The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-01

/ duplicate with % clause in each that. un-
] der certain considerations tthc substance
OF which WAS contained In document no.
/ =. the free papers should become nun ana
I void
There was a great deal Of sensation in
| the county when the news came to the
! women al home and the men with the
! Mississippi regiments in the field that JeI
/ Davis had set Ben Montgomery free, and
/ had actually sold him his plantation be-
| sides. A good many people did not IKE
/ this. They said it looked as though Mr.
| Davis did not think the confedcracY was
| going 10 succeed. But Ben obeyed ms or
/ ders regardless Of the talk and had the
/ deeds of sale and the other papers care
| fully recorded in the proper offices in
| Warren county, Miss The sequel showed
! that Ben had acted most shrewdly and
wisely He sold 800 bales of the cotton to
an English house that was able TO get 1t
down TO New Orleans unmolested and
sent the money to Mr.. Davis in English
sovereigns. When Vicksburg was cap
tured, July 3 and /, 1868, there was 800
bales Of cotton on the place and about IL
900 bushels of corn, with meal and pork
enough to feed the hands until the COM
ing fall.
Ben's sagacity was shown in what fol-
lowed. Nicksburg had not fallen week
and the star spangled banner had only
waved two days above the little tortoise
TO Briarfield when a special agent of the
United States treasury came to take pos
session of the goods, chattels and nova
bles on the plantation preparatory to the
formal cOntisCation of the property by the
United States The agent came in great
state, escorted by troop of cavalry. He
was met by Montgomery at the front
gate. OF course the agent knew nothing
whatever of the sale, and in a very AFRO
4 rnI
cry what his business was, that he had
come to take possession Of the movable
goods and stores on jefferson Davis plan
tation."
MIR, Davis owns no plantation in this
section of the country" mildly answered
Montgomery.
''The devil he doesn't" said the aston
ished officer; "then who does this place
belong to-"
These three plantations, answered
Montgomery calmly, consisting of the
Hurricanes, the Palmyra and Briarfield,
are the property of one Benjamin Mont
gonerY, who has the honor to be your
most obedient servant"
"Oh, the devil" said the officer "You
don't suppose that III believe such story
as this, do you2'
Let me assure you that the story that
l have told you is true in every respect"
said Montgomery, land if you will halt
your detachment and come into the house
| will show you all the papers, and YOU
can decide upon their legality"
The government agent for the seizure of
the cotton was, Of course lawyer, and
when he looked over the deeds he saw
that a correct legal transfer had certainly
been made, But he said in triumph
AT the time this sale was made you
were slave. You could not hold real
estate in Mississippi"
And then Montgomery played his trump
card. lie handed the agent his free
papers, made out and legally verified four
days before the title TO the real estate was
passed.
Now" said Mr.. Montgomery, this
country is under the protection Of the
United States, is it not?'
why yes, " said the officer, sit is" .
''And l am entitled to any of the rights
and privileges Of citizen of the United
States, am l not}"
yes, I suppose So" was the reply
again.
Then, sir, under the emancipation
proclamation of President Lincoln, and
by virtue of these free papers made before
that proclamation was issued | am a citi-
zen of the United States, with all the
rights and privileges that any citizen has
You are especially enioined by that proc
lamation to see that and all of my race
are protected in our legal rights, are you
not2p
The officer began to see that he was cor
nered
Eyes. you are, he replied.
Then | request that you leave my
property untouched otherwise shall call
upon the President of the United States
to know whether or not his proclamation
is more than an empty form"
The treasury agent and his escort had
to go back to Vicksburg very much crest
fallen.
Montgomery followed up his advantage
by writing letter to the commanding
officer at Vicksburg, setting forth that he
was 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
without due process of law. and
he demanded of the commanding officer
his protection and that OF the United
States.
OF course this was too rich a spoil to be
relinquished by the treasury agents
without fight. They seemed determined
to take ii anyhow. Montgomery decided
upon great stroke. He called upon the
officer in command at Vicksburg and
asked that lietenant and guard be put
in charge at the Hurricanes Tor ten DAYS
time, and also for leave to travel on a gov
eminent boat that was going up to Gin
cinnati. He was going to Washington to
see Mr.. Lincoln and lay the case before
him personally. He happened to know
Judge Holt, who was then Judge advocate
general of the army. When he got to
Washington he at once went to see him
and asked to be taken to see the Presi-
dent.
I am free man now, Judge Holt" he
said. "You have known me for many
years l want you to take me to Mr.. Lin
coin and tell him what my character is,
for l have important business with him. "
Judge Holt did as he was asked MIR.
President he said, this is Ben Mont
gomery, who for thirty years has been the
private secretary of Jefferson Davis"
"Private secretary2" said Mr.. Lincoln.
''Yes,n said Judge Holt. "that is what |
stated. He is an honest man and what he
said is true. He wishes to see you on i'm
portant business, and l will leave YOU and
him to transact it." And Judge Holt re-
tired
''Well, what can do for you, nv
friendl' the President said kindly.
Montgomery explained the matter to Mr..
Lincoln Just as it had occurred. MIR.
Davis has been very kind to me. " he said.
land / did this as much to help him as to
help myself. This war is nearly over. l
believe that your people will succeed.
What you will do to Master JEFF do not