The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-19
Mackeys Marriage.

Judge Mackey, an uncle OF the late
Congressman Nackey, of South Carolina,
denies the story of the latters marriage
TO an octoroon. He SAYS The facts
are these: Years ago young Col Sumter,
OF South Carolina, scion of the famous
revolutionary family, fell deeply in love
with handsome woman, whose position
socially was below his own. He was anx-
ious and willing to make her his wife, but
he knew that his proud old father would
cut him off with shilling the moment
such an alliance was known. According
y. for prudential reasons, the bride con-
sented to keep the marriage a secret.
The only child born TO them was girl.
The Colonel died suddenly before the Sc
cret has been revealed, and was shortly
followed to the grave by his broken
hearted wife. The child, mere infant
then, was confided by the molher to the
proved to be the traditional southern
nanny to her charge. She lost no
time in trying to carry out the mother )
request by proving the property rights OF
the child. The marriage certificate had,
unfortunately been lost, aud nothing re-
mained but the Colonefs letters to his
wife to prove the legal relationship and
the child's legitimate title The Sumter
family were not satisfied with this, but
the grandfather relented far enough to
provide modestly for the child, taking
care, however, to leave her IN charge OF
the nurse and make no mention of her In
his will. 1t would not have mattered
much, though, for the estate was com
pletely wrecked by the war. You see,
therefore, that the child passed her in
fancy and girlhood among her colored
protectors. Naturally, she was supposed
to belong to them. He became interest
ed in her history, understood the task Of
her education, and when that was over,
and her character had developed into
charming womanhood, he made her his
wife. There's not a drop of colored
blood in her veins, and it is the refine
ment of cruelty to revive that old rumor
over his grave. There is no possible
ground for doubt on the subj ct when the
race signs can be infallibly detected. The
moment | saw her first with her tiaxen
hair, deep blue eyes, and clear cut Cau-
casian features, | was satisfied of the
purity of her blood, bat there will at
times be the same battling race tokens IN
octoroons and even sectaroons. One sign,
however, never fails. In the negro, even
to the sixteenth admixture. you find a
purple instead Of white crescent at the
base of the fnger1ails. The crescent
was white.
Through long generations, con
tinued the Judge, this race admlxture
becomes rather perplexing at times.
remember a curious circumstance that
happened during enc Of my juageshiT
campaigns. | don't believe much il
elevating negroes to ofIice-Republicar
though | am-and was alluding, by way
Of pleasantly and without thought OF
any personal application, to the political
am5ition of men with purple nails. My
antagonist, whose blood never dreamed
Of calling in question, took this as per
sonal affront, to my great surprise. But
| learned, on consulting with az old gos
sip, that he was actually descendant Of
the poet Timrod, who, although the most
gifted poet our state ever produced, auc
received into the first social relations
was we'll known tn he an octoro0n -