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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1830
daughter Sarah eighteen negroes, in addition to several other which she held and claimed as her own. Some time afterwards, ~he was married to Maj. Farrington;' of Georgia, and the nuptials took place in Columbus, Georgia. Previous to her marriage, her negroes had principally been removed to Arkansas; her husband and herself followed them; on his arrival in Arkansas, he re- duced them to possession, and as long as she lived he ex:::rcised over them, with her full consent, ownership, and had overseers in his employ, and raised a crop of corn. His wife then deczased- Jeaving a young child, which after a short time, also died. The negroes sti!l in possession of the father of the child. This oc- curred sometime after Judg2 Blake's "exile" came to Arkansas, and after he had lain very ill of fever for over two months. Maj. Farrington, intending to leave the Nation, and locate himself in the Territory of Arkansas, called upon the "exile," and wished his advice. He declined giving it; but, upon a knowledge of all the facts, gave his advice, which was this: "that Maj. Farrington should obtain proof of the facts by depositions of those whose know!edge of them could b2 relied upon; that a memorial should then be drawn and forwarded to the War Department, accom- J>anied by the depositions, and if the Secretary of War did not decide upon the case, it could then be referred to the Agent of the Creeks, where all the parties would be present, and when justice could be done. This advice was pursued, and the Depon- ents were sworn by Judge Blake, and the same certified to the War Department by him. (Was this villainy?) The memorial was handed to the Sfcretary of War by the "exile;" with the depo- sitions, and left to his discretion, and without giving an opinion or even urging a decision. Let the Judge publish them, if Col. McKinney 5 will give them leave to do so. But the fee. The Exi!e agreed to take the fee proposed by Maj. Farrington, and was at Cantonment Gibson when he took his obligation and had it attested by two officers of the Garrison. Judge, did this look ras- cally? If the transaction was wrong, why dicl you swea1· the witnesses to their depositions? This is too flat Judge. I will now tell you a secret, my learned friend, that perhaps you are not aware of. It is this: The reason why the exile did not engage to transact Maj. Farrington's business at first, will be found in fact that he told Maj. F. "it wou!d most probably not succeed, as you woulcl be ovposecl to his getting the possession of the negroes, (though, according to the laws of the States, they belonged to him,) unless you were BRIBED, and that your association with
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