New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-21
WILKINSON--DAVIS.
ROMANTIC FEATURES OF THE COMING MAR
RAGE.
THE INTENSE ANTI-sLAvERY ANTECEDENTS OF
THE FUTURE HUSBAND OF JEFFERSON
DAVISS DAUGHTER.

/
one topic of conversation here in society Everybody
regards the matter most remarkable, 10 say inc
least surprising the conception Of the bodest magma
ton The story of the wO0ing is most simple III ltseli
but the relation it to men and Things OF Inc
past generation gives it almost wonderful sehhcancc
and cannot fail to attract the widest attention III botl
Europe and America. 1t was President White. Of
Cornell University who said that Judge
Francis Miles Finch's poem, The Blue
and the Gray" did to heal the wounds
OF the North and South than any othcr single event.
If this be true, what shall be said of the approaching
wedding between the children OF two families hereto
fore the most deadly foes, and to whose aDors ana
efforts the helceness and fervor of the great civil War
were largely due
The whole affair naturally brings TO the front a
great deal of curious and interesting history. The part
Jefferson Davis and his family played III the heDcoh
is too we'll known to be repeated heIc' but OF inc
Wilkinson side Of the match comparatively niue Is
known. Mr.. Wklnsons father the late AlIrcd VII
kinson, Republican during the war, ana heid
the Office Of Revenue Collector for this district having
been appointed by President Lincoln. In the Greeley
campaign Mr.. Wilkinson became Liberal hepuD-
Can,7 and nine years after the war was over nc sup
! ported samuel J. Tilden for Governor.
The prospective husband Of Miss Winnie Davis
Is his mothers side a grandson of the
Rev. Samuel j. May, the great Abolitlonist VINO was
at one time pastor of the May Memorial Church here
/ IlC was NoS"'ittu VIII f-nltiSVN' i0'N'' '@'"r-'
and Garrison in the great abolitionist movement
After his removal to syracuse, Mr. May continued
TO be very active and prominent III promoting inc
anti slavery reform. lie soon became known FAR ana
wide fearless and uncompromising Abohtonlst.
As early as 1884. while living at Brooklyn, Conn,
he had fugitive slaves consigned TO lis care ana lie
forwarded them TO the neat station on the Under
ground Railroad AT syracuse great deal of human
freight passed through his hands upon the Invisible
route Hundreds Of men, women ana chlldTen'
fleeing from bondage and bound for Canada came TO
him for protection and help and never came III vain
| IN his "Recocctions of the Anti Slavery Conflict
he gives account Of the appearance and adventures
of some Of these victims of American despOtism.
In october. 1850, many Of the best citizens Of
syracuse publicly declared that the Fugitive slave
law should not be enforced here and
vigilance committee appointed. large number
Of persons made agreement TO stand by each
other in resisting the law. \ rendezvous fixed
upon ard IT agreed that any member Of the
association who might hear Of person in danger
should toll TIE bell Of adjoining meeting house
in particular manner and that on hearing that
signal all the rest should hasten to the spot.
ON the first day Of October, 1851, Just Mr.. May
was about TO rise from dinner DE heard tie signal
bell. and hurried to the appointed place. mile from
his house. on the way he learned that Jerry Nc.
Henry had been arrested fl -itlve slave and taken
10 the Office Of the Commissioner. Proceeding 10
the courtroom, Mr.. May found tho prisoner man.
aclod, and not allowed 70 state his own case nor
to reiute the testimony Of his adversary Not benz
very closely guarded Jerry slipped OF The
room and for his liberty lie got OF nearly
half mile before he retakcn. and then surrcn-
dered only after furious fight in which he was
seriously injured. lie thrown into a wagon two
policemen sat upon him. and they rode through
the central streets Of tho city back to the Commits
sioner's Office.
The people were very much excited and told Mr.
May that If he would speak the word they would have
jerry out. But lie advised them 10 walt until II
should become dark The chief Of police asked Mr.
May 10 talk with Jerry. who needed TO be soothed
IN the course of the interview Mr.. May managed to
make jerry understand thai he had friends who DID not
mean that lie should be taken back to slavery. Mr.
