The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-02-15
Speech of q Black Nan before the
Superior Court.

Last week a colored barber bv the
name of James r. Jones, from W. Stock
bridge, Mass. was tried and convicted OF
The crime of stealing FROM store and
from railroad Ger. Previous TO his SEN
tence he sent word to Judge Rockwell
that he desired to make some remarks.
and his request was granted. Jones Is
very black, but a good looking man, and
smart withal. The following is tt1 speech
he delivered, which created quite sensa-
ton, and it is said had the effect TO right
fully shorten his sentence:
May it please your honor : Before pass
ing sentence upon me l have a few re-
marks to make which may tend in some
degree 10 mitigate my crime. And if so.
| have no doubt your honor will give me
The benefit of that mitigation. 1t NAV
seem somewhat ludicrous for 4 criminal,
in my position, to assert that l ever had a
character, but. it being a fact nererihe-
less, l candidly assert that this is the first
foul spot that ever stained my character.
There is sort of aspiring and adrentur-
Gus credulity, which disiains asserting TO
obvious truths, and delights in gr:,sping al
the improbability of circumstances as IFS
best ground of faith To this have not
been an exception. AT the commence
ment of the great rebellion, /, in common
with many other men, allowed my pa
trlotism and zeal TO carry Inc beyond my
means, and l accordingly raised the first
eighteen men that left the state of New
York. where resided, IN a body TO JOIN
TIE 9th Massachusetts, regiment. We
were Informed. after being mustered into
service, that men of African descent could
not be paid but so per month. three dol
lars less for clothing, making our actual
pay seven dollars per month. We, har-
ing enlisted as Massachusetts soldiers. and
considering that an enlisted man had :
valid contract with the government, would
not allow the government TO violate that
contract. We therefore received no pay
until far into the second year of service.
during which time my family was reduc-
ed to poverty and desiitution- MY wife
applied TO the city authorities of Albany
for aid, and she WIS very bluntly informed
that the state of New York did not lcok
after the families of Massachusetts soldier,
and l believe that it is well known TO
Your honor, that the proclivities of the
state OF New York are not very favorable
toward men of unconstitutional complex
ion. Thus stood matters, while | was
battling TO sustain government whose
very constitution teemed with proScrip-
tive clauses against me and my race, for
no other reason than that the Creator used
bad taste at the creation of the human
family.
| received furlou.h, came home AMI
made wrong matters right a> lar As
could. and returned TO my regiment and
remained until the close of the war. when
| was honorably discharged, wearing the
third stripe upon my arm, thus winning
and receiving almost all the honorS the
constitution would allow us unfortunate
men, being eq'ial in rank. for HE. a black
man, TO Il major generalShip for whitc
man, because could not bc promoted 10
but one rank higher under our constitu-
ton. 1t did seem TO me to be born black
w;S 4 grievouS fault, and grievouSly have
| answered it. On my return home |
determined to adopt the state of AlasSl-
chu>etts as my future home, from the fact
that lis institutions were much better, and
lis educational advantages far superior for
my children than the stale of New York.
My mother living in West Stochbridge, |
moved there, supposing with what | could
raise on my mothers place, and what bar
bering could DO, (ior | am Il barber 10y
trade | could support my family. Blu;
one would have as good success 10 set up
a periodical store on the desert of Saharsi
us "A BARRIERS shop in West Stockbrilge.
worked at everything could get TO do,
at farming and breaking stone, which
WAS unfit TO DO, and / found the season
had passed away and | had balely sup
ported my family. Winter was setting Ii
and the prospect before me was a desolatt
one thought as Shakespeare did, thai
Conscience makes towards of us all, anJ
he thrives best who has the least tC
spare" and thus rejecting | washed ny
hands in the filthy pool Of crime, for whici
| now stand 4 criminal 1T 1he bar, ans
my sorrow and shame are only equallel
by the magnitude of my crime. Shoul,
your honor see fit to infiict the seyere>i
punishment laid down in the statutes,
would consider had reaped WHAT l haC
sown. But should you be more mercliul
you Will have earned the blessing of a pen
iieni criminal, 4 weeping wife AMI thre,
suffering children. 1t remains for me nov
to ask the forgiveness not only of the in
dlviduals | have wronsed, but the com
monwealth and court, and TO assure You
honor that the criminal calendar si:al
never rgain be swelled by my name
While look back upon my crime witt
sorrow and shame, l look up with cain
security to the court, fully believing thai
while justice must be done, that mercy
will also he extended, and l therefor,
throw myself upon that mercy.
He was sentenced TO elghtecI
months in the house of correction iol
stealing from the store, and SIX month:
additional for stealing butter from the car.
McGinnis, nominated by the presiden
for minister to Stockholm, will make /;
| .no.l th,nrr nnt nf If In Sni.n nf li- rninn