Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-27
Hi xreae
The Result Of Fairesi Emaneipa-
tion Experimsss Ever Tried.


zion Experimsss Ever Tried
PowHATAs. January "a, 1883. D.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
As there Is now much investigation and
discussion both North and South IN relation
20 the question OF the future OF the negro as
. citizen and integer In the political aud
social condition Of the nation. permit ms 10
give you some facts which hitherto have been
an unwritten leaf In yIrginIa's history.
Richard Randolph, Jr., the son OF John
Randolph, OF Maioax, and brother Of John
Randolph, OF Roanoke, died at his resi-
dence, Bizarre. In Cumberland county. near
Farmyllle. q large land and Shareholder.
By bis last Will and testament, which was
recorded In the District Chancery Court at
Prince Edward Courthouse, and which was
written entirely by his W hand. he emanci-
patcd his slaves after certain British debts
due by his father were paid. Hts will II fill
ed with the most violent denunciatlous OF
the system OF slavery, which at great length
and In most unmeasured terms he exposes
fully (at least. TO his own satisGactionl. lie
saws that his slaves would he set free At
once hut for the Uncomfortable necessity
forced before me by ms father, who wrong
fully bound over his slaves TO satisfy the
rapacious creditors OF & brother. who for this
purpose, which he falsely believed to be
generous, morigaged all his slaves TO British
creditors for money TO crafty pride and ham.
per sensuaiity.' lie appoints "mv fsther-In-
law, 81. George Tucker. nv brother, John
Randolph. my friends, Ryland Randolph,
Brett Randolph. John Thompson. Alexander
Campbell, Creed TAYLOR, Daniel Call, and the
most virtuOus and I~ncorfuptible 81 mankind,
and next 10 nv father.in-law, my greatest
benefactor, George Wsthe, Chancellor OF Viz
gina, the highest ornament OF human IA
tire" MS executors OF his will. He charges
them that ~ his slaves are liable for hisfa.hcis
debts 10 sell them for that purpose snd that
$500 shall be raised from his other estate to
I've applied 10 their purchase, and that when
they are so purchased, he declares them 10
be free aud gives 10 them 800 acres OF land,
to De lid OF "a his wife shall direct and 10
be given 10 the heads OF families In proper
ton to the number OF their children and the
merits OF the parties, as his wife shall Judge
best, and he also "coniurcs her TO lendeYery
assistance TO the said slaves through life as in
her power aud to rear up our children in
detestation OF slavery
His will was fully carried out. About one
hundred slaves we're bought. Five hundred
acres OF his best land, lying on the Apo
IDHtlOA 7 ! Eli u lNTNNNhf IL = tA' ~
ward county, and about ten miles above
Farmyille. were la,d or for them. Houses
were erected and some stock and utensils
given to them at the expense OF the estate,
and they have had now q century 10 work
out their own de,tiny and 10 exhibit 10 the
world their capabilities for taking a part in
the civil cation Of the age. This place, known
as Izral Hill, has been regarded for sixty
years As a penthouse and a blot upon the
face OF the country In which II is situated,
aud the value Of near and adjoining planta.
lions have been deprecated by their conti-
guilty. Vice and intemperance have done
their usual work upon the unfortunate ne
groesand their descendants. Unused TO Ia
Dor. ignorant, indolent, aud wholly vicious
aud corrupt, they have dwindied away In
statue and in numbers until but a miserable
handful OF ragged and psuperlzed pariahs re.
main az the result Of the fairest experiment
OF negro emancipation ever made by any
philanthropist in The worlds history.
Some traditionary anecdotes and accounts
OF the executors Mr.. Randolph appointed
nav interest some OF your readers. st.
George Tucker was the second husband OF
Dir. Rsndolph's mother, who was the daugh-
ter OF the Hon. TheOdeiics Bland, one OF
the Trainer. OF the first Virginia Constitution.
His son, Henry II. George Tucker, succeed
ed his father as Judge Of the supreme court
OF Appeals. and his elevation 10 the bench
and as president OF It was due 10 this err
cumstance. Judge Tucker was az that time
chancellor OF the Winchester district and
was delivering lectures 10 a private law
school. At that time the opinion OF the
legal profession was greatly divided upon
the question Of the coDstiIutionality Of the
Virginia act c0niscating the glebe lsnds
which were held before the Revolution By the
Church OF England and were claimed blythe
Episcopal Church OF Virginia. In theease
Of selden Us. Oyerseers OF the Poor o, Lou-
doun Chancellor Tucker delivered a Elost
luminous and able opinion ia favor OF the
con,titutiOnality OF the law, winch Is
appended an appendix TO the trst
volume Of his commentaries. Soon
after the question came before the Court
OF Appeals and the constitutionalliy
OF the law was approved by a majority OF
one; but before the opinion was entered
Judge pendletou. who had given the casting
vote, died. Public opinion WAS overwhelm-
ingly in favor OF the case. Judge Tucker
was elected in Pendleton's place, who de-
ci1ed the question in favor Of the statute.
Hts SOS, John Randolph Tucker. succeeded
his remarkable uncle. John Randolph OF
Roanoke lone OF Richards %executorsb in
Congress, and his son, Henry st. George
Tucker, is his successor. The eminent pub
lie services OF Csaucellor W vthe. IS signerof
the Declaration Of Independence, Trainer OF
the first Virginia Constitution, and member
OF the convention which framed the Constr
tuition Of the United States, are known TO
oil aud his tragic death 10 but few at this
late date. Ryland Randolph and Brett RAN
dolph lived IN Powhstan. Brett Randolph
Of Capera was born In England, inherited a
very large estate, which he squandered,
and died q ysgsbond and a psuper.
Creed Taylor was q Virginia chancellor,
and lived and died In Cumberland county,
at Needham, where his d~escendauts still re-
side. 10 ia p~resumsble that the Virginia
ehAncellors were badly paid, as he, like
Judge Tucker, had taw school AZ his house,
and the records OF his moot court are now
found IL some old libraries. Daniel Call was
the second reporter Of the DEGREES OF the
Court of Appeals In Virginia, ard bis re-
ports In six volumes are good authority In
our courts. Who the Alexander Campbell,
another executor, WAS Is not known. The
Alexander woo figured I'm the convention OF
1S29.'30, and who founded a branch OF the
Baptist Church. might have been the mau.
John Thompson was au intimate bosom
friend OF John Randolph. OF Roanoke, aud
both lived al Bizsrre at that time. Al an
early age he was admitted to the bar. bu be.
fore be had entered fully In the practice he
was cut OF by consumption. He wn re-
markable for wit, not unmixed sometimes
with sarcasm. His description OF the lead
ing Ian yers OF the bar In that day has sur
viYed him. "The ingenious clubbing OF
Peter Bland, the noisy petulsnce OF Reeland
Bland, and the pompous rOthingness OF John
Archer Robertson may be borne, but the
endless prolixity Of Gruf Greeu Is %grieyous
even unto desth." The successors OF these
peculiarities are still at the Virginia bar.
Bizarre long since, together with all the
large landed POSSESSIONS OF the Randolphs
in Prince Edward aud Cumberland, has
passed out Of the family. II Is now owned
by SIR. Jackson, aud over a part OF 10 Is be-
ing constructed the farmvllle, Powhatan
and Bermuda railroad. The upper district