Palladium Of Virginia And The Pacific Monitor

JOHN RANDOLPH & THE QUAKER.

A friend communicates the following anecdote. A Quaker, being on a passage to New York in the same steam boat with John Randolph, took occasion to form an acquaintance with him. "I understand," said he, "thou art John Randolph." "Yes, Sir," he replied—"I have heard many things concerning thee, and have a high esteem for thy character, save in one particular." "And what is that?" "While thou art a valiant defender of the rights of freemen: I am told thou dost retain thy fellow men in bondage!" "Your charge is true," said Mr. Randolph—but what shall be done?" "Thou must set them free." "Well I will make a proposition to you. I have a hundred slaves—I wish them to be happy. Now if you will take them off my hands, and bind yourself to pay me their worth: only in case you do not place them in so good circumstances as they now are, they shall be yours."

The Quaker did not expect this—he hesitated. Mr. Randolph then offered to give him ten days to consider the subject. After a brief season, however the Quaker declined the proposal.

Now there are two or three inferences to be deducted from this narration. 1. We at the north are too apt to condemn indiscriminately our southern brethren for holding slaves—when to set them free at home would be certain insurrection, and when there are not the means for sending them abroad. 2. Are there not many liberal-minded men in the southern states, who like John Randolph, would give freedom to their slaves, were they sure of their being suitably provided for in a foreign country. 3. How important, that the colony in Africa should be speedily taken under the patronage of government; or otherwise so sustained as to give confidence to all our citizens and to the blacks themselves.

Tel.