The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-10-29
FREDERICK MCGINNIS.
JEFFERSON DAVIS FAITHFUL OLD COL
ORED FAMILY SERVANT.

JEFfEkSUN DAVIS faithful ULD CuL-
ORED FAMILY SERVANT.
His Passing Away Calls Forth an Elo-
quent Tribute From Mrs. Davis
She Bears Cheerful Testimony to
His Faithfulness and FideIity-De-
clares He Was an Honor to His Race,
Man of Sterling Integrity, High
Intelligence, Keen Sense OF Justice,
With a Warm and Grateful Heart
and True Instincts of a Gentleman.
The affeCtiona,e relations which
existed between the Southern slave
holders and their slaves is sirikingly
illustrated in letter written by Mrs.
Jefferson Davis and printed in to days
Sun Frederick McGinnis, worthy
Colored man who died in Baltimore a
few days ago, attended most faithfully
20 the wants Of Mr. Jefferson DAVIS
when he was prisoner at Fort Mon
roe. The relations between Mr.. Davis
and his attendant were not those Of
master and servant alone, but grew
into deep respect and friendship on
both sides, for Frederick, like many of
the old-,ime colored men, had ali OF
the refined feelings of a true gentle
man as we'll as much of his manner
and address. In fact, Mrs. Davis, the
wife of the President of the Southern
Confederacy says that Frederick Nc
Ginnis was ga man of sterling integri-
ty, high intelligence, keen sense of
justice and had all the finer instincts
of a gentleman" The depth of the
attachment between master and slave
under the old regime may be better
understood, however, when we read in
Mrs Davis letter that this faithful col
ored man, after he had been emanCi-
pated, contributed generously TO the
comfort of his former owner. 1t is
such statement as this which leads
to the conviction that Mrs. Harriet
BeeCher Stowe knew very little of
slave life in the South when she wrote
"UnCle Toms Cabin" There were
many more McGinnises in the times of
slavery than there were "Uncle
Toms"
The paragraph above quoted appear
ed as an editorial in the Baltimore
SIN few days ago. The following is
the article referred to, with in,roduc-
tory remarks as printed in another
part Of the paper:
Mrs. Jefferson Davis, in a letter TO
friend in Baltimore, pays a touching
tribute to Frederick McGinnis, who
died from injuries sustained on the
Western MARYLAND Railroad on Octo-
Der nth. Frederick was Mr.. Davis
faithful servant and friend during his
imprisonment at Fortress Monroe
Mrs. Davis writes:
"He was an honor to his race. a
man of sterling integrity, high intelli
gence, keen sense of justice, warm
and grateful heart, he had the fine in
s,incts of a gentleman. Whatever he
undertook he performed faithfully and
we'll, for his mental faculties were not
inferior TO his moral qualities.
"He was born slave and brought
up by his mistress with affectlonate
care, which he repaid by a devotion
uncommon with men of any race. AT
ter the war had impoverished her and
she was too old to support herself, he
took place elsewhere in order TO
maintain her. Though he had a wife
and child, every month he sent his
old mistress part, and sometimes the
whole, of his wages. He once told
the writer that he had TO find ou,
through friends in Charleston what she
needed, as she was always reluctant to
accept anything from him.
"Whlle Frederick was IN The service
of Mr.. George Schley, his hospitable
home in Georgia was opened to Mrs.
jefferson Davis while she was detained
by the federal authorities and limited
to the State of Georgia. Frederick
was much moved by her sorrows and
offered te serve her gratuItously until
the end of Mr.. Davis's imprisonment.
For obvious reasons this could not be
accepted, but af ef he mad left Mr..
SChley's house and she mad receives
permission 10 live al Fortress Monroe,
he joined her and remained "lh lhe
family for three ,taIs. Every alicn-
ton that reverence and afeCllnn could
offer Frederick rendered in The MOS;
intelligent, delicate aud sensible man
ner.
"Appreciating how necessary he had
become to the prisoner OF Safe, Mrs.
Davis offered him d considerable in
crease Of his wages which were already
somewhat larger thar tho,- pi other
men in his capacity. lie ansaered
with tears IN his eyes: You surely d.
not think | would take mDre money
from YOU. would have served you
for nothing If you had let me do So
"About TINS time there were many
gross and petty insults offered 10 Mr..
Davis and his family by visitors who
were inpeled by nate and curiosity.
His services were invaluable, for he
seemed to know by instinct when these
persons were about 20 intrude, and met
and repelIed them with the manner Of a
well-bred gentleman. Thus he shield
ed the family from insults which would
have otherwise rendered life lntoler-
able TO them, without subj-c;lng HIM
self to the reproofs of the officer in
command.
"One evidence Of his refinement of
feeling is worth repeating.
"He had fallen in love with AIRS.
Davis faithful maid after the death of
bic Gyc, uif. and was m he. ma 3r,ied a,