{PDF EPUB} a Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison by Paul Jennings Author: Paul Jennings
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Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison by Paul Jennings Author: Paul Jennings. A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison by Paul Jennings (1865) In A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison , published as a magazine article in 1863 and in book form two years later, Paul Jennings relates his experiences as the fourth president ‘s enslaved footman in the White House. The White House Historical Association has described it as “the first memoir about the White House by one who had lived there.” The preface is written by John Brooks Russell, who helped the literate Jennings write it and submit it for publication to the Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries Concerning the Antiquities, History and Biography of America . Letter from Paul Jennings to Dolley Madison (April 23, 1844) In this letter to Dolley Madison , dated April 23, 1844, Paul Jennings , a Madison-owned slave, reports on the goings-on at the Madison plantation, Montpelier. He mentions Madison’s son, Payne Todd, and notes that his (Jennings’s) wife, Fanny, is ill. A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison by Paul Jennings. Paul Jennings, b. 1799 A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison Brooklyn: G.C. Beadle, 1865. Paul Jennings (1799-1874) was a slave whose service as a body servant to James Madison (1751-1836) and Daniel Webster (1782-1852) made him a witness to historic national events. Jennings was the son of an English trader named Benjamin Jennings and a slave who lived on Madison's Montpelier, Virginia, estate. Jennings lived in the White House during the Madison presidency (1809-17) and "was always with Mr. Madison till he died" in 1836 (p. 18). Ten years later, Dolley Madison (1768-1849) sold Jennings to an insurance agent, but Daniel Webster bought him back just six months afterwards for one hundred and twenty dollars (Chase, 54). Webster allowed Jennings to work out his freedom, crediting Jennings' service at the rate of eight dollars per month. Jennings subsequently plotted to free seventy slaves living in the District of Columbia but escaped the prosecution that other conspirators faced when the fugitives were recaptured. Jennings lived to work as a book binder in the Department of the Interior, a position that enabled him to save enough money to buy his own house. The Reminiscences (1865) of Paul Jennings are written by an unknown author ("J.B.R.") who judges that Jennings' "recollections were worth writing down in almost his own language" (iii). The author is primarily concerned with providing an insider's perspective on the War of 1812, but his narrative also provides insight into the role of African Americans in Washington society, along with the earliest account of life inside the White House. When the British attack Washington in 1814, Madison reviews the troops charged with the city's defense. Among them are several "tall, strapping negroes, mixed with white sailors and marines" (p. 7). Madison asks the commanding officer "if his 'negroes would not run on the approach of the British,'" and the officer replies that "they don't know how to run; they will die by their guns first" (pp. 7-8). The African American soldiers fight well and do not run, but the city falls nonetheless. During the evacuation of Washington, Jennings escapes to the countryside, where a white wagoner threatens to kill him with a gun. Jennings coolly replies that the man should "have used it at Bladensburg" to fight the British and is saved from retaliation only by the arrival of Madison (p. 10). In addition to describing the war, Jennings provides insights into Madison's relationship with slaves outside a martial context. He attributes a popular legend associated with George Washington to his own master. While Madison is riding one day, he meets "a colored man, who took off his hat. Mr. M. raised his, to the surprise of [his companion]; to whom Mr. M. replied, 'I never allow a negro to excel me in politeness'" (pp. 17- 18). Madison's reply implies a belief in his own racial superiority, but in other interactions with slaves, Madison treats African Americans with respect, and Jennings calls him "one of the best men that ever lived" (p. 15). Jennings "never knew him to strike a slave, although he had over one hundred; neither would he allow an overseer to do it," and Madison even issues verbal reprimands in private, rather than in public, in order to spare the feelings of his slaves (p. 15). After the president's death, Dolley Madison becomes impoverished, and Jennings repays President Madison's kindness through his treatment of Madison's widow, giving "her