The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-15
Judge Underwood.

This immaculate hater of Norfolk and Rich
,,ond and indeed of the South, has been
latelv freed by the Warrenton True Index, In
h;s charge to the Grand Jury at Richmond,
ono would have supposed that he at least
bad never been engaged directly or indirect
~ in the cratic of human beings" when he
sss;d--"nor should we be surprised at the en-
nit, and disposition exhibited, when we re:
mamber that this city has long been the CEN
tre and seat Of the greatest traffic in human
beings that has ever disgraced the world-a
traffic which has annually employed many
hundreds of moral monsters, and many mil
lions of capital, subsidising tile press, pulpit
and politics Of the State, rendering Richmond
more infamous among men for its participa-
tion in this great crime than all the cities
along the coasts of Senegambia, Upper and
Lower Guinea, Congo, Loango, Angola and
Renguela combined u let us
thank God and ia he courage that more for
tuuate than the devoted cities Of antiquity,
we can count more than ten men who have
stood faithful among the faithless" No doubt
he regarded himself as one among the 'more
than ten men who have stood faithful among
the faithless," and would have feigned to be
Mortified had he been told that he was charge
able with "participation in this great crime"
of traffic in human beings"
But not So The records of the Circuit
Court of Fauquier county, IN the case OF FIELD
vs WALDEN, disclose the response of JOHN G.
UNDERWOOD and MARION g., his wife, signed
by UNDERwooD's own hand, from which we
copy the subjoined extract:
These respondents further answering say
that by reference to the will OF Mrs. Eliza
beth jackson, late mother of the respondent
Maria G. Underwood, copy of which Is ex-
hibited with the bill, it will be seen that the
said testatrix gave her real estate to this re-
spondent and her brother George VIM. Jack
son, and her slave property charged with the
payment of her debts to Flora V. Floree, sis
ter of this respondent, and as these respond
eats are advised that the estate Of the said
Mrs Elizabeth Jackson is liable for its due
proportion of debt recently ascertained
against the estate of VIM. Gibson, deceased,
they insist that in making distribution of the
personal estate referred to in said bill, that
the share Of the slares which may be allotted
to the said Flora V. Floree shall be subjected
to the payment of the said Mrs. Elizabeth
Jacksons share of said debt, and having fully
answered they pray to be hence dismissed,
&c. e
JOHN c. UNDERWOOD.
And when does the reader suppose the an
swer was filed from which the above extract
is taken? Not longer ago than the 18th day
of September, 1868. So that according to the
above statement, for which we are indebted
to the Lynclburg News, the immaculate Judge
himself, who prated about the Cities along
the coast Of Africa, and called upon BIZ, more
than ten to thank God, was himself guilty of
participation in this great crime" in Septem-
Der, 1868.
In the language Of the News, ''this very
philanthropie and humane gentleman, who is
SO startled from his sense of propriety and
deceney by the mere recollection that negroes
have IN times past been bought and sold in
the city of Richmond, was himself in 1868,
SO anxious to secure the enjoyment of all the
real estate inherited by his wife, that he IN
sisted that debts due by the estate, should be
hquidated by the sale Of the negroes Of his
slster-in-laao, rather than any portion of his
wife's broad acres should pass from his pos
session. No hideous phantom of human be-
ngs torn from their homes and families, and
rutbless!y sold like cattle under the hammer
OF the auctioneer, came across his mental
vision then, and startled his exquisite senslbil-
tiles, d No Congo, or Loango, doomed in dread
fuhproportions in the blue skies of Fauquier,
and Angola and Benguela, were alike for
gotten" & +. y ''li.
immaculate UNDERWOOD! ts. ala sse
"a H4 H. ~ 81 f