The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 1Newell, R. H. (Robert Henry)
History
The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 1
Newell, R. H. (Robert Henry)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Nobody believed it could be done, my boy--nobody believed it could be
done; but Villiam understood his species, and issued the following
PROCLAMATION.
The Union men of the South are hereby informed that the United
States of America has reasserted hisself, and will shortly open a
bar-room in Paris. Also, cigars and other necessaries of life. By
order of
CAPTAIN VILLIAM BROWN, Eskevire.
"There," says Villiam, "the human intelleck may do what violence might
fail to accomplish. Ah!" says Villiam, "moral suasion is more majestik
than an army with banners."
In just half an hour after the above Proclamation was issued, my boy,
the hum of countless approaching voices called us to the ramparts. A
vast multitude was approaching. It was the Union men of the South, my
boy, who had read the manifesto of a beneficent Government, and were
coming back to take the Oath--with a trifle of sugar in it.
How necessary it is, my boy, that men intrusted with important
commands--generals and governors responsible for the pacification and
welfare of misguided provinces--should understand just how and when to
touch that sensitive chord in our common nature which vibrates
responsively when man is invited to take something by his fellow-man.
Scarcely had Villiam assumed his office and suppressed two reporters,
when there were brought before him a fugitive contraband of the color
of old meerschaum, and a planter from the adjacent county, who claimed
the slave.
"It's me--that's Misther Murphy--would be afther axing your riverence
to return the black crayture at once," says the planter; "for its
meself that owns him, and he runn'd away right under me nose and eyes
as soon as me back was turned."
"Ah!" says Villiam, balancing a tumbler in his right hand. "Are you a
Southerner, Mr. Murphy?"
"Yaysir," says Mr. Murphy, "it's that I am, intirely. Be the same
token, I was raised and born in the swate South--the South of Ireland."
"Are you Chivalry?" says Villiam, thoughtfully.
"Is it Chivalry!--ah, but it's that I am, and me father before me, and
me childers that's afther me. If Chivalry was praties I could furnish a
dinner to all the wur-ruld, and have enough left to fade the pigs."
"Murphy is a French name," says Villiam, drawing a copy of Vattel on
International Law from his pocket and glancing at it, "but I will not
dispute what you say. You must do without your contraband, however; for
slavery and martial law don't agree together in the United States of
America."
"Mr. Black," says Villiam, gravely, turning to the emancipated African,
"you have come to the right shop for freedom. You are from henceforth a
freeman and a brother-in-law. You are now your own master," says
Villiam, encouragingly, "and no man has a right to order you about. You
are in the full enjoyment of Heving's best gift--Freedom! Go and black
my boots."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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