May then went To the once Of Dr.. Hiram loyt. where
Ire found twenty thirty picked men. Including
GcrIit smi;h, who happened to be in town attending
Liberty Party convention. The plan Of rescue
was discussed and all The arrangement, for it were
made WITH Skill and dispatch. strict lniunctons
were given not 10 inluIc the policemen Intentionally.
nay, hope At may be one Of party About
o'clock la the evening the police once 10 Tine
possession oi te opponent. Of the law, and The officers
were OvclpOWcscd. jerry was taken II place OF
refuge. where his shachie5 were Cut OIL and after
shte OF lie utmost vigilance On the part Oi inc
administration.
persons were indicted ana tlnon 10 Auburn. Ihoy
went. accompanied by nearly hundred thcr fellow
'nondasa county met, ana Justified the rescue. some
OF the public journal. denounced Mr.. May the most
responsible person In tbs at Of treason Mr Nay
acmowledcnent that they had assisted all they could
IN the rescue Of jerry. that they were ready for
trial that they would give the court Do
trouble a. 10 the fac. ard should irst their
cef.nce upon The uncon-tit''t. quality and cAtfcm.
veal ness OF the Fugitive slave Law. ~ Z no.
found cNpci'nt - punish the 'mef per Oh, 60"
ccnod d. the rescue AID L va, not cfeGti!c e" 40
offender while distinguished ones, VINO Az t-.r
it-pDn.AinF, Weir unrioi~stc! ard a, IL Wa i'
possible 70 cmpan.l Jury Which would not coi la.n
person, who Lao formed opinion asain-' the law.
uis jerry Ro.ue Car-es' iscic finally abind med.
AlicF tIc p,cuen OF president Lincoln, Wbcn
fierce threat, Of d'unlon were made Is
ne slafr holder ne Alohtoni were d"
1r9us that the northern p'opie should Mt be-
Mtmiia'cd by threats nor misled Dv appfchcn-ions
o. material losses. Therefore thcs props d E, con
tie people not to rcccdc an men Oh account Of
southern mrnaccs. But their meetings were VIC
Ni'N da'alicd ~ Boston ana other ctr. The MAYOR
OF SyF2cne earnestly requested Mr.. Mag 10 prevent
,he holding OF meeting III that city, lest should
provoke riot, although he Acknowledged their right
10 assemble. and promised 10 protect them Twenty
Of the most Influential men in slricnse. nearly half
Of whom were his -IonerS. addi cssed letter 10
Mr. Mag informing him that they were credtib!y |
Informed that an organized and forcible cnort to |
prevent the holding Of the Abolition Convent - |
would be made. These gentlemen declared that Il |
Convention; but they urged Mr. Nav 70 exert his |
Influence 10 prevent ITS assembling. because IN the |
excited condition Of the public mind it could only |
Probably ms was Of the scvcrcst tests to which
Mr. NAYS loyalty 10 his own convictions ever
subject a. Before the hour appointed for the meet
Ing Of The Convention rioters took possession Of the
hall winch Nr May had hired for tie occasion. fists
were thrust mo his face and rough men svorc
that they would knock him down aud put MIN out
If the nall II ne aid another word A. TIT Con.
v"nIon was mot protected either by the officer 90
the Law or by good citizens, some o. its members
ctlrcI t. private house ard adopted scrlc, OF
resolutions. soon aicrwafd the victorious mob |
celebrated their triumph by evening procession
JED by band OF music. Their transparent blnnert
ore these inscriptions: Freedom Of speech. but
not Treason ihc Rights Of the south Mn; &c Pro
( ctcd'; Abollpnsm no Longer in Syracu,c7; " The
Jerry Rescucr, PLAYED ont An cFicv hearing SIR.
Mays name was prominent In the procession. After
IL had been carried through some OF the principal
streets IL va, burned In Hanover Square the centre
Of the business part Of the CITY
tllss DaVl4's engagement has a most romantic and |
charming side 10 il. partlulary the court ,np. For
some time past there were umOr, Of Il hctrothal be-
wecD her and MI. Wilkinson. aud The Tribune first
lhronicled in special dispatch from here, several
M eAs ago. the condition Of affairs. Tli, dispatch
was copied through the Southern papers and at
lacted wide notice. but. a, IL was oalY rumor no
.geat attention was paid t. IT, Miss Davi.'s father
and General William II. Emery. the father Of Dr.: