The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-02-22
.GOY DOCKERY NAMES TAX COMMISSION
Provided for in Law Passed by the Last Session of the
Missouri Legislature.
A MOST INTERESTING STORY OF SLAVERY Dl
Quaker Firm Refused to Handle Money ACQUIRED
Through Sale of Negroes
Firm That Opposed Slavery.

Away back In 1885 James and r.
Aull were in the mercantile and bank.
ing business in Lexington and ex-
tended their trade over broad terri
tory, They constituted the leading
firm Of the town and did an immense
business. In those days the sales of
negroes were sources of considerable
revenue to their masters and as a
matter of course large sums Of money
eminating from this traffic passed
through the Aull banking house.
The banking firm in the cast with
which the MeSsrs. Aull did business
and with which they carried large
sums of money, was Sitter Price &
Co., of Philadelphia, a firm composed
of Quakers, which, in addition to a
banking business, conducted a general
wholesale mercantile establishment.
In the correspondence which passed
between the Philadelphia firm and
the Lexington business house, as
shown by letters from Sitter Price &
20. to the MeSsrs. Aull, many of
which are now in possession of those
who are left to represent the Lexing-
ton Historical Society and to whom
the INTELLIGENCER is indebted for
the interesting letter that will follow
In the course of this story, Quaker
terms, as thee, thou, etc., appeared
up % the year 1882, at which time a
change was made by those people,
who adopted the easier and better
sounding English in use at this day.
These QuakerS we're sturdy lot of
people and with most of them no
business move was made without ccl-
sent of conscience after thorough
study OF the point at issue. This
conscientious performance Of what
they thought to be right was not de-
TERED or hindered by financial or
other consideration, a comparison not
In the least odious with the custom
that generally prevails at the present
day, when commercialism has man.
ifested itself to an alarming extent
in state, and even, in some instances,
in church affairs.
In the course of their business rela.
tions, reverting to Sitter Price & Co.
and the Messrs. Aull, the former firm
at one time received large remit.
tance for deposit from the latter,
the proceeds of the sales Of slaves
by some Of the customers Of the
Lexington firm. Whereupon the
Philadelphia house indited the follow
ing letter to the house at Lexington.
Philadelphia 5mo 10Th 1885
James g. II. Aull
Lexington, Mo
5 nee we have Understood, that the
remittanceS Of James Head and
Thompson, Patrick & Wilcoxson, are
the proceeds of traffic in Slaves, we
have felt exceedingly uneasy, at being
instrumental in promoting a Trade,
which we believe to be in direct Oppo-
sition to the Religious Obligation we
owe to the Colored People of our
Country; who, as Humen Beings
stand equal in the sight of that Holy
One, who declares, that His Kingdom
Shall be of all nations, tongues and
People, who fear God, and work
righteousness; for there Can be no
Slaves in Heaven. We understand.
that the business which Occupies the
time Of these individuals, is the Pur-
chase Of Slaves in the upper Part Of
Missouri, and carrying them to Louis
lana & Mississippi for Sale. The
same Trade carried on, between The
West Indies ard New Orleans, much
Shorter distance, would be Piracy BY
our Laws; and on the grounds Of
morality or Justice, we cannot see
distinction between The Foreign and
Domestic Slave Trade. We are no
enthusiasts, and take no part in the
agitation parties OF Colonizatlonists
or AbOlitionists; but, we think Slavery
is Contrary to the Spirit Of our Free
Institutions; and, altho' we would
never interfere with Others, in their
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