The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-14
. centennial "Reminiscences.

CenLeuulhA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
fBy james E. wharton, formerly Of whseiingl
On this centennial year We may look
back with q glowing pride upon its re-
suits. In that brief 4pace in the life Of
nations, this people, one hundred years
ago, but the feeble and lettering infant in
the eye Of the world, has redeemed two
millions Of square miles Of Gods earth
from the roaming wolf and no less savage
Indians, made the forest to blossom as
the rose, sent up the songs Of Zion from
her hills and the sweet voices Of infant
angels from millions Of happy homes.
fhey have done more; they have
thrown of the chains Of slavery that had
been fastened upon the vitals Of the ma.
lion BY tyrant hands, the voice Of which
cried aloud to a just God to redeem US
from the ioulest stain that could blot US.
Tyranny in some form must exist while
men arc selfish and one man more power
full than another; but tyranny and crime
Of the deepest dye are not now, and never
will again be, in this country, sanctioned
and enforced by law; as they were few
years ago.
will try and relate an incident Of ala
very as Il passes before my minds eye
and rests upon my memory. II seems
like fiction, but with the facts was
mostly conyersant. The Carter family
were numerous in the tide water district
Of Virginia, as well as in Loudon and
other counties in what was called the
Piedmont range. One Of them owned a
fine plantation and many slaves In south
eastern Virginia, He lived as the true
old Virginia gentleman lived-was Of
open hand and large heart. His vile
died when his only son, james, was but
four or Eve years old. He purchased a
uuadroon in the South with whom he
lived some years as his wife, and had q
beautiful little daughter, who so wound
Eherseli around the tendrils OIL. his heart,
and was 80 loved by her brother, that
finding his estate impaired, he sold his
plantation and slayes-the mother OF the
daughter being dead-and bought farm
in the upper Ipart Of the valley, near the
Allegheny mountains, purchased q few
slaves and. there settled among strangers,
enjoying the society Of his children and
still profuse in his hospitality. The son
in due time was sent to Harvard Uni
versiLy, and the daughter grew up
beautiful, pure and with all the
! accomplishments the schools could
give her. As such she was deyot.
edly loved by her brother, neither sus-
pecting any stain upon her lineage, nor
did the father suppose any one knew it
but'iiimself. The son was well supplied
with money, but he soon suspected his
father was embarrassed and saved it.
During his senior year in 1854, his father
died and he returned home to find
the estate insolvent. Administrators
were appointed and among his faith
er's effects he. found to his horror
that his sister was put down at
$500. On inquiry he learned the facts,
that under the laws OF the State he had
no remedy, and the fugitive slave law
forbade any but in Canada. The loved
sister must be saved from iniamy and a
degradation lower than the brute; the
one so bright, beautiful, refined, pure,
perfect in her loyeliness, should not be
the degraded toy Of the lasciyious slave
dealer. He had no one to consult, dared
trust no one. But that night he took two
horses, still left upon the farm, and start
ed with her toward the north STAR, first
to reach that underground railroaoS OF
which he had dimly heard. The by paths
over the mountains and the rock was no
gala ride for those so tenderly nurtured;
but the human vulture was behind, and
freedom and safety were yet far away.
After four days Of suffering and terror
they arrived where they could rest for a
few hours, with an assured friend, the no.
Bile souled Joseph Bryant Of Brooke coun.
ty, for whom threats and imprisonment
had no terrors. They heard from him
that the pursuers were Mt Wheeling. 1t
was decided that James must then leave
: Kitty to trust to friends, and guide pro.
vided by Bryant. lie gave her his mon.
ey and u pistol and dirk, she promising
not to be taken alive. Mr.. Bryant gave
her letter to the "old war.horse," Ben
Wade, with full directions and guide
: across the river, where she would find
other friends; but not among the officers
OF Justice, the guardians Of human rights,
however pious they might be. She ut
length reached point on the Reserve to
which she had been directed, near Mr..
Wadeis, in the night, and sent him Bry-
ants note. lie had learned that the hu-
man hunters were in the neighborhood,
but he neighed as at the trumpet's sound,
and as he kept pair OF fast bays, soon
drew up before the cabin where he found
the prosecuted one eating Of coarse food
with her pistol in her hand. In mo-
ment they were whirlingover good roads
for Cleveland; bnt the boat had fortunate.
" gone, for he afterwards found it had
been searched by the blood hounds be-
fore it left. Undaunted, he put his pant
ing bays on to Sandusky, where he reach
ed steamer for Detroit, and with hasty
notes OF introduction he left that gentle
one alone in the wide world; but free
: from pollution and living hell.
But few weeks passed and he had let
ter Of gratitude and hope from her. She
was teaching music in Quebec. In 1856
she was married to wealthy and noble
gentleman TO whom she had related her
whole story, and they soon had with them
the loving brother, who, when I last heard
from him was a rising member Of the Bar
in that city. =.
True, this is but an incident in one lit
tie human life, and 1t is one OF many
equally terrible; but that great people,
who ptoiessed to base their laws on the
laws Of God, should have made such facts
possible, within twenty years OF this grand
jubilee Of liberty, seems passing strange,
, The thought o'ercomes US like summer
cloud. But the world moves.
LEW.