Daily National Intelligencer. Saturday, June 25, 1859

Washington, DC: Gales and Seaton, 1859. Tabloid. Good. Side folding large tabloid newspaper. A single issue of this long running newspaper published in Washington DC, first published in 1800 and publishing until 1870, with an eventual bias toward conservative Whig policies. Besides the usual ads and political news, this issue contains two "Was Committed" notices (last page, bottom right), one pertaining to Mary Norris, George Park and Sally King, the other pertaining to Lewis West. All four were African-Americans, with Mary Norris, George Park and Lewis West being enslaved people from enslaver Robert E. Lee. According to the US National Park Service website devoted to Robert E. Lee's Arlington House Memorial, Mary Norris, George Parks and another man, Wesley Norris, believed they were free based on a provision in the will of George Washington Custis. Based on this knowledge, the three emancipated themselves, traveling to Pennsylvania. They were all captured in Maryland. According to contemporary newspaper accounts (New York Tribune in June, 1859), Lee had the re-captured African-Americans whipped. Wesley Norris himself wrote an article in the Anti-Slavery Standard in 1866, which provides his account of the whipping. Early historians and biographers dismissed both accounts, considering them to be accounts used for anti-slavery propaganda. Lee himself was silent on the subject, with many of his contemporaries and historians taking his silence as a denial. However, modern research suggests the accounts of Wesley Norris and others were true, dispelling the myth of Lee as benevolent enslaver perpetuated by earlier historians. The first notice states that Norris, Park and West were committed to jail on May 26th and that "George and Mary say they belong to Col. Robert Lee of Fairfax County, Virginia." The complexion and height of all three are given, as well as descriptions of the clothing they wore. Sally King asserted that she was free, living in Washington with a Mrs. D. Bread. According to the piece, they all initially left Washington on May 22nd, 1859. The second notice contains the same information as the first, although it appears Lewis West was jailed on May 27th, but also asserted he "belongs to Col. Robert Lee." Both notices request that the "owner or owners" come forward and pay all charges due. Also present is a notice of "young servants for sale," indicating the availability of several girls from ages 11 to 15, as well as young men from 21 to 25 years old. All were apparently located in Georgetown. The newspaper is in GOOD condition. Paper split, chipped and deteriorating along the spine, with very slight loss of letters to some of the "was committed" ads. Horizontal and vertical fold creases present. Moderate toning along the spine edge. Small hole worn through at the intersection of the fold creases. Some wrinkling and creasing to the paper. Several small tears along the extremities.