Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-08-11
The Blood of Harry Lee.
AN EPISODE OF sLAvERY-INCIDENT o.
WEBSTER AND CALHOUN.

WEBSTER AND CALHOUN.
Saratoga correspondence of the n. York
Commercial Advertiser
Year after year Robert jackson has
been the second waiter at the Grand I'm
ion but the careless crowds that frequent
the mammoth hostelry have not known
that through his veins courses the proud,
est Virginia blood.
Robert is small, we'll made quadroon,
fashioned, perhaps, in about the same
mould as stephen A. Doughlas, for his
head closely resembles that of the little
giant. His grandfather was Gen Har-
ry Lee, of Revolutionary light-house-cav-
airy fame, and his mother was slave
woman named Jenny, a maid of Mrs.
Lee. Soon after the birth of William
jackson, the head walters father, Jenny
was Col. Stewart, of Frederick county,
Maryland. The boy William showed
extraordinary intelligence, and became
a pet of his master, and on the death o.
Col. Stewart found himself free by
clause in the will William went i'm
mediately to Washington, where he had
been many times with his master There
he met John Mclean, Postmaster Gen
eral under Martin Van Buren,, and
friend of his old master. Judge Mclean
appointed him messenger in the Post
Office Department at salary of 5000
per annum.
| While messenger in the Post Office
Department, William jackson met
beautiful long haired octoroon, the slave
of old Judge John Stewart, one of the
fashionable Baltimore bellies, at one of
President Van Buren's receptions. Will
liam 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
a slave. Ifshe marries free niger she
will be running away herself; and be-
sides, don't know when l may want to
sell her to the New Orleans traders"
"Then | can never marry her"
"Never, until somebody buys her
from me" replied the Judge.
Rachel was sent to the Frederick coun-
ty farm, and thither William went in
the night to hold a consultation with her.
First it was resolved to run away. But
there was no chance of success. The Fu-
gitive Slave Law was in operation pass
es were required by the slaves on the
plantation, and to run away was surely
to be caught, returned, and then a dread
full whipping followed.
"What can we dc" sopbed Rachel.
81 know" replied William, 81 will
buy you myself"
"But you have no money"
81 can work and earn it," replied the
determined lover.
~<SAHow much will you take for Racbel?"
he asked of the Judge Stewart one day
Well thousand dollars will buy
her" replied the hard-hearted Judge.
William went to work-every cent was
saved, he even going on foot into Fred
erick 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 beax, heart
less fortune-hunters of Congress Hall
think of toiling night and day, and then
think of paying your last cent for the
love of woman.
Two years rolled around, and nine
| hundred dollars gladdened the sight of !
William Jac4son. Christmas came.
"What shall | give you for Christmas
this year, William ?" asked the good old
Postmaster-General of his trusty mes
senger.
Anything, Mr. Secretary"
"But what would you like most ?"
Then William told the story of his
ard Rachel's troubles-how he was fraid
she would be sold, how he loved her
dearly, and how be lacked still hun.
dred dollars to buy her.
The old Postmaster General took off
his specs, wiped his eyes, then put them
on again. Then he fumbled in his pock-
cts. -twenty-thirty, he
counted, and then he handed William a
hundred dollars.
Too happy to live, William started for
Judge Stewards.
Here, Master john" said be, with
his eyes all aglow with joy, "here is the
thousand dollars-now / want Rachel.
"My Godl William, you don't tell me
sol" exclaimed the Judge. aWby, l
sold Rachel yesterday for 1920, to go
to Mobile"
"When il she poin0 ?" askad WilI;ac,