Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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JEFFERSON DAVIS PR: The Story of a When, io 183;"), Jefferson Davis, later president of the Confederacy, left the regular army, his elder broth er, Joseph, gavo him Brierfield, a splendid plantation of two thousand seres on thc Mississippi River, a few miles below Vicksburg, and a number of slaves. These latter included a growing negro boy called Ben Mont gomery, whom Mr. Davis made his body servant. Thc lad was unusually intelligent, and Mr. Davis saw that in him were capabilities not common to the African race. He taught him to xesd, and then to write and soon ho became an admirable assistant. He wrs not only Jefferson Davis's body servant, but also his private secre tary, bookkeeper and general facto tum. His penmanship was beautiful, and his plantation bookkeeping, in its simplicity and accuracy, was the envy and admiration of the country-side. He knew more of the business of the Davis brothers, except themselves, than anyone else. After Jefferson Davis entered poli tics, Ben Montgomery became still more useful. When the master was on his long campaign tours or in Washington, Montgomery had authori ty to open letters not marked as pri vate, and to answer them; he bad power in writing answers to transact any business necessary for the planta tion. By this time Montgomery had come to have absolute charge of the Brierfield estate. He did not inter 1 te with the management of the ne groes, or with anything oise under the overseer's purview; but the general business of the place he transacted without consulting anybody except kia master. When Jefferson Davis left Wash ington, in 1861. aftor resigning his seat in the Senate, he went to Brier field. His estate was his sole main taiuanoe. It was certain that, during the impending straggle, he must be absent much of the time, and whom should he leave in ohargo of the ?state? Finally Joseph Davis asked, *'Why not Ben Montgomery?" and the suggestion was adopted. The usual white overseers wero left in charge of the farming operations, but to the slave, Ben Montgomery, was instructed the financial part of the business, under the direction of his master. The cotton crops of 1801 and 1862 wore good, and, although there was some trouble about mar keting the crop of the latter year, it was mcally seat to New Orleans and later warehoused in Liverpool, to be sold when the money it might bring would be needed. There were not more than four hundred and fifty bales, for the South then needed oom and food supplier znorethan it did cot ton, aud so the land was devoted large ly to food crops Then early in 1863 came the Emancipation Procla tiou of President Lincoln, and with it to the South, the equally dangerous Aetof confie.-Mion. This latter was , put tote execution, wherever possible, with great energy. Treasury agents, armed with ali the forms of law, or without them sometimes, seized all property belonging to the list of sus pects as soon as it came under the protection of the Union armies. Then, for the first timo in his life, Ben Montgomery asked permission to visit Richmond. *'Dear Marse Jeff," he wrote, "I want to go to Richmond to see you, and I waut to go right away. Tbcrc is something that 1 want to tell you that I dare not write, so do please let me go to Richmond at once." 1ft/. Davis could not imagine what the r>Z-gpo had on his mind, but wrote him to euwae, and sent him thc neces sary permit for a slave to travel. 4,?M>?r?e Jeff," said Beo, when he i .i T>:_I_...i ... J i . i " _ -. arrtVcu av iiiuumuu'i nuil iiuu SO i?p portunity to ttlk with hi* master "you know Mr Lincoln hat? issued what "fe? c*lls an emancipation procla mation, sad with it another proclama tion confiscating thc property of cer tain arch-rebels, as he calls them. Now, they are ? ng to couthcate your property just a- soon as they get a chance. Suppose you and Master Joe sell me your estates, and do it before the Yankees capture our country." "Why, Ben," Mr. Davis said, "you are a slave and can't hold property in Mississippi" {,That is true/' said Ben, "but you can 8el me free. Make out two sets 1 of free papers. Give me one set and keep one yourself. Then make out a third paper, w'aiou shall say that un der certain conditions* the free papers axe to be canceled." The conditions were that tho Fed erals- should capture the city of Vicks burg, *<>6V the Davis estate whioh lay 18 miles below. / "Why, Ben, that's an excellent / ides. Let me think it over for a day or two," Mr. Davis