The Dickinson press., 1883-12-29
4 Colored Messengers Career
From Correspondence, Of the Boston Tray.
e;)er.

eiler.
Washington is Il city of quaint charaa.
tiers. They arc everywhere, even in
the most unexpected places, and, IA Il
matter of course, many Of them find
their way into official positions. My al
tention has often been brought TO the
colored messenger OF the attorney gem
erals Office, and the other day 1 q.es-
toned him about his history. He has
held the present position for many
years, and l doubt if there isa single
member of congresses or q Unitedstates
Judge in this section of the country who
does net know Coleman. I will give his
history in his own words.
Said he: 81 was born in Forkhill
county, Va, on the old plantation of the
Lee family, l don't know exactly how
old l aln, but | think l will be sixty
three some time in next March. In
1S43 Mr.. Lee, my master, sent me TO
Richmond to be sold, as he had TO raise
some money, and / was carried away
from my wife, ~hand.utiad. and
pui in Il freight car. That night |
lodged in the jail, and the next
morning l was led out to the block.
Years before 1 had been kicked in the
head By a horse. VIII ch let the ugly
looking scar which You see on NV fore
head. That night in Jail [ rubbed tho
scar with my hands until it looked very
sore, and Oh auction day. when the
traders came around. they asked Inc if !
ever felt any effects of the wound. ]
told them that ii l had a good master ]
guessed that l could get along well
enough. but that ] was subject 10 attacks
of fits. was appraised ut q high figure,
but the s.ts' story cut it down consider
ably. The day when L wYs led out to
the auction block there were over 800
other slaves sold. A Frenchman named
Brant bought me at a private sale for
5000, and ] was his valet Il. the old FIX
change hotel in Richmond, now the Bull
ard house. for seven years, and at the
end ofthat time l hyd some s2,25o, with
which I bought freedonh Tor myself and
wife. J. used TO make "A great deal OF
money at the Exchange, and remem.
as 500 in a single week, but this of
Curse did 1t happen often.
Mr.. Brant, WHOM he found that / was
q married man, told me that he had a
lot of ''yailer" girls on his plantation,
ard that / could easily find another
wife, but he liked. me SO we'll that he
bought my wife. In 1859 bought my
wife's sister, and paid $3.50 for her, as
she was sickly. She hadn't been with
us long before she died, at an expense
f $50. I hal thee sisters somewhere
in Louisiana or Mississippi, and after
the war Was ove4 | sent letters to the va.
rlous churches in that section to be read
from the pulpits, with the hope that l
could get some Information as to wheth-
er they were dead OF alive. One OF my
letters was'read in q little town in Miss
issippi, when a colored uoman jumped
up and said that she was one of the Sis
ters. ! brought her here, and she is
with me now. My remaining two SIS
iers died during the war, or some time
previous. J. W S appointed messenger
by Attorney General Speed, who was hi
Pre- ,ident Lincoln's cabinet, and | have
served at this door ever since, including
the terms of office Of Messrs. Speed,
: %ansberry,. Eyarts lInar. Alderman,
Williams, P%ierpont, Taft. Devens, Nc
Neash and the present incumbent, Mr..
RrumctnrH