The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-14

OF their own to- repent OF, there was hoeN
ing left for them 10 do but TO repent Gay
and night OF the wickedness OF the SOUTH
There were. however. alleviations TO This
kind OF repentance which reduced its he
roic dimensions. II was vicarious trans
action which eluded altogether the crown
OF thorns for the angels Of repentance
and plated IL exclusively for the brows OF
them whose sins they ransomed. 1hey
repented proudly One might speculate
az TO what might have been the enect
upon their trivial task had Canada pos
sesed the power and disposition TO play
their part with the unrestricted right 10
do so, which resided no longer In the
North had every wind from that fur-
Their North borne the poisoned arrow OF
hate which never slept. Is 1t the rule Tor
men to be convinced by execraton ana
imprecation? 1t were a severe task upon
credulity to be expected to believe that
the benevolence which referred to slave
holders as "bloodhounds," as to. their
community as the smallpox" seriously
desired 10 convert the sinners so APP
preached. If missionaries thus approach
thesheathen their rate of progress is &c
counted for. This was not the frame OF
mind wherewith to convert opinion, but
was the frame OF mind wherewith TO
prosecute opinion.
Almost Plaintive.
There is something almost plaintive in
the reply of Henry Clay to DIR. Menden-
hall 1t was as meek as an imperious
spirit knew how to be: without any
knowledge of the relations in which l
stand to my slaves or their individual
condition. you, Mr. Mendenhall. and
your associates, who have been active in
getting up this petition, call upon me
forthwith to liberate the whole of them.
Now, let me tell you, that some half
dozen of them, from age, decrepitude or
infirmity, are wholly unable to gain
livelihood for themselves, and are
heavy charge upon me. DO you think
that [ should conform 10 the dictates Of
humanity by Kidding myself of that
charge, and sending them forth into the
world with the boon of liberty to end
wretched existence in starvation?
/ own about fifty, who are probably worth
$1,000 To turn them loose upon society.
without any means of subsistence or sup
port would be an act of cruelty. Are you
willing to raise and secure the payment
of $4,000 for their benefit IL l should be
induced to free them? The security Of
that sum would materially 'essen the OBJ
statcle ia the way Of their emancipation"
But even when such security was pro-
far from smooth. One instance occurs TO
me, with which was associated revered
relative of my own. John Randolph-and [
can never mention the name Of this trans
cendant flame of genius without recalling
the incalculable debt which Virginia owes
to his singicness Of heart, and purity of
service-John Randolph, by will execu-
cuted in the presence of Mark Alexander
and Nathaniel Macon. had made Judge
William Leigh the residuary devisAe and
legatee Of his valuable estate, subject TO
certain specific legacies and provisions.
The most important of these provisions
was that Of the means to enable the ex-
ecutOr Of the will to transport the slaves
OF the estate (set free by a previous
clause, and settle them in some other
State or territory He appointed Judge
Leigh his executor. The will was con-
tested on the ground Of mental unsound-
ness Of the testator. Judge Leigh, well
aware that the emancipation Of these
slaves had been the undertaking purpose
of RandOlph's life, relinquished his alb
sorbing interest under the will that he
might become a witness In support of II,
and so at least. accomplish the particu-
lar intent TO which / have referred. To
this extent tie will was, In effect, sus-
tained, and Judge Leigh was appointed
TO transport and settle the
negroes. as provided therein. The State
selected for the settlement was Ohio, hut
when the commissioner landed MS first
was with a mob, formed TO re-
sist and repel the negro settlement. The
clearest glimpse Of the state of feeling is
derived from the newspapers of the time.
Newspaper Account.
From the National InteIligencer, July
10, 1886
THE Cincinnati (Ohio) Chronicle of the
9Th instant says that the emancipated
slaves Of John Randolph, who recently
passed up the Miami canal to their set
Element in Mercer county, Ohio, met with
a warm reception at Bremen. The citizens
Of Mercer county turned out en- masse
and calling a meeting. or rather formed
themselves into one Immediately, and
passed resolutions to the effect that said
slaves should leave I'm twenty-fOur hours.
which they aid, IN other boats than the
one which conveyed them there. They
came back some twenty-three miles. at
which place they encamped, not knowing
what TO do"
From the National Intelligencer. July
q. 1916, The Sidney (Ohio) Aurora OF the
llth says: These negroes 0he Randolph
negroes remain on Colonel Johnson's
farm near Piqua. That paper condemns
in decided terms the conduct Of the citi-
zcns In Mercer I'm the late outbreak, and
insists that they should have made
their objections known before the land
was purchased. and not waited until they
had drawn the last cent they would ex-
pect out Of the blackstone 1892 O0O-and
then raised an armed force and refused
10 let them take possession Of their pro-
perty as they have done. We look upon
the whole proceeding as outrageous I'm the
extreme, and the partcipators should
be severely punished. What makes the
thing worse is the fact that number Of
those who were fiercest I'm their Opposl-
ton to the blacks and loudest in their
threats to shoot, etc, were the very ones
who sold them land received wages for
constructing the buildings, and actually
pocketed a large amount OF money for
provisions not two weeks before the |
arrival Of the poor creatures whom they |
have 80 unjustly treated"
National Intelligencer, August Il, 1876: |
John Radolph's NegrOes.-"It Is said |
hat these unfortunate creatures have |
been again driven away by threats of !
violence from the lands, which had been |
secured for them in OHIO and that Judge /
Leigh. despairing OF being able to COLOMBO /
hem in a free State. has concluded TO |
send them TO Liberia. Richmond Re !
publican
National Intelligencer. August 10. 1916: !
The Randolph Negroes.-The last Piqua |
Ohio Register says These unfortunate /
FEATURES have again been driven from /
ands selected for them AS we noticed |
asst week, an effort. which il was thought |
would be successful. was made 70 settle 1
hem I'm Shelby county. but like the pre- |
5ious attempt in Mercer, II has failed. J
They were driven away by threats of vio- !
ence. About one-third Of them, we I'M
lareto nd remained AZ Sidney iptapdipe, ]