The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-01-09
WHITE SAM.
The Remarkable story Told by Gov. Black
burn of Slave Who Kan Away tn Indiana.

Lexington (ky) Cor. Louisville Cvurter-Journal.
A singular and somewhat interesting
suit is about to be tried IN Indianapolis,
In which, by chance, Gov. Blackburn is
an important witness. The case APP
pears to be that somewhat prominent
politician in Indianapolis is suing a
newspaper far calling him a Niger"
The proprietors of the paper, having
what they thought good ground for so
clubbing the gentleman, wrote to Gov.
Blackburn for his recoliections concern
ing the man, and for whatever light
he could throw on the subject. AS
the Governor held the letter in his
hand, and the circumstances were re-
called to his mind, he laughin ely re-
lated what he knew of the matter to a
reporter who was present inthe Execu-
tive Office at the time. He said that
about the year 1S43 or 1914, his brother,
George h. Blackburn, or, as he was
commonly called, "Chap' Blackburn,
owned slave who was so white that he
might very readily pass for white
man. The manner in which he came
to own him was this: Chap Blackburn
was one day walking on the pike near
his plantation, on the Georgetown
road. when he was met by man named
Jim Meyers, of Shelbyville, who was
afterwaId killed by Gen. Whit
aker. Meyers was seated in a
buggy, and by his side was
what Mr.. Blackburn thought was a
young white man. Meyers asked Black
burn if he wanted to buy boy. He
replied: "Yes; where is hep" Meyers
pointed to his companion. At this
Blackburn laughed, saying: "That's
nice game you are trying to play on me.
If L bought him he would run off, and
the next thing he would be selling you,
and so you could take turn about That
would be land-oflice business" But
Meyers was in earnest. He had pur-
chased the boy from his former master,
who wanted to get rid of him because
he had previously run off to Indiana
and married a white wife, and was
brought back under the Fugitive
Slave law. Meyers, after buying
him, found that "Sam" was too
white for any use, and was
willing to sell out at bargain.
After talking with the boy, Mr.. Black
burn found that the statements of Mey-
ers were true. He took compassion
upon him and agreed to buy him and
give him his liberty on certain condi-
tions. These were that he should serve
his new master one year, and then go
and visit his wife, return and serve
another year, and visit ker second
time; return and serve third year, and
he should he free. Sam gladly acceded
to this proposition, the bargain was
made and the ownership in the boy was
transferred from Meyers to Black
burn. Not long after this, Gov. Black
burn, whose farm adjoined that
of his brother, being in need OF som
hands to work his hemp, sent to his
brother "Chap" for help. About ten
or dozen negroes were sent him, and
among them was "Sam." The doctor
did not like his presence among the
negroes, and he sent him home with
note, stating that he was too white to
be with his field hands. "Sam" ran off
to Indiana before his year had expired,
and nothing was heard of him for some
time. At last, his whereabouts having
been discovered, Mr.. Chap Blackburn
went to Indiana TO claim his slave.
Sam had found an asylum in the
house of his father.in4aw. Making his
way to the place, Mr.. Blackburn en-
tered the house, where he beheld
handsome white lady with babe in her
arms. He inquired if Sam was there.
She replied that he was, and that he
was her husband. "But, madam" said
Mr.. Blackburn, did you know that he
is my slave?" Sherepied, "Yes, I know
it, but love him, nevertheless" She
then directed boy to lead the mas
ter to the quarry where the
slave was at work. So soon as
Sam saw his master he surrendered,
saying that it needed no process to Sc
cure him. He would go back to Ken
lucky at once. They returned to the
house. On the way, Mr.. Blackburn
asked the young man why he had broken
his contract. He replied that he could
not resist the temptation to see his
child. The leave-takine upon Sans
departure for Kentucky was too much
for the big heart of Mr.. Blackburn.
He said to Sans father-in-law: "Pay
me half what 1 gave for Sam, and give
me your note for the remainder, and
you may have him." The poor man
had not the money.
At the roadside stood two yoke of
oxen and two wagons. care those oxen
and wagons yours" said Mr.. Blackburn
to the old man. He was answered in
the affirmative. "Well," said he, agree
to deliver to me at my place in Ken
lucky these two wagon-loads of whet-
stones out of your quarry. and will
give you bill of sale for SAM" The
offer was instantly accepted, the bill of
sale made out and signed and Sam was
a free man.
The Governor added: "But the
whetstones were never delivered" 1t
seems that this bill of sale has come
into the possession of the editor of the
paper, and upon it is based the
epithet niger" The Governor does
not recall Sans other name, if he had
any, and inquiry among the old negroes
who were owned that at time by
Chap Blackburn, and still live
around Frankfort, fails to discover
any other cognomen for the very white
slave, but all of them remember him,
and one recollects that he frequently
3olooood HE nop,a Th;nos have changed