small sums from my own pocket" (p. 15). Jennings also gives Dolley Madison the credit for emancipating him, even though a bill of sale reprinted at the beginning of the Reminiscences and other historical evidence makes it clear that Webster is the one who actually gave Jennings his freedom. A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison by Paul Jennings (1865) In A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison , published as a magazine article in 1863 and in book form two years later, Paul Jennings relates his experiences as the fourth president ‘s enslaved footman in the White House. The White House Historical Association has described it as “the first memoir about the White House by one who had lived there.” The preface is written by John Brooks Russell, who helped the literate Jennings write it and submit it for publication to the Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries Concerning the Antiquities, History and Biography of America . PREFACE. Among the laborers at the Department of the Interior is an intelligent colored man, Paul Jennings, who was born a slave on President Madison’s estate, in Montpelier, Va., in 1799. His reputed father was Benj. Jennings, an English trader there; his mother, a slave of Mr. Madison, and the grand-daughter of an Indian . Paul was a “body servant” of Mr. Madison, till his death, and afterwards of Daniel Webster, having purchased his freedom of Mrs. Madison . His character for sobriety, truth, and fidelity, is unquestioned; and as he was a daily witness of interesting events, I have thought some of his recollections were worth writing down in almost his own language. On the 10th of January, 1865, at a curious sale of books, coins and autographs belonging to Edward M. Thomas, a colored man, for many years Messenger to the House of Representatives, was sold, among other curious lots, an autograph of Daniel Webster, containing these words: “I have paid $120 for the freedom of Paul Jennings; he agrees to work out the same at $8 per month, to be furnished with board, clothes, washing,” &c. REMINISCENCES OF MADISON. About ten years before Mr. Madison was President, he and Colonel [James] Monroe were rival candidates for the Legislature. Mr. Madison was anxious to be elected, and sent his chariot to bring up a Scotchman to the polls, who lived in the neighborhood. But when brought up, he cried out: “Put me down for Colonel Monroe, for he was the first man that took me by the hand in this country.” Colonel Monroe was elected, and his friends joked Mr. Madison pretty hard about his Scotch friend, and I have heard Mr. Madison and Colonel Monroe have many a hearty laugh over the subject, for years after. When Mr. Madison was chosen President , we came on and moved into the White House; the east room was not finished, and Pennsylvania. Avenue was not paved, but was always in an awful condition from either mud or dust. The city was a dreary place. Mr. Robert Smith was then Secretary of State, but as he and Mr. Madison could not agree, he was removed, and Colonel Monroe appointed to his place. Dr. [William] Eustis was Secretary of War—rather a rough, blustering man; Mr. [Albert] Gallatin, a tip-top man, was Secretary of the Treasury; and Mr. [Paul] Hamilton, of South Carolina, a pleasant gentleman, who thought Mr. Madison could do nothing wrong, and who always concurred in every thing he said, was Secretary of the Navy. Before the war of 1812 was declared, there were frequent consultations at the White House as to the expediency of doing it. Colonel Monroe was always fierce for it, so were Messrs. [South Carolina representative William] Lowndes, [William Branch] Giles, [Julien de Lallande] Poydrass, and [Kentucky senator John] Pope—all Southerners; all his Secretaries were likewise in favor of it. Soon after war was declared, Mr. Madison made his regular summer visit to his farm in Virginia. We had not been there long before an express. reached us one evening, informing Mr. M. of [American] Gen. [William] Hull’s surrender. He was astounded at the news, and started back to Washington the next morning. After the war had been going on for a couple of years, the people of Washington began to be alarmed for the safety of the city, as the British held Chesapeake Bay with a powerful fleet and army. Every thing seemed to be left to General [William] Armstrong, then Secretary of war, who ridiculed the idea that there was any danger. But, in August, 1814, the enemy had got so near, there could be no doubt of their intentions. Great alarm existed, and some feeble preparations for defence were made. Com[modore]. [Joshua] Barney’s flotilla was stripped of men, who were placed in battery, at Bladensburg, where they fought splendidly. A large part of his men were tall, strapping negroes, mixed with white sailors and marines.