EXCERPT
John and James Turner were among those at the constitutional convention leading the fight to end slavery. Damon Cooper and Ukiah Dixon headed up the vehement opposition to either the stopping of the slave trade or of ever freeing the slaves. Damon repeatedly clashed with his cousins over this issue. Ukiah wouldnt talk to either of them.
After a convincing speech James made, telling how he and some other Virginia planters had educated and freed their slaves, Ukiah rose to counter James arguments.
Mr. Turners descriptions of his successes are highly exaggerated. He is a false prophet and is not to be believed. He has brought ruination to our area of Virginia and now wants to destroy the entire south. He came in an alien to our life style, married one of our finest belles, and set about destroying our culture and all of his neighbors. Before he came to our glorious colony our life was serene and our economy sound.
Soon after he arrived, too soon to be a coincidence, the tobacco worms appearedfirst on the fine estate he soon thereafter inheritedGreenfields, once one of our great plantations. The worms spread and soon destroyed our tobacco economy and the prime source of our richness.
Then he set about on his diabolical plan to educate his slaves, instilling in them learning they could neither assimilate nor utilize. Such knowledge only makes the niggers uppity and causes them to forget their place.
But this was not enough for him. Then he furthered his crimes by letting them go, most being paid for by dirty money from northern interests. This encouraged other slaves to become restless, to resist their masters, and to revolt. He is, in my opinion, nothing but a God-damned nigger lover!
This outbreak brought the convention to an uproar before Washington restored order. Knowing the accusations were false, he suggested, Perhaps you would like to answer these allegations, Mr. Turner?
James stood slowly, glaring at Dixon. Mr. Dixon has wronged me on all counts, as those of you who know me realize. I ask the other delegates to consider the source of these slanders. Jamess temper was rising. He is a man who has never freed a slave, who mistreats all he owns, who has always opposed every good thing for Virginia. He accuses me of loving the Negroes. That is ironic to a profound degree since, Ive heard from many sources, that he has fathered a number of bastard children by his slaves!
The rooms occupants gasped at hearing what was often whispered, but had never been publicly said. Dixon jumped to his feet. You blasted liar! I demand an apology! I must have satisfaction to this besmirching of my name. If you are not a cowardly cur, you will meet me on the field of honor this very week.
I accept your challenge. We will meet on Sunday at dawn. James was now regretting his words, although he knew it was the truth.
Damon Cooper rose to his feet and said, Gentlemen do not accuse other gentlemen of such things. I can only conclude that Mr. Turner is no gentleman, even though he is my second cousin. I now renounce that kinship and I am pleased to volunteer to serve as Mr. Dixons second in this matter of honor. All true southerners have been insulted here today. What Ukiah has been accused of is unthinkablecertainly no one I know would ever stoop so low as to even touch a colored woman.
Ukiah quickly accepted Damon as his second. They were much alike, and agreed completely on opposition to abolition, at any time, in any way.
James selected pistols as the weapons for the duel. He then apologetically asked his brother to act as his second. John was surprised at James uncharacteristic anger. He was worried for him, because he knew that Ukiah was a crack shot.
After this drama, the convention was adjourned for the long weekend and the celebration on Monday of the tenth anniversary of Americas independence.
Early on a foggy Sunday morning the duel took place. The participants, their seconds, Dr. Rush (as physician) and a large number of spectators, both white and black, assembled by the riverbank just outside the city.
James now regretted his hot-headedness and promised his brother that he would aim to miss, so as not to injure his sons father-in-law. Ukiah vowed to Damon that he would kill James. The fog swirled in and out, making the visibility difficult.
The duelists stood back-to-back, and at the command by Dr. Rush, each strode ten paces, and turned to face the other. Shots rang out. The fog closed in again, but not before the spectators saw that two men were lying on the ground!
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