The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-09-23
Some Strange and Romantic Vicis-
dtUdes i1t the Life of u S0T-
GtOgG WOiteT.


Year after year Robert Jackson has been the
second waiter at the Grand Union but the care
less crowds that frequent the mammoth hostelry
have not known that through his veins courses
the proudest Virginia blood.
Robert is small wel-made quadroon, fash
ioned, perhaps, in about the same mould as
Stephen A. Douglas for his head closely resem-
bles that of the Little Giant. His grandfather
was General Harry Lee, of Revolutionary light
horse cavalry fame, and his mother slave wo-
man named Jenny, a maid of Mrs. Lee. Soon
after the birth of William Jackson, the head
walters father, Jenny was sold to Col. Stewart,
Of Frederick county, Maryland. The boy Will
liam showed extraordinary intelligence, and be-
came pet of his master, and on the death of
Col. Stewart found himself free By a clause in
the will. William went Immediately to WASH
ington, where he had been many times with his
N sster. There he met John Mclean, Postmaster
General under Martin Van Buren, and a friend
of his old master Judge Mclean appointed him
IA messenger in the Postoffice Department, at
salary of six hundred dollars per annum.
While a messenger in the Postofice Depart
ment William Jackson met beautiful, long
haired octoropn, the slave Of old Judge John
Stewart, of Baltimore. The slave girls name
was M sssss f eaa she ss2s 'a,sES Mis- Stewart ans
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, "Ra-
chel is slave, and she must marry slave.
she marries free ngger she will be running
away herself and besides, don't know when
want to sell her to the New Orleans traders"
"Then can never marry her p
'Never, until somebody buys her from me,
replied the Judge.
Rachel was sent to the Fredeick county farm,
and thither William went in the night to hold
consultation with her. F rst, it was resolved TO
run away. But there was nc chance Of success.
Tie Fugitive Slave Law was in effect; passes
were required By The slaves on the plantation,
and to run away was surely to be caught, re-
turned, and then a dreadful whipping followed
"What can we do2 sobbed Rachel.
ri know" replied William 81 will buy you
myself"
"But you have no money"
81 can work and earn it," replied the deter
mined lover.
GLOW much will you take for Rachel ?" he
asked of Judge Stewart the next day.
''Well, thousand dollars will buy her." re-
piled the hardhearted Judge.
|. William went to work-every cent was saved,
he even going on foot into Frederick county by
night to see Rachel, where they held solemn con-
sutations and hoped only for the time when he
could buy her and own her and make her his
wife.
Think of that, mercenary beaux, heartless for
tune hunters Of Congress Hall-think of toiling
night and day, and then think of paying your
last cent for the love of a woman.
Two years rolled around, and nine hundred
dollars gladdened the sight of William jackson.
Christmas came.
"What shall give you for Christmas this
year, William p asked the good old Postmaster
General of his trusty messenger.
Anything, Mr.. Secretary"
"But what would you like most ~
Then William told him the story of his and
Rlchel's troubes-how she was afraid she would
be sold, how he loved her dearly, and how he
lacked still hundred dollars to buy her.
The old Postmaster took off his specks, wiped
his eyes, then put them again. Then he
fnmbled in his pockets "Five-ten-twenty-
thirty" he counted, and then he handed William
& hundred dollars
Too happy to live, William started for Judge
Stewards.
aglow with Joy ''here is the thousand dollars
now want Rachel "
"My God, William, you don't tell me so !" ex
claimed the Judge "Why, sold Rachel yester-
day for 81, eco, 10 go 10 Mobile"
"When is she going ?" asked William, nery
ously.
"She's 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. Calhoun were In the Judges room, and
they both took a deep interest.
''Let's raise the money and send William after
her." said the generous Webster.
'He would be seized dozen times a. fugi
tive, said the Judge, land they'll sell him, too"
"Ill 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
81, 200, contributed by William Jackson's friends
IN the department, overlook Rachel, showed Mr..
Calhoun's letter, Endorsed by several Virginians
bought her and brought her back. Calhoun,
Webster, ard Judge Mclean saw them married
the next week.