, 1866-03-27

had 30 rris.;iop Of chosera to fesr. and are do
.0sraeo ny .te n5es but how
nye, Al a present. eVef1 feason 70 anticipate tht
coming Of ihat dreaded pettence. It !. ne' psces
sa5J fer u n ms connec1on 10 Fpslk OF the hor.
rnrs Of an epidemic and no argument IL needed to
prove that We Ehoult make every eta1t to ayen, OF
1t least fetic The rayaces Of The Dreaded psacue
Hobeft s. Hall 4 Geuuinr Hero.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
While the loyal press ye1y properly teens
With Biographies and culogies Of tho heroes
oi thn literal battle field and campaign Of tbs
late war Tor the suppression oEthe rebellion,
II Is fitting to record Tie labors mud selfsacr
fees of some Of those anti.slavesJ heroes who
contended end suffered, prior to the war, for
the de1fYc1aucc Of the doWn-tEodden and op-
pressed. Robert S. Hall, late Of Plymouth,
III, tho subject OF this notice, was ono Of
these.
Born IN 1871, in Ircdel1 county, North
Carolina, Of parents In moderate circnu-
etancca, .Mr. u. was the 18th clild Of the same
mother, and Inherited very slender physical
constitution. He also inherited Slaves. And
although his educational advantages were
mcagre, get, possessing high moral qualities,
he resolved, from The first, to confer the boon
Of freedom upon lis Slaves And 50, while
his lnodesly was 50 extrcrI as TO leave the
wor1d-a large share o. hi: .assfng aequaiut-
auces included-ia iguoran Of his sterling
merits as student and tinker, bis high
moral purpose, Ills unla1terfuE resolution
destined him to @e.r worthy part in the
great work of emancipation. Which WAS coM
pleted BY enr late la1nes:ed chicf Magistrate.
President Lincoln. :
Amer pass'ag tho rer:zls Of his boyhood
md youth, (which wer. full Of bodily weak
ncfs, difficulty md strugglcs) In lis native
state, Mr. II. entered Into the family relation,
md, In measure, became master OF Ills own
upon him. AND, with the tavorstc, ever cher
ished object Of bis 1ite-the granting Of lib
c1ty to his slaves In yAw. ia ISIS he re-
moved 10 the PrairIe State, thinking that
object could here be speedily, and without
difficulty, accomplished. Mr.. q. Immediate
proclaimed tull liberty to his 4scolored peo-
Ilc," i" az he was accustomed to call them.
But the moment they entered upon The en-
joymcnt Of the boou-one Of them having an.
ticipated It with such JOY as to hare proposed
making the whole journey from North Caro-
promise Of it-xhat were Mr. Ills surprise,
pcrplc11ty and modification to ind our
"odious black laws n-of which up to that
time he had been 1gnorant-an insnrmounta~
| blc obstacle TO the realization Of his wishes.
He had neither the money nor friends to eng
|
for the good condnct Of his people. And, at
the same time, he was threatened With
legal prosecutions and disturbance for
neglect. Being at his "wits end" and
without safe counsel, but giving his most
serious installations TO the emergency, as the
The safety Of his charge, Mr. II. decided to
hire out Lis slaves nIMfaeonri, until some new
| light should dawn upon their now darkened
prospect Of freedom. This decision be speed
LIZ executed. But, In very short time, 1t WAS
made known 70 him, that plot had been Laid 4
them to the Southern trade. Quickly Ts.soly-
Ing To frustrate the nefarious scheme, Mr.. Il.
! took the slaves and conveyed them to Ten
neaeee where he hired them out to a frtand
But in neither case, let it be remarked, In
passing, did Nr. q. derive any pccunIa7s ben.
eft from their services.
Meanwhile he was making al possible ex-
ertions for the legal emancipation OF his peo-
pie, and their comfortable settlement where
1lcy would be ont Of the reach Of the unn-
hunter. He cor1espouded with the Colonfza-
ton Society to find relief. But the terms
offered him by that eociety were such that his
! limited means would not enntle hin 10 com
ply with them
BE then rcsortcd to Ais Abolaionist friends,
of whom the writer Of this sketch was one.
Soon IN arrangement was effected with Hon.
Gerritt Smith, Of New Tork, to receive the
| precious charge and convey them wherc they
| could enjoy liberty and be out Of ha1m's way.
This was not only'satiEfactory TO Mr. IL, but
| cnkind1cd such feelings Of delight and graft.
tude within him, that he pressed the writer
OF thanks and regard for his serylces in the
But before this plan Was executed Mr.. Il.
met brother-in-law, who WIS also the own.
| er of. slaves. aud proposition was made aud
accepted to hive the Slaves Of both parties
/ &n1 JaN In,
Northern colony-the brotler.in-law being
devoted to something IN The Shape or colo
uizut1on. The result WIS that Mr. FL, 1t, hi.
own charges, went TO Tennessee, took boil
lots of slaveA-thfrty In nu1nb1-and con
ysyea thsn' IL wngoas t9 c Cincinnati an5na1
Of co1ored people In Mercer county, tina!
State Mr.. HIS expressions Of Joy aui
pleasure nj the cvent were equally market
and Worthy o1 remembrance. u. Ba4ley Q
extended 10 Mr.. II. on the occasion, all tha
aid in their power, raising SIPS for The susie
nance and comfort Of the freedmen, to which
! were added for the same object considerable
supplies Of food and clothing By Quaker set
ucment In The vicinity.
It should be remarked here that, during
Nj. BIS Inst trip to Tennessee for the liberia
tinn Of the slaves, the nature OF his mission
becoming known, lis person and lie were il
imminent and constant peril, SO much 80 that
Lis own brothers gave him special notice that
In case OF anticipated violence, his htend
the fury Of the mob.
It Is pleasant to bear record here to th'
prosperous and happy condition OF the freed
men ancc their deive.Ance and settlement.
In giving this brief, imperfect sketch, tn,
writer hns not deemed ii neediul 10 alsplaJ
the general characteristics and achievement
Of his friend how against the odds Of poo
l health aud small means. by diot Of exerttul
and 1sld economy, Mr. 4. be.ame grad
uate Of North Carolina University, founded
and tauglt a free Acadcwy-fhat he was l
deeply religious man. IN elder in the Presby
terian Church, a biblical teacher Of rare 9usl
itlcatious, and only from extreme modestl
aud exalted views Of the office, but ag1ins
the urgent solicitations Of two Reyerant
kinsme1, declined the assumption Of the 10
sponsibilities Of the Christian Ministry.
! am not acting the part Of htogr1pher
but merely that Of friend and witness, ami
as suc1, cannot, consistently with my sens
OF Justice 10 the memory Of one 90 thorough
ly tmhued With the spirit Of humanity an'
liberty-so eelt.sacridc1ng and perseTerins-.s
honest and good q sMan; - cannot Eithhol
+ | this simple, heartfelt tribute.
Pages might be written In praise Of Mr. q
as loving, faithful husband and father, ~
esteemed neighbor and citizen Ills quiet, IL
tensely domestic life might be traced with nd
rounded By his weeping family. lie breathe'
his last in peacc, triumph and heavenly. Joy
: and 1t is trnc III at Ills name Is ever nentione
; | with tenderness and veneration bS nj
who knew him, but my duty. /
hby the personal testimony, borne out By h
record Of noble deeds performed, TINT ID th
!, broadest, fullest sense ct that colnprchenstv'
eulogy, Robert s, Hall. late Of Plymouth
H., having been tine to bis convictions q
right and duty in delivering the oppressed
proved himself tho noblest work ol God, Il
| fonast mar>s CITY C. SAhPBoS.