Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-10-24
ANEGRO CANDIDATE.

NEG RO "a DlOa ".
Martin X. Delanv, the candidate for
Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.
is fullblooded negro. He was born
in Charlestown, Jefferson county, Va,
in 1912, of a free mother and a slave
father who subsequently purchased his
own freedom, and in 1922 removed
with his wife and children to Chambers
burg, a small town in Pennsylvania,
where he entered the common school
and pursued his studies fox about seven
years. In 1881, Del my. at the age OF
nineteen years, went to Pittsburg, Pa,
where he received thorough scientific
education, mainly by private instruction
the higher schools and colleges not
being at that time open to the blacks.
During this time he was also compelled
to work foT his living. He was among
the very first of his race in his adopted
city to commence the establishment OF
moral and literary societies for the adj
vancement of the black race, and he
refers now with pardouable pride to the
fact that he was the originator of the
first colored total abstinence society es-
tablished in Piusburg This was i'll
1854. In 1886 Delaney began the study
of medicine under the guidance OF a
distinguished physician, but his studies
were interrupted for some time owing
to the fact that there were at that time
no medical colleges opened to the blacks
except such OF them as were destined
for Liberia. In 1913 he established i'll
Pittsburg 4 weekly paper devoted to
the elevation of the colored race, and
continued TO edit it during the admin
istration Of President Polk and until
the close Of the Mexican war. In De
cember, 1917, he formed n copartncr-
ship with the famous Fred. Douglass in
a printing establishment at Rochester,
New York, from which WAS issued The
North Star, for several years the lead
inc anti-slavery organ in Western New
York. In 1910 Delaney withdrew from
the partnership and returned to Pitts
burg, where he resumed the study OF
medicine. Having passed through the
medical school OF Harvard University
in 1856 he moved to Canada, where he
practised successfully rs physician and
surgeon for several years. In May,
1859, he organized party Of scientific
black men under the name OF the Niger
Valley Exploring Expedition, and with
them sailed from New York on the
bark Mendi for the coast of Africa. \
year was spent exploring the unknown
regions Of Africa, and ir April, 1860,
Delaney arrived in England, where he
was received by the scientific men,
among whom were the leading mem
bers and fellows ofthe Royal Geograph-
ical and chronological societies. The
report of his explorations was read by
himself before the Royal Geographical
Society at Burlington House, London,
in the presence of the Rt. Hon. Lord
Ashburton, Earls De Grey and Ripon,
and Sir Roderick Murchison. In July,
1860. he was made n member OF the In
ternational Statistical Congress by royal
commission, and at the same time a
member Of the National Association for
the Promotion of Social Science Of Eng
land He then went to Scotland, and
after spending some time there sailed
for the United States, whore he arrived
in April, 1861, a few days before the
assault on Fort Sumter He lcctured
exclusively at the North before the edu-
Gated classes on the subject of his travels
and explorations, work on which lie
had previously published in pamphle;
form both in England and this country.
He took an active part in the war, aid
ing materially in the raising of troops
in the several States. III 1864 he was
commissioned major of volunteers by
the Governor CT Ohio, and in February,
1865, he received the full commission
of major in the United States army, and
was assigned to duty in Charleston.
From Charleston he was transferred to
Hilton Head and placed in command of
of the sea islands and portion Of the
main land, with the additional title Of
sub-assistant commissioner of the Freed
mans Bureau. He was also entrusted
with the duties and office of disburSer
of the claims of discharged colorcd
soldiers. and received special com
mission as Inspector on the staff of Gen.
Sickles, commanding the department OF
the South. His career in the army
lasted for four years, and he was among
the last Of the volunteer officers mus
tered out. While fulfilling the duties
of Commissioner Of the Freedman s.
Bureau, Major Delaney gained the
respect of bo'h blacks and whites, by
the faithful discharge of his duties in
the delicate position in which he was
placed, as kind of arbitrator between
the planters and their field hands He
saw at once the importance of incul-
eating into his race the necessity Tor
faithful performance of their contracts
with the land owners. and. while vigi-
liant in the protection of their tracts. In
1870 he was made an aide-decamp, with
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on the
staff Of Gov. Scott, but resigned the
position in consequence OF the frauds
and corruption which characterized the
administration ofpublic affairs. He has
never held office in the State. The
present subordinate position which he
holds in the Custom-house was rendered
him as personal favor by the Collector
Nothing comes home to a man rs
soon as IN unsettled bill.