The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-02-14
The Friend of the Friendless.

for President The whole Commonwealth
seemed doomed to the perpetual sway Of
that school of politics thenceforth; and
the young citizen of our State was a
brave man who, in those days, for con-
science sake, refused to float with the
current.
About that time a young LAWYER from
New Endland settled in one of the south
ern counties of the old keystone. Being
gifted with unusual powers of intellect,
and filled with high and proper aspira-
tions, many wondered that he did not be-
come Jackson man, and he carried on
the wave of popular applause to the high
est post of honor in the land
Had selfish ambition been the ruling
passion in his mind, doubtless he would
have joined his fortunes to those of the
dominant party and thereby ,at the expense
of his principles, have reaped the ephe-
neral harvest of partisan triumph; but
his was different mission, and sell was
made to kick the beam by the weighter
matter duty.
At that day the whole country was ruled
BY the twin sisters of oppression-Ignor-
auce and Slavery. Scarcely any man
dared risk his reputition, who desired Off
cial position solely for the public good
by espousing the cause of the poor and
downtrodden as against the power of
wealth and caste, even in republican A
merica. When it was not only unpopular
to be an Abolitionist, but actually dan
gereus to life, the career of this young
man began, amidst people living in a
border county. who had daily intercourse
with slaveowners living on adjoining es-
tates. Separated only by an imaginary
State line, the prejudicos of those living
north of that landmark-the far famed
I" Mason and Dixon's line"-were as
strongly developed as were those of their
nelghbors living to the southwark there
of. Nothing saved him from being caste
aside and being trodden under foot of
men but his own high-toned, manly dig
nifty of character and heaven born zeal
for the right coupled with marked elo-
quence of utterance, which enabled him,
not only to convince all who listened to
his earnest appeals for the friendless Of
the honesty Of his own convictions, but,
In many cases, to convert former enemies
into lifelong friends. His first expert
ence in connection with slavery, which
was rapidly followed by others-several
cases of which l propose reciting, which
have never been published-was in this
wise:
Being engaged as counsel in several
important suits in one of the courts of
Maryland, he learned that poor girl
was confined in jail for the purpose of be-
ing sold at noon of Saturday of the first
week Of the term, as part of an estate,
but who was believed to be free. On
learning that she had no person to look
after her rights-none Of the local men,
bers Of the bar caring about attacking the
preJudices of the day, or of going into
fight, for no fee or hope Of reward, against
one of the wealthiest and most powerful
families in the county, which claimed her
this bold young man, from heighbor-
ing State, volunteered his services -
! When an interview was brought about
between him and his new found client, he
was utterly amazed to find her to be as
white as lie was himself. He took hold
of the case with all the energy of his ar
dent nature, and, after desperate strug-
gle with the ablest lawyers in that bar,
he succeeded in rescuing the poor girl
from the clutch of slavery.
Several years thereafter, while going
from his home at Gettysburg to the city
Of Baltimore, in his own private carriage,
he stopped at hotel on the route for
dinner. The bar-tender-a bright, intel
/ ligent- looking young man evidently son
of the landlord from the striking resem-
blance-droye the horse to the stable,
and the young lawyer walked into the
parlor. Soon afterward beautiful young
woman came in and addressed him thus:
"Oh! sir, you are the man who saved
me from life of slavery and misery; can
you not also save my poor husband from
similar fate?'
Upon inquiry, he learned that she who
stood before him was the same in whose
behalf he had labored at the court of that
same county few terms prior thereto
as already narrated.
"Who, is your husband? and what can
| do for him." he asked.
" He is the young man who took charge
of your horse" she replied, "and his
father the landlord, is now about selling
him to soul driver"
"Why, that young man is whiter'
{" Yes, sir, believe he is; but he is a
slave"
Just then an open buggy was driven
in front of the house, and our friend re-
cognized its occupants to be the landlord
and notorious slave-dealer from the ci
ty of Baltimore. Oyerhearing remark
which fell from the lips of the former, he
discovered that the statement Of the wo-
man was true, and that no sale had yet
taken place. He Immediately called the
bloated old publican aside, and asked him
What he was proposing to sell-doubt-
j lnss n favnrifa horse 2n