Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-04
'O' RIcuuoyp. VA. september l2. 1871.

NhilCh III AAN @'NH@D' H--e-- -
editor: ras fg
RIcmMoSD, Va. September II. 1871.
Powhatan Bouidin, Editor Danville Times:
DEAR SIR i consider
myself already overpaid for my year s
subscription by your Randolphiana,"
and the interesting notices of Judge
Leigh.
In referring to the scene at Charlotte
Courthouse, when there was an effort
made to prevent Mr.. Randolph from
making his slaves pull fodder on Sun
day, injustice has been done to that
highly respected and respectable tribu-
nal, the county court of Charlotte.
1t is great mistake to say that the
court was "bullied " by Mr.. Randolph,
and induced to disregard its duty. In
fact the scene alluded to occurred not
in the county court, but in the circuit
court, and before Judge Leigh. II might
we'll have been introduced in the notices
of him, as illustrative Of his Grmness
and devotion to duty. ] was present in
court at the time, and heard what passed.
The grand jury had called up the sub
iect in their room, and the late John
Marshall, who happened to be guest of
Mr.. Randolph, and heard the order at
the time it was given to the slaves, was
summoned to prove the offense. He
positively refused to answer, because (as
he alleged) he was Mr.. Randolph's guest,
and what took place under such circum-
stances, in his presence, was deemed
sacred among gentlemen; and voluntar-
ily to divulge it would be an act of dis
honor, and in gross violation of the de-
cencies and proprieties of social inter
course. The grand jury said that they
could not be governed by such consider
alton in the discharge of their legal
duty. Mr.. Marshall still refusing to an
swer, the jury, through their foreman,
appealed to the court (Judge Leigh.
The Judge, without moments hesita-
ton, announced that guest, however
unpleasant his situation might be, could
claim no such privilege as that asserted
by Mr.. Marshall, and ordered him to
answer.
Mr. Marshall returned to the jury
room, and about that time Mr.. Randolph,
in his English coach-a very clumsy
vehicle, by the way-drawn by four
blooded horses, drove rapidly into the
village and stopped Immediately in
front of the courthouse. He came d.
rectly into the courtroom, and took his
seat in front Of the bar, between that and
the Jury bench, and almost Immediately
in front Of the Judge. AS he took his
seat, Mr.. Marshall, who had just come
down from the jury-room, approached
him. Mr.. Randolph, in one of his pecu-
liar half-whispers, which penetrated
every portion of the. courtroom, and
which was heard as plainly as if spoken
in the loudest tone, said to him: |
understand | am to be presented, sir,
and | have come to make my own de-
fense." Mr.. Marshall Immediately re-
piled that the matter had been dropped
by the jury, and he would hear no more
of it.
The remarks published by you were
made not to the court or to the grand
jury, but privately to Mr.. Marshall, and
after the scene which | have described,
to let him know the line of defense he
had intended to pursue. ~
b MT. DdToHdlit HuCu oCub uaSh w bho
Jury with orders TO answer, had referred
back to the revised Code of 1919, the
then law of the court aud ascertained
that the act of each slave was a separate
offense, and the penalty only $l67, be-
ing below the jurisdiction of the circuit
court. The grand jury being satisfied,
on reference to the statute, that they
had no jurisdiction of the ofiense, aban-
doned the investigation, and thus the
presentment was not made. sgt
The foreman of that jury, if my memo
ry is not at fault, was Mr. E.,W. Henry,
and he is still alive-the last Of the sons
OF Patrick Henry.
The county court Of your and my ma
tive county, under the old and better re-
gime Of by-gone days, when presided over
by such men as Clement Darlington,
Robt. Morton, Martin Hancock, and
many others of the same stamp, could
not be bullisd, even by Mr.. Randolph.
Yours truly
. frtr WOoD BoULDIN