Back to History
From Geneva Gazette 1 February 1861
A Southern Aspect of Slavery
The Crisis and its Cause
By a Christian Lady
We are permitted to make an extract from a letter received by
a lady resident of Geneva from a sister residing in Williamston, North
Carolina. It is a notorious fact that the fanatics of the North
who prate most of slavery -- who talk of it as "the sum of all
villainies"
-- know nothing about it. Ninety-nine out of every hundred of
them
never saw either a slaveholder or a slave. To such we commend the
sentiments of a christian lady, who, though born at the North, has
lived
surrounded by the "institution" for the last 12 years. Read and
then
reflect how fratricidal your course is in carrying on "an
irrepressible"
crusade against your brethren and sisters of the South:
"You say, sister, that 'in reference to our beloved country, you are
too ignorant to make any remarks.' I am inadequate, yet I think
it is in an
alarming condition. I must confess that it
engrosses many of my thoughts. Never before did the affairs of our
country so trouble me. Unless the great Sovereign of the Universe
interposes in mercy, I see nothing but
distress and
anguish
awaiting us in our once happy and prosperous country. All
might be peace and prosperity were it not for the
fanatics and
demagogues that are ready to deluge our land in blood.
Priestcraft
is perfecting her work,
and an awful end it will be. Why do not our people think and act
for
themselves? Where is the counsel in our nation? It seems
that
all wisdom has departed. Unless the people arouse themselves, we are a
lost
Nation. It may be too late now. What is the state of things
around
you? Are they all running wild, or are there some who reflect what is
being
done? Why will not all people mind their own business? If they
would
things would be very different.
Slavery is the great question, and those who are saying so much about
it do not know what they are talking about. Our servants are now much
better situated than thousands of white people, and ten thousand times
better
off than they could possibly be if they were free. I have lived
South 12 years next March, and I can
tell you the truth. The
owners of
servants are the
greatest slaves. I do not know what the
Northern
people are thinking about -- seeking to ostracize their brethren of the
South who have equal rights with them in the government; and instead of
protecting them, are seeking to take their lives and property, and
endanger
their peaceful habitations by servile
visurrection. The
abominable
stories told about the South
are not true. We treat our
servants
kindly. We feed and cloth them well. You would be
astonished
to meet many of them in our streets. They dress, many of them, at
times
better than their owner. I have this day bought over 200 yards of
domestic goods to clothe our home servants. Many of them do not
earn their
bread and clothes, yet their owners feed and clothe them and if they
get
crippled and infirm, they are taken care of. We have them on our
hands;
we did not bring them here; we can do nothing but take care of them,
and
make them, if we can, earn their bread. They can
never be
freed
and remain among us; this can never be. But I will leave this
subject, that is causing so much distress, and I
fear war
and
bloodshed. O may the Lord prevent it, if it be His most
holy
will. O, may He send 'peace and not the sword.' It may be
our
land is rife for destruction; if so, may we trust in God, who will
defend
and protect his people."
Back to History
From Geneva Daily Times 21 October 1903
Residents of this city, excepting those who have read about these
things, and some of the oldest residents whose memories recall the dark
days before the war and the barbarous methods which led up to it, have
no idea of the value a slave placed upon his freedom which was dearer
to him than life itself.
This very motive, then must have prompted the late
William T.
Brown, colored, of this city, who himself was a freed bondsman,
when he purchased for the nominal sum of $250, the freedom of one Noah
Collins, who was a
slave on the plantation of a wealthy southern family.
Who Brown Was
William T. Brown came to this city in the early fifties,
having purchased his freedom from his owner in Washington county,
Maryland.
He was of an industrious disposition and soon secured a responsible
position despite his color. He married and raised five children, three
sons and two daughters. He led an exemplary life and accumulated
considerable means which he devoted to the furthering of the rights of
the colored race. He purchased the freedom of a number of slaves and
secured them positions from which they were able to save enough money
to refund the purchase price. He was well-thought of by all who knew
him and when he died in 1892, his funeral was attended by the village
officials and by many prominent citizens. His family separated after
his demise and only one daughter remained in the city. She is Miss
Louise
Brown of 42 Castle street, who conducts a fashionable hair dressing
establishment
at that address. Miss Brown succeeded her mother in the business, the
latter
having died two years ago.
Little if anything was known of the philanthropy of Mr. Brown until
recently when some papers were discovered that threw light upon the
subject. One of them is a certificate to the effect that Mr. Brown was
a free man and the other shows that he purchased the freedom of the man
Collins. Following are the certificates and deeds:
The Indenture
State of Maryland,
Washington county, to wit: I hereby certify that it hath been
proven
to my satisfaction by a deed of manumission recorded in Liber H, folio
941
and 942, one of the landlord books of Washington county aforesaid, that
the
bearer hereof, William T. Brown is a free man.
The said William is of a shade termed "Mullato," five feet, six and
one-half inches in height, thirty-five years of age, has a small mole
in his right ear, and is in appearance very comely and of a mild
disposition.
In
testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of
Washington county court at Hagerstown, this 8th day of June, A. D.,
1839. O.
H. Williams, Clerk
THE DEED
"Know all men
by these presents that we, Frederick Dorsey and Jane Randall of
Washington
county and state of Maryland, administrators of Vachel W. Randall,
esq.,
late of said county, deceased, for and in consideration of the sum of
two
hundred and fifty dollars, current money, in hand paid by William T.
Brown,
of the said county and state at or before the sealing and delivering of
these
presents, the receipt whereof we, the said Frederick and Jane, do
hereby
fully acknowledge, have granted, bargained and sold, and by these
presents
do grant, bargain and sell unto the said William T. Brown, his
executors,
administrators and assigns, a certain Mullato man, slave for life,
named
Noah Collins, supposed to be about thirty-three years of age, late
belonging
to the estate of the said V. W. Randall, deceased, to have and to hold
the
said Mullato man, slave, or intended so to be, to the said William T.
Brown,
his executors, administrators, and assigns forever.
And we, the said Frederick and Jane, administrators as aforesaid, sell
said Mullato man, named Noah, as a slave for life, unto the said
William
T. Brown, his executors, administrators and assigns, against us, and
against
all and every other person or persons, shall and will warrant and
forever
defend by these presents.
In testimony whereof we hereunto subscribe our names and affix our
seals this twentieth day of June, Anno Domini, one thousand eight
hundred and
thirty-five.
FREDERICK DORSEY
JANE RANDALL
Return to Ontario County Homepage
Copyright © 2004-08, Ontario County
NYGenWeb and each contributor and author of materials herein. All
rights reserved.