RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



a white driver from Kentucky. I was the presiding 

 judge, and had ordered the drivers to come to the 

 stand. The white man hotly disputed the word of 

 the negro, and drew back to strike him. I held up 

 my hand and quietly, but firmly, said: " Stand aside, 

 or I will take your livelihood away by ruling you off 

 the tracks of the National Trotting Association." 

 As I finished, I heard a commotion In the line of the 

 grand stand, and, looking In that direction, saw Gen- 

 eral Jackson leaping over the low fence, followed by 

 some fifty or more angry men. The General rushed 

 up into the judges' stand and hotly exclaimed: ^' As 

 a citizen of this State I will not permit a white man 

 from Kentucky to assault a black man for no other 

 reason than that he is black. It is unjust and an 

 outrage that I and my friends will punish." The 

 General stood with hands clenched and cheeks as 

 blazing as his red hair, and the white driver cowered 

 before the mob. Looking the leader of the mob in 

 the eyes, I said: *' General Jackson, I am amazed 

 at your impetuosity. I have already warned this 

 driver that expulsion stares him in the face, and I 

 must ask you and your friends to withdraw." 



The next morning I received a note from General 

 Jackson in which he apologized for losing his tem- 

 per. He had been a slave-holder, and believed in 

 keeping the negro in a position of servitude, but 

 would not remain silent when he thought that the 

 former slave was being unjustly dealt with. 



I make another extract from my diary: 



256 



