The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-23
A STORY ABOUT BEECIIER.


4 DEHT TIf1T M WIS FORCED TO
PiY .fFTTR IsfNY VEINS
4 "Reminiscences Of the Underground T. nilroad
Illustrating his Readiness in Giving Tnitt
aud his Siowucs~ in the Giving ui Money.
Mr.. Henry \. Chittcndcn of MDntclair
New Jersey, who was one " the original six
subscribers to the call that brought Henry ward
Bccchcr from Indianapolis to llrooklyn. relates
the following details of a business transaction
in which both were engaged. About the year
1870. party of eighty negroes tho majority Of
whom were fugitive slaves. sailed from wash
ington I'm the schooner Pearl for Northern
port. Owing to a storm on the Potomac, the
schooner did not reach the sea, but WIS cap
tured by steamer despatched In the slaveh old
ing interest. Among tho captives taken from
the Pearl were two girls named Edmonson.
Two thousand dollars was offered for them by n
slave trader, and they were allowed ten DAYS In
which to raise the money. Residingin Wash
ington at that time was a young lawyer named
Chaplain who was the agent OF Gerrit Smith,
appointed TO look after the interests Of tho
negroes in Washington. lie came to New york
and advertised meeting to be hold In the
broadway Tabernacle to raise money to liberate
these young women.
Beecher, who mad a short time before this be-
come the pastor of Plymouth Church, and was
then occupying Mr. Chttcnden's house, attend
ed this meeting. Mr.. Chaplain was relating tho
msfortunes 81 the captive girls without making
much impression upon his hc,rers, when
Rcecher and Mr. Chittcndeu entered. Reecher
was asked to address the meeting, ana save II
from total failure. within few minutes alter
he began his address the entire congtegati IN
had been won over to an enthusiastic sympathy
with the movement. Suhecriptinns were called
q. ID "a. m N Hn
Inst To give. " fittv doll raj he cried from the
GAL r.. Thus he aud Mr. Bcecner met for the
hist time. The S..WD was scd. and CHAPLAIN
r'thrned - Washington with IL and freed the
cuiOred glfls.
DIFFICULTIES or THE ROUTE.
Soon after this. two negroes belonging 10 Com
den from their master for about tn ee months.
IL was desired That they should tie forwarded to
tine North Uv way Of the underground railroad.
and Mr.. Chaplain undertook to take them to tho
FIRST station. In Rockville, MARYLAND. they were
hir'sieu oy the Washington authoTlties. and
chaplain VAS Imprisoned under bond Of 5000
Ills release was secured by a Quaker named
smith, VINO was also an agent of Gerrit smith
but hardly had freedom been restored to Chap
ain when he was fearrested under the Maryland
law and imurisnned under "A bond of $1,000 OF
this sum, $1,000 was raised 10y MIR. Smith In the
state OF New York. Henry Ward Heecher was
asked to assist In procuring the la, king 5000.
lie conceived the idea OF securing the signatures
of twelve friends who would pledge themselves
to reimburse any one who might become the
surety for the $4,000, each Of the twelve sub
Bcecher drew np paper to this effect, aud hav-
Ing signed 4 himself. took 1t TO NJ. Chttenden,
then the junior partner IN the Arm OF Chittenden
bliss Co, 20 broadway, md asked him to sub
scribe. The act endangered the prosperity OF
the irn, Tor the most bitter feeling prevailed
here .gainst the abolition movement at that
time, hut Mr. Chittenden signed the paper and
also went with sir. ieecner 10 H. Il. Clafin's ana
To Henry &. Bowen's. Clatin was not found, but
Henry {. Bowen, although he refused 10 sign
MS name, pledged himself 70 pay ono Of the
twelve portions Of the $dOO. MIR. Contender
ID
Mr.. Bowen was denounced 1t n punlfc meeting
a. an al. litionist, he issued card, in which he
SAID ne sold his 'ods, nut not his princi .les."
