Duff Green plans to purchase the Maryland Jesuits' slaves and relocate them to Arkansas, February 7, 1838

Duff Green plans to purchase the Maryland Jesuits' slaves and relocate them to Arkansas, February 7, 1838

Green, Duff, 1791-1875
Jesuits--United States--History--19th century

Two letters from February 1838 indicate that the Jacksonian politician and newspaper editor Duff Green had entered into a "treaty" with Rev. Thomas Mulledy to purchase the Jesuits' slaves and relocate them to Arkansas. Green wrote to Bishop Joseph Rosati of St. Louis to ask whether the Bishop could send a priest to attend to the slaves, because a condition of the sale was that they "should have an opportunity of practising their religion." The sale to Green, whose son attended Georgetown, fell through for unknown reasons.

In the heat of the presidential election in 1840, Green had a public dispute with Bishop John England of Charleston and attacked Catholicism. In his newspaper, The Pilot, Green charged that "The Pope has already required the Jesuits to dispose of their slaves, and has, upon one occasion at least, attempted to exercise a civil jurisdiction in relation to private property in the United States.”

Hardage Lane was physician of Obstetrics and “Diseases of Women and Children” at St. Louis University.

Thanks to Emory Webre and the staff at the Archdiocese of the Archives of St. Louis for bringing these letters to the attention of the Georgetown Slavery Archive.

Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Archives and Records

RG1B4.3 Rosati Correspondence G, 1827-1840, Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Archives and Records. Two letters from Duff Green, February 7, 1838,

Georgetown Slavery Archive

1838-02-07

Cory Young, Elsa Barraza Mendoza, Adam Rothman

Published by permission of Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Archives and Records.

Manuscript

English

Manuscript

GSA408

1838-02

Washington Feby. 7th 1838
Dear Sir
   I am in treaty with the Jesuits for their slaves in the state of Maryland about 300 in number with a view to the establishment of an estate at the Mouth of the Arkansas. the Provincial makes it a condition that they should have an opportunity of practising their religion, and the ArchBishop has done me the favor to Write to the Rt Revd. Bishop Rosatti asking to be informed whether he cannot make the necessary provisions for them.
   I will build a church and residence for the clergyman while there, and make any reasonable compensation for his service & travellg expenses. The Arch Bishop supposes that one of the Clergymen on the Arkansas, at Little Rock could supply the spiritual instruction wanted.
   Will you do me the favor to see the Bishop and get him to write to me on the Subject. As the compensation of the Clergyman will be a charge on the estate it is indispensible that I should know how much will be necessary to make it, and as I desire to send out part of the force immediately it is desirable that I should get his answer at the earliest day. thereafter in a note appended to the Arch Bishops letter I took the liberty in askg the Bishop to send his reply addressed to me, by at this place and by express mail — as one letter may fail I beg the favor of you to see him & if he has written by the express mail to get another letter and send it also by the express mail, as a few days will be of great importance to me.
   Please to remember me to your family
       Your friend + Relation D. Green

   Washington 7th Feby. 1838
Dear Sir
   At the request of Mr Mulledy, (the Provincial of the Jesuits in Maryland) and myself the Arch Bishop wrote you on yesterday askg you to notify me upon what terms you could supply the Spiritual wants of about (300) three hundred slaves, which for whom I am now in treaty with him and whom I propose to locate at the Mouth of the Arkansas, on the Mississippi River. As the negociation can not be concluded until I hear from you, I have taken the further liberty of requesting my relation Dr. Hardage Lane, of your city, to call on you & receive and forward by express mail a second letter hoping that your first in reply to the Arch Bishop will have been written. Do me the favor to say whether you can supply me with a clergyman. I will build a church and a convenient residence for him when on the estate, and make such provisions for him as you may deem reasonable — Do me the favor to say about what sum you will consider requisite, including travelling expenses & all others.
   I hope my dear sir that you will excuse the liberty I have taken & believe me your obdt sert
   Duff Green

P.S. Please to consult Dr. Hardage Lane.

Manuscript