said. He talked it over with his brother J I [VATE SECRETARY. , Faithful Slave. Joseph. It was important to them ' that they should have ?he income of : this estate. If the Federal soldiers ! should capture Vicksburg, about the first property they would confiscate and plunder would be the Davis estate. But, if this property belong ed to a negro, freed before the capture of Vicksburg, then, under thc Eman cipation Proclamation, it would be his, aud could not be seized by the Federal agents. Tho plan promised well, and thc Davis brothers, after consultation, decided to adopt it. Jefferson Davis loaned to Ben, for the purpose of making tho sale, 110,000. The consideration for the estate was $30,000, on 10 years' time, with inter est at six per cent. Knowing there would bc some trouble about the mat ter, tho legal papers were drawn with exceptional care. John A. Campbell, who resigned his place on the United States supreme bench when the war begun, was thc attorney; at the same time he drew Ben's free papers, with a clause in each that, under certain conditions, thc free papers saould be come null and void. Returning to Brierfield, Montgome ry had all thc papers promptly record ed in the proper offices in Warren County, Miss. Events speedily show ed that he acted wisely, for in less than a week after Vicksburg fell, in July, 18G3, an agent of thc United StateH treasury department appeared at Brierfield to tako possession of the goods, chattels, und movables on the plantation, preparatory tu formal con fiscation of the property by the United States. The agent traveled in State, escorted by a troop of cavalry, only to be met by Montgomery,who mildly ask ed his business. "I have come," said the agent, "to tako possession of all movable goods and 6tores on Jefferson Davis' planta tion." "Mr. Davis owns no plantation in this section of thc country," Mont gomery rejoined. "Then to whom does this place be long?" queried the astonished officer. "These three ?wantations," answer ed Montgomery, calmly, "consisting of tho Hurricane, Palmyra aud Brier field estates, aro my property." "You don't suppose that I'll be lieve suoh a story as that, do you?" asked the agent. "Tho story that I have told you is true in overy respect," said Mont gomery. "If you will come into the house, I will show you all the papers, end you can decide upon their legal ity." The agent was a lawyer, and, when bc looked over the deeds, he saw that a correct legal transfer had been made. But he said, in triumph: "At the time this sale was made, you were a slave. You could not hold real estate in Mississippi." Thereupon Montgomery, with a snilo. handed the agent his free pa pers, made out and legally verified four days before the title to the real estate was passed. "Now," said Montgomery, "this country is under the protection of the United States, is it uot?" "Why, yes." said the officer, "it is." "And, I am entitled to all the rights und privileges of a citizen of tho United States, um I not?" "I suppose you are," was the re luctant reply. "Then, sir, under the Emancipa tion Proclamation of President Lin coln, and by virtue of these free pa V? rs made beforo that proclamation was issued, I am a citizen of the Uni ted States, with all the rights and privileges that any citizen has. You arc especially enjoined by that proola tion to see that I sod all of my race are protected in our legal rights, are you not?" "Yes," replied thc officer, who saw that he was cornered. "Then I request that you leave my property untouched, for otherwise I shall call upon the President of tho United States io know whether or not this proclamation is more than an empty form." The agent and his escort went bu"k toVicksburg. Montgomery at onoe addressed a letter to the commanding officer at Vicksburg, setting furth that : he was a free man of color, the legal ; owner of eertain plantations, whioh were specified by name; that an offi cer of the United States had called upon bim and endeavored to deprive him of bis property without due pro wess of law, and he demanded of the j commanding officer his protection and that of the United States. Still, the spoil was too rioh to be relinquished by the treasury agents without a fight, and in despair, Montgomery deolded upon a groat stroke. He called upon tho Federal commander at Vioksbttrg .ad asked that a lieutenant and guard be put in charge at Brierfield for ten days' time, and also for leave to travel on a government boat bound fer Cin cinnati. Ile bad resolved to visit Washington, sec President Lincoln, and lay