UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

.
58 KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
before,in the whole course of my life,have I been
chargedwith a dishonest act. And from my solicitudefor your
son isnatural, and it would bo
chilclhoud kind parents, whose names I deeplygratifying
to be able to reward itbyreleasing him,
reverence, have instilled into my mind a desire to
be virtuous and honorable ; and it has ever been
my aim so to conduct myselfas to merit the confidence
and esteem of my fellow-men. But, gentlemen,
and our
peace as a people. He is doomed to the
I have violated your laws. This offence I shortestperiod known to our statute. And, at all
did commit ; and I now stand before you, to my events, I could not interferewith his case for
sorrow and regret,
as a criminal. But I was some time to come ;.andțo be frank with you, I do
prompted to it by feelings of humanity. It has not see how his time can be lessened at all. But
one with which I am charged.But, gentlemen,
the impressionis false. I alone am guilty, I
alone committed the offence,and I alone must
the prayers and blessings
mother who love their child."
and
A great deal of sensation now appearedin the
He
court-room, and most of the juryare said to have
was at first put to sawingand scrubbing
"
wept. They retired for a few moments, and rock ; but,as the delicacy of his frame
returned a verdict for three years imprisonmentunfitted him for such labors, and the spotless
in the penitentiary.
sanctity
The NashvilleDailyGazette of April13,1849,
of his life won the reverence of his
contains the following notice
jailers, he was soon promotedto be steward
:
of the prisonhospital Ịn a letter to a
"Richard
5th day of December
"
THE KIDNAPPING CASE.
Dillingham, who was arrested on the
last,having in his possession
three slaveswhom he intended to convey with him
to a free state,was arraignedyesterday and tried
in the Criminal Court. The prisoner confessed his
guilt, and made a short speechin palliation of his
'offence. He avowed that the act was undertaken
His mother,before leavingNashville,visited
the governor, and had an interview with him in
regard to pardoningher son. He gave her some
7th mO. was received,and would have been noticed
*
It.D.'s father survived him only a few months.
earlier but for my absence from homo. Your
if it were in my power. But the offence for
which he is suffering was
made out,and
clearly
its tendency here is very hurtful to our rights,
been suspected,as I was informed țhat I am
my term of officewill expiresoon, and the
leagued with governor
a fraternity who are combined for elect, Gen. William Trousdale, will take my
the purpose of committingsuch offences as the place. To him you will make any future appeal.
"
Yours,"c. N. L. Brown.''
warden.
friend he thus announces
situation :
The warden of the penitentiary, John Mcintosh,
was much prejudicedagainsthim. He
suffer the penalty.My parents,my friends, my
though
relatives, are as innocent of any participation in
the sentence was too light, and,beingof
or knowledge of a stern bearing,
my offence as the babe unborn.
Richard had not much to expect
My parents are still from his kindness. But the same
living,
* thoughadvanced in
sterling integrity
and
years, and, in the course
ingenuousness which had ever, under all cir-
of nature, a few more
years will terminate their marked his conduct,soon
earthly existence. In
wrought a
change
their old age and infirmity theywill need a
stay
in the minds of his keepers, and of his
and protection ; and if enemies generallyḤe became a favorite with
you can, consistently with
your ideas of Mcintosh,and some of the guard. Accordingto
justice, make my term of imprisonment
the rules of the prison, he was not allowed to
a short one, you will receive the lasting
gratitude of a son who reverences his parents, and
write oftener than once in three months, and what
he wrote had,of course, to be
of
inspected by the
an agedfather
cumstances
this changein his
I suppose thou art,ere this time,informed of
the change in my situation, having been
in the hospital of the penitentiary as steward.
.
I feel but poorlyqualified to fillthe situationthey
to do the best I
placed
by himself without instigation from
have assignedme, but will
any source,
try
can
and he alone
I
was responsible for the error into
enjoy the comforts of a good fire
which his education had led him.
and a warm
He had, he
room, and am allowed to sit up
said,no other motive than the good of the slaves, evenings and read,which I prize as a greatprivilege
and did not
expect to claim I have now been here nearlynine
any advantageby
freeing them. He was sentenced to three months, and
years
have twenty-seven more to stay. It
imprisonment in the seems to me a
penitentiary, the least time
long time in prospect. I tryto be
as
the law allows for the offence committed. Mr. patient as I can, but sometimes I get lowspirited
Ị throw off the thoughtsof home and
Dillinghamis a Quaker from Ohio, and has been
a teacher in that state. He belongs to friends a as much as
respectable
possible ; for,when indulged
family,and he is not without the sympathy
in, they only increase my melancholyfeelings.
of those who attended the trial. It
And what wounds
was a foolhardy
my feelingsmost is the reflection
enterprise in which he embarked, and
of what you all sufferof grief and anxiety
dearlyhas he paidfor his rashness."
for me. Cease to grieve for me, for I am unworthy
of it ; and it only causes pain for you,
without availingaughtfor me As ever,
thine in the bonds of affection, R. D.
encouragement,but thoughtshe had better postpone
He had been in prison
her petition
present. After the more than a
lapse
of severalmonths, she wrote to him about it ; but year when the cholera invaded Nashville,
he seemed to have changedhis mind, as the followingand
broke out among the inmates ; Richard
letter will show :
was
up day and nightin attendance on
"
Nashville,August 29, 1849. the sick,his disinterested and sympathetic
"
Dear Madam : Your letter of the 6th of the nature leadinghim to labors to which his
delicate constitution, impairedby confinement,
was altogether inadequate.