Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-01


United States. h II not 2"
Why. yes.' said the officer. at IL.
And j am entitled 10 any Of the rights
and privileges OF citizen of the United
States. am l not ?"
Yes, suppose So" was the reply
again.
Then. sir, under The Emancipation
Proclamation OF President Lincoln, and
by virtue OF these free papers made be-
fore that proclamation was issued, / am
a citizen OF the United States. with all
the rights and privileges that any citizen
has You are especially enJolned by that
proclamation to see that ] and all Of my
race are protected In our legal rights. are
you not ?"
The officer began to see that he was
cornered.
Yes. you are" he replied.
Then request that you leave my pro-
perty untouched. otherwise | shall call
upon the President OF he United States
10 know whether or not his proclamation
IS more than an empty form"
The treasury agent and his escort had
20 go back 10 Vicksburg very much crest
fallen.
Montgomery followed up his advantage
by writing "a letter TO the commanding
officer at VicksburR, setting forth mat
he was "A free man OF color, that he was
the legal owner Of certain plantations,
which were specified by name that an
officer Of the United States had called
upon him and endeavored TO deprive him
Of his property without due process OF
law. and he demanded OF the command
ing officer his protection and that Of the
United States.
A GREAT STROKE.
n to srr gaffh
be relinquished by the Treasury agents
without fight They seemed determined
to take II anyhow. Montgomery de-
cided upon IA great stroke. lie called
upon thu officer In Command at Nickburg
and asked that lieutenant and guam
be put in charge at the Hurricanes for
ten days time. and also for leave to
travel on a government boat that was
coming up 10 Cincinnati. He was going
TO Washington TO see Mr.. Lincoln ana
lay tn. caye before him personally. lie
happened TO know Judge Holt. who was
then Judge Adypcate General OF the
army. When he got TO Washington he
at once went to see him. aud asked to
be taken to soc the President.
II am free man now, Judge Holt, ne
said You have known me for many
years. want you 10 take me 10 Mr..
Lincoln and tell him what my character
IS. for ! have important business with
him"
Judge Holt did as no was asked. "Mr
President" he said. this Is Ben. Mont
gomery. who for thirty years has been
the private secretary Of jefferson Davis"
private secretary" said Mr.. Lincoln.
Eyes" said Judge Holt that Is what
stated. He is an honest man. and what
he said Is true. He wishes u see you
on important business, and l Will leave
you and him to transact it," And Judge
Holt retired.
Gwen. what can do for you. my
friend" the President said kindly.
Mr.. Montgomery explained the matter
TO Mr.. Lincoln just as it had occurred
Mr.. Davis has been very kind to me-
be said. "and | did this as much to help
him as TO help myself This war is nearly
over believe that your people will
succeed. What YOU will do to Master
jeff ! do not know. But I am going TO
do my best TO keep his wife and children
from starving"
The story touched Mr.. Lincoln deeply
why" he said. "do you mean 10 tell
me that YOU have been Mr.. Davis's pri-
vate secretary all these years."
Il do not know what you would call
IT, Mr. President" the negro replied
but for thirty years I have written his
business letters looked after the affairs
Of the plantation. carried large sums Of
money to New Orleans and 10 Cincinnati
for him. and have had his fullest conf
denCe in every way. in all his life he has
never spoken 10 me an unkind word"
do YOU know of any other such case
as yours, Montgomery" said the Presi-
dent. walking up and down the room.
NO, sir: ! do not" said the other.
but ! dare say there are Othc rsuch cases
Now Mr.. President, what | want you TO
do Is this: / want you 10 give me a writ
ing directing all military and civil Of
iicers to protect me in the possession Of
my property"
The President sat down at his desk and
then and there drew "A legal article which
it is a pity the country could not see.
IT enioined upon all military, naval ami
civil officers the protection Of Benjamin
Montgomery. the owner Of thre planta-
tions. that were named, and directed that
ne be given any assistance he might re-
quire IN furtherancc OF these orders. 1t
was signed Abraham Lincoln" and dated
about August /. 1868.
81 am glad to have met you" said the
President as Montgomery rose to 60
land / am particularly pleased 10 hear
what you have TO tel me Of Mr. Jefferson
Davis
May God bless you and yours said
the negro, holding out his hand which the
President shok warmly. And If Master
JEFF does fan into your hands remember
what the Great Master Of rs all said.
blessed are the merciful, for they shall
obtain mercy
Il will not forget that. Montgomery" the
President said, "and II l can do anything
more for you write directly to me"
When Montgomery got back he at once
showed his letter To the commanding Of
ncer at Vicksburg. who issued orders
that Montgomery should be protected
in the possession OF his property. The
President directed the Secretary OF the
Treasury to instruct his cotton agents
TO let Montgomery alone. and he was
never thereafter disturbed.
HIS LAST SERVICES.
In 1865. when the war ended, he had
about 900 bales OF cotton on hand. Judge
Gresham, the present Secretary OF State,
was in command OF the Department OF
the Mississippi BY order OF General
Grant. he allowed Montgomery TO snip
his cotton 10 New Orleans. II sold for
a very handsome price. and nearly all
of this money he gave 10 Mr. Jefferson
Davis. who was thus enabled TO make
his European tour and to live abroad for
almost year after he was released from
Fort Monroe.
Montgomery continued 70 plant with
great success until 1873 when he asked
MIR Davis to take the property back The
latter insisted that Montgomery should
retain about 10000, which was Justly
due him for his care OF the estate and It's
preservation at a time when. but for his
presence OF mind and intelligence. II
would probably have been lost.
No planters reputation or credit was
higher after the war than was Ben Mont
gomerys with the commission merchanti
at Vicksburg and New Orleans. He had
two sons. whom he endeavOred TO bring
m and train as he had been trained. one
still lives in Mississippi and the other has
gone out to nth Dakota, where he
purchased 10000 acres OF land for wheat
farm. He says It is too cold out there Tor
him, though, and he thinks he VIII re-
turn to his Id home.
Nine years ago Ben Montgomery died
His funeral was attended by Mr.. DAVIS
and by all the prominent planters WITHIN
twenty-five or thirty miles. In an address
ne made at the grave Mr.. Davis said:
have had In my life many true ana faith-
full friends, but none more faithful thai
him whom this day we have laid down 10
sleep"