thc case before him personal ly. He chanced to know Judge Holt, then judge advocate of the army. When he arrived in Washington, he at once went to see him, and asked to be taken to the president. "I'm a free man, now judge," "he said. "You have known me for many years. I want you to take mo to Mr. Lincoln and tell him what my charac ter is. for I have important business with him." Judge Holt went with Montgomery to Mr. Lincoln. "Mr. President," he said, "this is Ben Montgomery, who for 30 years, has been the private secretary cf Jef ferson Davis." "Private secretary?" queried Mr. Lincoln. "Yes," said Judge Holt, "that is what I said. He is an honest mao, and what he says is true. He wishes ti seo you on important business, and I will leave you and him to transact it," and Judge Holt left them alone. "Well, what can I do for you, my friend?" asked Mr. Lincoln, after the judge had gene. Montgomery related what bad oc cu-, red. "Mr. Davis has been very kind to me," he went on, "and I did this as much to ^elp him as to help myself. This war is nearly over. I believe that you people will succeed. What you will do with Master Jeff, I do not know; but I am going to do my best to keep his wife and children from starving." Mr. Lincoln was deeply moved. "Do you mean to tell mo," he asked, "that you have been Mr. Davis' sec retary all thepe yeara?" "I do not know what you would call it, Mr. President," the negro replied, "but for 30 years I have written his business letters, looked after the affairs of the plantation, carried large sums of money to New Orleans and Cincinnati for him, and have had his fullest confidence io every way. In all his life he has never spoken to me au unkind word." "Do you koo* of any other such case a* yours, Montgomery?" asked the president, as he ro>e and paced the floor. "No, sir, I do not," was the icply; "but, doubtless, there are such oa^es. Now, Mr. President, what I want you to do is this: I want you to give me a writing directing ali military and civil officers to proteot me io the pos session of my property." The president sat at his desk, and then and ther wrote an order which enjoined upon all military, naval, and oivil officers the protection of Benja min Montgomery, the owner of three plantations that were named, and di rected that he be given any assistance he might require in furtherance of these orders. It was signed, "Abra ham Line?lo." This was about Au gust 1,1863. Montgomery went home and at once rhowed his letter to the aommacder at Vicksburg, who issued orders that he should be protected in the possession ox his property. The president di rected the secretary of the treasury to instruct agents to let Montgomery alone, and he was not disturbed. After the war, he went quietly ahead with his business. He saved money, and kept the hands pretty well to gether, though they were few Dur ing the years of reconstruction, Mont gomery went on with his cotton grow ing, and attended olot-cly to business. His credit in Vicksburg aod New Orleans was equal to that of any planter in the country; his orders for supplies were promptly filled, and his payments were made at the promised time lu 1882, Montgomery felt that he Mirth is an almost in fallible sign of good health. A sick woman may loree a smile or at times Ix; moved to laugh ter. Ilut when a woman is bubbling over wit li mirth and merriment she is surely a well woman. Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription has made thousands of melancholy and mis erable women cheerful and happy, by curing the painful womanly diseases which undermine a woman's health and strength. It establishes regularity and so dees away with monthly misery. It dues debilitating drains and so cures tlie cause of much womanly weakness. I It heals inflammation and ulceration, and cures the bearing-down pains, which are such a source of suffering to sick women. ?I tat- arrest pleasure In recommit, ulng nr. i Pierce'? Favorite Prescription for fcn.*lc weak ness." writes Mrs. Susannah Fermenter, of Paula Store, Shelby Cc,Texas. ? I wu troubled with bearing-down pains in my back aaa hips for six years, sod I wrote to Doctor Pierce lor advice. X tried hi? ' Favorite PrcscrtpUon ' and six bottles cared me. 1 feel like a new person snd I thank Dr. Pierce for my asalta. Ufe Us barden to any one without health. I hers told S great many of my friends about thc great medicine I took." Accept no substitute for ?Favorite Prescription.