, ev
if should commit an error OF judgment
am perfectly certain he would overlook
and applaud the humane impulse tt
prompted the act but Gen. Banks mig
be less indulgent, and make very serio
; trouble with me for taking q step he wor
y perhaps regard as unwarrantable. "aeai
still hesitated, undecided how to a
when suddenly happy thought struck n
N, and, turning to the girl, l added
lie ITO. day is Thursday; next Tuesday
leave this city with Gen. Butler for la
where, thank God such wrongs as yo'
cannot exist; and, as Gen. Banks is deel
= engrossed in the immediate business
headquarters, he will hardly hear Of |
action before the ship leaves,-so
.as going to give you the house"
am sure the kind hearted reader '
ID find no fault with me that | took particu
T pains to select one Of the largest Of
: iather's houses, lit contained forty room
y when she told me that she wanted to let
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