Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-08-30
The Romance of Colored Walters Life

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The Romance OF ColOred Walters Life.
llSaratoga Correspondence New York Commercial Ad-
vertiserl
y ear after year Robert Jackson has been
the second waiter at the Union and head
waiter at Congress Hall, but the careless
crowds have not known that through his
veins courses the proudest Virginia Blood.
Robert is a small, well-made quadroon,
fashioned, perhaps, in about the same
mould as stephen A. Douglas, for his head
closely resembles that of the Little Giant.
His grandfather was General Harry Lee,
of revolutionary Light Horse cavalry fame,
and his mother was slave woman named
Jenny, maid of Mrs. Lee Soon after
the birth of William jackson, the head
walters father, Jenny was sold to Colonel
Stewart, of Frederick County, Maryland.
The,boy showed extraordinary intelligence.
and became pet of his master, and on
the death of Colonel Stewart found him
self free, by clause in the will. William
went Immediately to Washington, where
he had been many times with his master.
There he met John Mclean, Postmaster
General under Martin Van Buren, and a
friend of his old master. Judge Mclean
appointed him messenger in the Postof-
nee department, at q salary of six hun
dred dollars per annum
wNT. JACKSON WINS A WIFE.
While messenger in the PostofIice De-
partment, William met beautiful, long
haired octoroon, the slave of old Judge
John Stewart, of Baltimore. The slave
girls name was Rachel, and she came to
attend Miss Stewart, one of the fashionable
Baltimore bellies, at one of President Van
Buren's receptions. William lost his
heart with the dusky maid and soon went
to Baltimore to get Judge Stewart, who
owned her, to consent to their marriage,
NO, sir, said the Judge Indignantly /;
"Rachel is slave, and she must marry
slave. If she marries free nigger She
VIII be running away herself, and, besides,
don't know when may want to sell her
to the New Orleans traders.n
Then l can never marry her?
Never, until somebody buys her from
me, replied the Judge.
Rachel was sent to the Frederick county
farm, and thither William went in the
night ia hold n consultation with her
First 1t was resolved to run away. But
there was no chance of success. The Fu-
give Slave Law was in effect; passes were
required by the slaves on the plantation,
and to run away was surely to be caught,
returned, and then a dreadful whipping
followed.
What can we do pa sobbed Rachel.
II know, replied William; "I will
buy you myself.n
y
81 can work and earn it, replied the de-
termined lover
How much will you take for Rachel ?"
he asked of Judge Stewart the next day.
well, thousand dollars will buy her, 1"
replied the hard-hearted Judge.
William went to work-every cent was
saved, he even going on foot into Freder-
lex County by night to see Rachel, where
they held solemn consultations, and hoped
only for the time when he could buy her
and own her and make her his wife.
Think of that, mercenary beauX, heart
less fortune hunters of Congress Hall
think of toiling night and day, and then
think of paying out your last cent for the
love of woman.
Two years rolled around, and nine hun
dred dollars gladdened the sight of Will
lam Jackson. Christmas came.
what can L give you for Christmas
this year, William ?n asked the good old
Postmaster General of his trusty messen-
ger.
Anything, Mr.. Secretary"
but what would you like the most?"
Then William told the story of his and
Rachel's troubles, how he loved her dear
ly, and how he lacked still hundred dol
lars to buy her.
The old Postmaster General took off his
specks, wiped his eyes, and then put them
on again. Then he fumbled in his pock-
cts. "Five-ten-twenty,s he counted,
and then he handed William a hundred
dollars.
Too happy to live, William started for
Judge Stewards.
Here, Master John" said he, with his
eyes all aglow with joy "here is the thou
sand dollars-now I want Rachel"
my God William you don't tell me
So" exclaimed the Judge. "Why, sold
Rachel yesterday, for 81, 200, to go to Mo-
bile"
"when is she going?' asked William,
nervously.
"She is gone already-went yesterday
She'll be in Lynchburg in three days by
the boat.
Broken-hearted and crushed in spirit
William hurried back to Judge Mclean,
in Washington, The Judge heard his
story. Daniel Webster and John G.. CAL
houn were in the Judges ROOM, and they
both took a deep interest.
Let's raise the money and send Will
liam afte1her.' said the generous Webster.
"He would be seised dozen times as a
fugitive" said the Judge, land they'd sell
him too,'
"I'll send my private secretary" said
Mr.. Webster, and so he did.
There was no telegraph then, nor cars,
but the Secretary took the Potomac River
boat, and with twelve hundred dollars,
contributed by William Jackson's friends
in the Department, overlook Rachel
showed Mr.. CalhOOn's letter, endorsed by
several Virginians, bought her and brought
her back. Calhoon, Webster and Jud ge
Mclean saw them married next week.
Our head waiter Robert Jackson, after
ward Waital ANalltar annI Calhoun, IN,