* There is nothing "just as good.? Dr. Pierce's Common Sense Medical Adviser is sent frt* on receipt of stamps to pay expense of mailing only. Send ai one-e*nt stamps for the paper covered book, or 3z stamps for the cloth bound. Address Dr. R. V. Fierce, Buffalo, N. Y. was getting too old to manage properly the business of the estates. So a friendly suit of foreclosure was >rought, and the great estate, Joseph Davis having been dead some years, reverted to Jefferson Davis. He and Montgomery settled their accounts, and Montgomery, after that settle ment, which assured him some $200, 000, was the richest colored man in Mississippi. Two years thereafter he J died. No man, white or black, could . have been more sincerely mourned. ? Montgomery's funeral was attended by Mr. Davis and by all the promi nent planters within 20 or 30 miles. In an address at the grave, Mr. Davis said: "I have bad in my life many true and faithful friends, but none more faithful than was he whom this day we have laid to reist."-R. R. Wilson, in October Success. .- mn m m Sensible to the Last. A good etcry is told cf a late Dublin doctor famous for his skill and also his grest love of money. He ha-i a constant and enriching patient in an old shopkeeper. This old lady was terribly rheumatic and unable to leave her sofa. During the doctor's visits she kept a one pound note in her hand, whioh duly went into Dr. C's pooket. One morning he found her lying dead on the sofa. Sighing deeply, tho doc tor approached, and. taking her hand in his, he saw the fingers dosed on his fee. "Poor thing!" he said as he pock eted it! "Sensible to the last!" This signature ia on every box of tba gennlno Laxative Broco-Quinine Tauet? th? remedy that cona . ?old ln.oeaa.dajr -i i -- - A wise bride always improves the present by disposing of the dupli cate wedding gift._ Gives the Eclipse Credit. .Washington, D. C., Oct. 18.-To some peonliar and inexplicabl Inner phenomenon accompanying the total eclipse of the moon on Thursday night, Howard Merriman, the aged negro messenger of the Treasury De partment press room, attributes the reoovery of his voice. For months past he has been hardly able to make himself heard in a whisper, his vocal cords apparently being paralyzed. But yesterday morning when he re ported for work he greeted his chief in a clear, strong, youthful voice. Merriman solemnly and seriously asserted that, during the eclipse he found bis voice ohangiog and that when the moon had passed out of the earth's shadow bis voioe was as olear and strong as in the days of the re construction period following the war, when he was a Sheriff in lower Mis sissippi and aided in running down members of the Ku-Klux Klan. Origin of Watered Stock. The expression, "watered stock," whioh desoribes so well the expansion of the stock of a company beyond the value of the property, originated, it is sajd, in connection with Daniel Drew, who was onoe the wealthiest and most unique manipulator in Wall street. Drew had been a drover in his younger days and it was said of him that be fore selling his cattle in the market he would first give them large quanti ties of salt to make them thirsty and then provide them with all the water they could drink. In this way their weight was greatly increased and the purohaser was buying "watered stock."-Leslie's Weekly. mt * m - He-"Suppose our marriage isn't a success?" She-"Well, wo oan divide the presents. Who JPnts np Your Prescriptions fi WE invite the privilege. . We use the best quality ol every drug ; we exercise the moat exacting care with every part of the work. We produce medicine that brings the best possible resulta. We charge only a living profit above the cost ol materials. Let Us Fill Your Prescriptions. EVANS PHARMACY, ANDERSON, S. C. MAKE YOUR WIFE HAPPY ? WHEN you sell your Cotton put aside a little, drop in and see us, and let us fix up a SUITE OF FURNITURE, or Pet of DINING CHAIRS, or LOUNGE, or a nice ROCKING CHAIR, for you to make a nice present to your wife. PEOPLES FURNITURE CO. COFFINS and CASKETS. Up-to-Date Funeral Car. Everything in*the Furniture line. Give us a call. SEED OATS, SEED OATS ! J HST RECEIVED a Car of TEXAS RED RUST PROOF OATS for Fall sowing. Come to see us-will make prices right and eave yon money. SEED BARLEY AND RYE. CB Ul BD -Egleheart'a Swan Down, one of the be3t Patent Flours 8 LU Uli. on tho market, at 84.50 per barrel. Half Patent Flour, that will give you entire satisfaction or money refunded, at 84.00 per barrel PH LL IT CT --Ten pounds Roasted Coffee for $1.00. bUll EL&Twelve pounds Green Coffee for $1.00. MAI ACC To suit your taste and pocket, from 25c. to 60c. mULAdbES per