BEECnER's UNPAID DEBT.
Tho twelve sinners were secured. Among
them were Aaron tiaiiin. James fteeiand. Lewis
Iappan, William \. Han, Roswell :. benedict.
anu StudWclL II was decided, In view al the
uinctltv that might be cxpetie need IN securing
a bona man To represent the entire $4,000 In g
nan II CHAPLAIN, that Lewis Tipu n aud atr.
Ihltienden should REPRESENT the amount jointly,
each taking as sureti's SIX - the names on
Mr. beecher's document. This done, Mr.. Chap
Wien It came TO the selection ofthe names Of
SUR iies by the oDndsinen, LOWS Tann N took
tue hfst choice. bowen, studwell, and Freelapd
were among the persons he chose, and he rNpe-
ienced no difficulty Ia collecting thoir subscrip-
tons. Mr. Chtteu ten WIS not - fortunate
On his list was Deecner when the list " 3
first Presented to him, Mr. Cuittenden said,
WIZ, lr. Bcecher, YOU arc not good; you
." am as GOOD as ANYBODY" was Beechcrs re-
ply; "ill pay 1t by iecturlng, II necess nv"
refraincd from requesting the payment at the
time because tie knew that Beecher's saiary was
small. But Mr.. Beecher did not even offer to
lecture as ne had promised. Two other u, rsons
on W. Chittcnden's Lat were members Of Dr.
Cheever's church, whose names Mr. Beecher
h secured Iney refused 20 raw the sums to
winch they had pledged themt civ = because. as
they said, ~; Iicechcr bad assured them that
form. Iney IN ny paid Mr.. Cuittenden my
GEMS ON tue dollar.
BEEcHER SLOW TO PAY.
In 1863 on the day following that on which
Beecher wrote his Cleveland letter. Mr.. Chit-
tehuen wrote to him that, with mis- large sal
airy and Influential position, 1t was no more than
right thai the account should be settled.
Beecher's income was Mt that time understood
20 be $4,000 year. No replv was received, ana
MIR Chittenden wrote a second letter, when
MAD the same treatment. third and
final letter was then addressed to Mir.
beecher, In which Mr.. Cnttenden said
tied or that Beecher would have to plead
the statute OF limitations. MIR Chittenden
ad ied that In his opinion the debt was not a
legal but moral obl IL ItiOn, tn would stand
until the day Of Judgment This letter was
placed In beechsr's nds. hut no reply TO It
was ever received. At last Mr.. Chittenden's at
torney gave notice that an action h d been be-
gun aud two lawyers serving Beecner Wis
tied the attorney, and appealed TO him
to withdraw the action, ana prevent the
scandal that would result from the publication
q the circumstances MIR. Chitenden's reoly
through his attorney was, Pay or plead the
statute of limititions." Bvecncr then sought
an irtervlew with relative OF Mr.. Cnit,enden,
NV Tvs 'lN'lNfrHlhns WHICH WAS 50 ear
nestlv made that the suit was withdrawn
Here, Mr.. thttenden saNs, the matter would
nave dropped, had u not been for the manner
~ which lieecher treated him when, six months
later, they met In Montclair. Beecner solem-
nlzed wedding in that town, and while he re-
manned there, Mr. Chittenden saluted MIN In a
friendly way. beecher col Is showed his recog.
milton OF Mr. Cnlttenden but went no further,
Ihen," saws MIR. Chittenden, " ,uv,rdiv d.
clared that he should settle that deot with me.
sooner or later" '
- lwoyears AGO, Mr.. Chittenden again wrote to
Beecheri giving him another opportunity To nav
or e. to law. A check for the amount was receiy-
el ne next morning. With II was sent a note in
Whlcn licechtr said lie paid the debt under pro-
test. Mr. Chttenden saws he has s,nrs lcnrned
mat the same gentleman VINO mad interceded
u, lore repaid Beecher; undoubtedly up solicit
tdtion.