The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-17
How Abolitionists Treat Negroes.

How Abolitionists Treat Negroes.
From the Davenport Democrat, Feb'y Is.
In the district court, during tho present
session, the following cases have been dis
posed of. They will be found interesting to
the special defenders Of down-troddsn Africa:
MARY STEVENS VS.. SAN. LITTLE.
Action tor wages, under specific contract
Mary is colored woman upwards of so
years of age-who in order co gain an honest
living, engaged to work in the family of one
Samuel Littie-a thorough going, loud talk
ing. onaduiterated abolitionist-a member of
the county board of supervisors. Mary work.
ed hard, IL months, but couldn't get her pay
as agreed upon, and had to sue. 1t was
shown in the evidence that during her service
for Sam, this poor old woman had plowed 20
or 80 acres of land, planted corn, worked in
the harvest field, gathered corn, groomed the
horses, cooked tor the family, fattened IL
hogs, scrubbed one lousy colt, bathsd Sam
cap a pie in state of nature, and was fiat.
tered tor her pains with sundry compliments
that would not look we'll in print. 1t also
| appeared that Mary and one OF Sans family
| found four turkeys which they drove to the
| house and provided for. Mary had two for
| her share. She snapped them for two ducks,
| and upon the maintenance of the ducks on
the premises dispute arose between her and
her employe r, which eliminated in his knock
ing the poor old woman down with the butt
end of his whip. She left the premises -
couldn't get her pay as agreed upon-50 cts,
per day-so action was brought. The jury
gave her the case. After allowing all tue
charges on Sans books there was Sl56 still
in her favor. Comment upon this specimen
of the practical workings OF abolition sym
patty is quite unnecessary.
ANoTHER.-And herein is set forth aspeci
men of abolition sympathy in another chan
mel, but none the less instructed:
LUCY TAYLOR VS.. l.. c. DISTANT.
Action for % years service, at $40 pei
week, making ST., 400. Herein it appears
that some % years ago defendant, then living
in St. Louis, purchased plaintiff as q slave
paying 1910. Eleven years thereafter the
fanily-Lucy included-csme to this city
Lucy became free, of course, but getting wei
along in years, she was offered the chance o
remaining in the family as long as che ohos'
to do 80 for her living, and to be protected Il
the day of her death. This arrangement
worked well for eleven years more; but il
an evil hour some uitra-sympathizer Of dowi
troddea Africa, sought Lucy out-told he
how she had spent her valuable lite for moth
ing-and advised with her to make Dessain
F paw her SO per week for all those % year
!, and upwards.
She took their advice; took big notions int
her head, and one day undertook to set up q
second master of the Desssint household
!, That, as may be imagined. destroyed AMIGA
bic relations, and Lucy took her two franks
full of good clothing, and left. In bringin!
suit Lucy swore TO her just claim OF ten doi
lars per week for D years. Council for Lu
: cy claimed that there never mad been ant
never could be such thing as property Ii
HAsh and hln0n-hAppa " hen flash
blood worked for another it could sustain
t damages for wages-all who had been slave
, had the same right to collect wages iron
their masters. The court, however, ruled. il
substance, that under the circumstances c
the case az brought out in the evidence, Luo
} had no just cause for action, and could no
| safely count upon q verdict. The Jury retire
was out all NJ ht. We Will take the resde
iuto the jury room. On canvasslng 1t sto0
evenly divided. No amount OF talk or rea
soniag changed the status. Finally one jury
: | man tavorsbiy to Lucy stated that lnasmuc
as she was not, under the law, entitl ed to dam
ages, he would propose TO make up privat
pure fox her-he would give So, provided tn
rest would do likewise. The proposito
: failing =, another was made 70 give Lacy Il yer
, dict for $50 anyhow-she was poor oil
, woman and needed 1t, and it was Just moth
ing for Dessaint TO pay. That didn't wor
l either-nor did any other plan-sO the juror
all fell back TO 6rst principles and stood fsi
and square six and six.
, Whether Lucv's friends will ye. persist i
following up she raid is vet TO be seen. Ga
} advice would be to give Lucy the money the
would spend at law, and let the matter dro
where it il as a foolish undertaking
On Tuesday, in the senate ct Wsshia pton