The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-10-11

SlU,UUU. Liz CoHSIueIdI AoA vi y
estate was 100000, on ten years
time with interest at 6 per cent.
Knowing there would be some trouble
about the matter, the legal papers
were drawn with care. Judge John
A. Campbell, who resigned his place
on the United States Supreme Bench
when the war began, was the attorney.
At the same time he drew Ben's free
papers in duplicate, with clause in
each that under certain considerations
(the substance of which was contained
in Document No. q the free papers
should become null and void.
There was great deal Of sensation
in the County when the news came to
the women at home and the men with
the Mississippi regiments in the field
that JEFF. Davis had set Ben Mont
gomery free, and had actually sold him
his plantation besides. A good many
people did not like this. They said it
looked as though Mr.. Davis did not
think the Confederacy was going to
succeed. But Ben obeyed his orders
regardless of the talk and had the
deeds of sale and the other papers
carefully recorded in the proper offices
in Warren County, Miss. The sequel
showed that Ben had acted most
shrewdly and wisely. He sold 6OO
bales of the cotton to an English house
that was able to get it down to New
Orleans unmolested and sent the mon
ey to Mr., Davis in English sovereigns.
When Vicksburg was captured, July
8 and 4, 1863, there were 900 bales Of
cotton on the place and about $4,000
bushels Of corn, with meal and pork
enough to feed the hands until the
coming fall.
Ben7s sagacity was shown in what
followed. Vicksburg had not fallen a
week and the Star Spangled Banner
had only waved two days above the
little fort close to Briarfeld when q
special agent of the United States
Treasury came to take possession OF
the goods, chattels and movables on
the plantation preparatory to the for
NAL confscation Of the property by the
United States. The agent came in
great state, escorted by troop Of cav
alry. He was met by Montgomery at
the front gate. OF course the agent
knew nothing whatever Of the sale,
and in very arrogant way said, when
asked by Montgomery what his bust
ness was, that he had "come to take
possession of all the movable goods
and stores on Jefferson Dayis's plan
tation. -
"Mr. Davis OWES no plantation in
this section of ths country" mildly
answered Montgomery.
"The devil he doesn't" said the
astonished officer; "then who does
this place belong to p
"These three plantations," answer,
ed Montgomery calmly, consisting Of
the Hurricanes, the Palmyra and Bri-
ar6eld, are the property OF one Benja-
min Montgomery, who has the honor
to be your most obedient servant. "
ooh, the DEVIL" said the officer
"You don't suppose that I'll believe
such a story as this, do you p
"Let me assure you that the story
that I have told you is true in every
respect, ~ said Montgomery, "and il
YOU will halt your detachment and
come into the house I will shc-7 yor
all the papers, and you can decide
upon their legality.
The Government agent for the seiz
ure Of the cotton was, Of course.
lawyer, and when he looked over the
deeds he saw that correct legal
transfer had certainly been made. But
he said in triumph:
CAT the time this sale was made
YOU were slave. You could not hole
real estate in Mississippi
And then Montgomery played nj:
trump card. He handed the agent his
free papers, made out and legally yer
ifed four days before the title to th'
real estate was passed.
"Now," said Mr.. Montgomery
"this country is under the protection
of the United States, is it not p
"Why, yes," said the officer, .i
is"
"And 1 am entitled to any Of th'
rights and privileges of a citizen Of th'
United States, am [ not p
eyes, I suppose SO, was the repl!
again.
"Then, sir, under the emancipation
proclamation Of President Lincoln
and by virtue of these free paper
made before that proclamation was is
sued, I am a citizen Of the United
States, with all the rights and priyi
| leres that any citizen has. You art
especially enjoined by that proclama
tion to see that / and all Of my rac'
are protected in our legal rights, ar
you not ?"
The officer began to see that he wa
cornered.
eyes, you are, )" he replied.
"Then I request that you leave M!
property untouched, otherwise | shall
call upon the President of the Unitct
States to know whether or not hi:
proclamation is more than an empt,
form"
The treasury agent and his cscor
had to 60 back to Vicksburg yer.
much crest-fallen.
Montgomery followed up his advan
tage by writing a letter to the com
manding officer at Vicksburg, settin!
forth that he was free man Of color
that he was the legal owner OF certain
plantations, which were specified b.
name; that an officer Of the Unitee
States had called upon him and en-
deavored to deprive him Of his prop
erty without due process of law, ane
he demanded of the commanding otii
Ger his protection and that of tn
United States. \.
OF course this was too rich a spoi
to be relinquished by the treasur.
agents without a fight. They seeme'
determined to take it tanyhow. Mont
| co,nor,, doo;dn1 1,non rreot stroke