Year: 1863

TENDER MERCIEs OF SLAVERY.


Forty years ago wealthy planter came
from Florida or Louisiana to reside in
Washington for time, bringing with him
a son, fine manly boy, Of thirteen or four
teen. At the Levees of his father, which
were then fashionable, he received the ca
resses of the ladies and the encouragement
of the gentlemen, that his age, intelligence
and fathers position naturally elected. Of
his family none accompanied his father be-
sides this son, on his visit to Washington.
In due course oftime, the boy, on whom
his fathers affections were evidently CEN
tired, was sent north, and was there educat-
ed, graduating at Harvard or Yale, with
an honorable standing in his class. On his
return to this city he avowed love for
the north, acquired during his college life,
which was not restrained in its expression
by his father, who fostered and encouraged
it zealously, and readily consented to his
permanent residence there. He desired,
however, that his son should remain with
him here during his own stay. An ap-
pointment was procured for him as clerk in
the war department, and he entered upon
his duties.


Among the acquaintances formed at this
time, was gentleman from Pennsylvania,
and the chief clerk of bureau, who was
the father of girl yet in her teens, lovea-
BILE in character as well as beautiful. Inti-
macy begat friendship, and it was hardly a
matter of wonder that love should follow.
With the blessing of all they were mar.
ried at St. Johns church in this city. 1t
happened to be about the first marriage
that ever took place there and even now
the long rows of carriages, and fair danes
and rich attire, the music, the crowded par
lors, the splendor and joy which crowned
the wedding, are vividly depicted by those
who treasure the chronicles of society in
those days.


The young mans father had bought and
furnished an elegant house for his children,
and they removed at once to their own es-
tablishment. Not long after the marriage,
and while in the full tide of happiness, the
father was called home, and left his son and
daughter, intending soon to return. They
received no intelligence from him for week
after week, which caused them anxiety,
daily increasing to alarm. AT last, one day,
when the son had decided to go in search
of his father, a carriage dashed up to the
door, young man stepped out, and, follow
ed by sheriff of the district, walked into
the war department, and before all his COM
panions, in the broad light of noon, arrested
the son as the slave of his father! The
son solemnly declared that his father had
manumitted him, and that he had seen the
will long since in which it had been done.
This outrage shocked the sensibiliiy of even
an effete slave community. Mr.. Monroe,
then President, and others high in power,
used all the argument, all The entreaty
tongue could utter, offered money without
stint, for the ransom of one whom all loved
and esteemed and whose condition to that
hour, no one had dreamed. But the young
man, possessed of all power in the case,
and the son of an enraged family, mocked
them, told them that money was no object,
argument and entreaty alike unavaling.
What he had now obtained was revenge, of
which nothing should foil him.


The father had met with sudden death,
the will had been either concealed or de-
stroyed, and his pet son, to all appearar ce
of Saxcn birth, with the exception Of
slight swarthiness common 10 all natives Of
the extreme South, was taken, chained as
a slave, his house and furniture sold, and,
accompanied by his beautiful, broken
wife, faithful and unfaltering in this living
death, from the fashionable circles of Wash
ington society, carried to the "plantation,"
TO toll in slavery beneath the infuriated lash
af a viridictive family. Mr.. Monroe as
sured him situation should be given him,
if he ever could prove his manumssion or
escape. He never afterwards was heard
from in this district, for, as Napoleon said
Of converts. the terrible mysteries of slave
prisons perish nrevealed.-New York Ere
ming Post.