gallon BLACK MARIA CHEWING TOBACCO is the beat. 19" Come to see us. We want a liberal share of your trade. WHITE FRONT-SOUTH SQUARE. ANDERSON CASH GROCERY COMPANY. BELT Machinery Supplies. RUBBER and LEATHER BELT ir. all widths. Our celebrated Carbon Rubber Belt has been on this market for the past seven years. The quality is the best put into any Belt of same price. Each year shows increased sales. Our "Akron" Lea her Belt is the best that money can buy. Lace Leather. Pipe and Pipe Fitting*. " Injectors and Inspirators. Pac1 ; og of all lands. Steam Hose. Wood Split Pulleyo, Shafting, &c. Everything needed by the man running machinery can be found in oa r stock. Axe in many respects like other ulcers or Bores, and this resemblance often provea fab? Valuable time ls lost in fruitless efforts to ?S the sore -with washes and salves, because the germs of Cancer that ore mote! plying in the blood and the new Cancer cells which are constantly develen! ing keep np the irritation and discharge, and at last sharp shooting p^ announce the approach of the eating; and sloughing stage, and a WdconjL sickening cancerous sore begins its destructive work. Pebroajnr, 1890, X noUuod a (Buu No ulcer or sore can exist with- ^^u^l?S; cam^SS'? out some predisposing internal cause oat into am open ?or*. ? Hassan to t&v2 that has poisoned the blood, and thc ?. 8. s. ana after X had taken aavs? bot. opeudischarging^cer?orthe?^ X?tf? h???a? ing sore on the lip, cheek or other w.P.Brawn,Hollaaaa,o.Q* part of the body will continue to spread and eat deeper into the flesh unless the blood is purified and the Cancer germs or morbid matter eliminated from the circulation. 8. S. S. cleanses the blood of all decaying effete matter. It has great antidotal and purifying properties that soon destroy the germs and poison* and restore the blood to its natural condition. And when pure blood it carried to the ulcer or sore the healing process begins, the discharge ceases and the place heals over and new skin forms. S. S. S. is a strictly -vege* table blood purifier containing no mercury <* minerals of any description. If yon have an ulcer or chronic sore of any kind, write ns about it, medi cal advice will cost you nothing. Books on Cancer and other diseases of the blood will be sent free. THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., Allstate, fia. LARGE AND FAT. One at 15c. Two for 25o. This ia Mackerel. Cheaper than bacon. C. FRANK BOLT, THE CASH; GROCER D. 8. VANDIVER. E. P. VANDIVEB. VANDIVER BROS., GENERAL MSW CHANTS, ANDERSON, 8. C., OctoWr 8.1902. We propose pulling trade our way this Fall, and have made prices on good, reliable, honest Goods that Wiri *ertainlv brine it We have the strongest line of Men's. Women's and Children's SHOES we have ever shown, and have th? m mai ked down KO (nw thar, every pair ia a great value. We have another h>g lot of Sample bhot? ib?i we throw on the market at f. ctory,prices. Gmo quiok while we have your sise. We are money-saver* on GR' )CJ?RIE^. Bes'. Patient Flour 84.50 per barrel. Best Half Patent Flour 04.00. Extr* Goad Pl mr 83.75. COFFEE, SUttAR, LARI), BACON, BRAN, CORN aud OATS always in stock, just a little cheaper thau the market priced Wo are strictly in for busiu tis and want your trade. Try us and you will stick to us. Your truly, VANDIVER BROS. JUST RECEIVED, TWO CARS OF BUGGIES, ALL PRICES, from a 835.00 Top Buggy up to the finest Rubber Tired job -ALSO, A LOT OF WAGONS, That we want to sell at once. We keep a large stock of Georgia Home Made Harness Cheap? The finest, light draft Mower In the world. Come and see it. . Yours in earnest, VANDIVER BROS. & MAJOR. Have d ust Kecefved Two Care Fine Tennessee Valley Red Gob Corn. P?'R FSCTLY SOUND* You run no risk in feeding this to your s ? Will also make the very finest meal. Come quiok beforo it is all gone. ?. O. ANDERSON. A. C. STICKLAND, DENTIST, OFFICE-Front Rooms over Fara era and Merchante Bank. { Tho oppoplte oat i il nitrates Con tinuous Gnni Teeth. The Ideal Plato-more cleanly than the natu re! teeth. Nc bau tama or breath from Piaf--M? of tbls kind* A LONG LOOK AHEAD A man thinks it is when the matter of life insurance suggests itself-but circumstan ces of late have shown hov life hangs by s thread when w?r, flood, ttirricane and BM suddenly overtake* vou. and : the only way tc be sure that your family ls protected? - case of calamitr overtaking you is to nv sure in a solid Company like- ' The Mutual Benefit Life Ins, Go. Drop, in end see us about it. ; STATIS A6EST* Peoples' Bank Building, ANDEK80?? 0. *C?