Respectfully yours,

GEO. W. HAYWOOD.

Mr. Battle then enclosed the foregoing correspondence to Messrs. Scott and
Womble, requesting their "favorable consideration." They returned the
correspondence, but neglected to make any reply.

In consequence, however, of this action on the part of my friends, I was
permitted to remain without further interruption, until the day the
Legislature commenced its session. On that day a warrant was served upon
me, to appear before the county court, to answer for the sin of having
remained in the place of my birth for the space of twenty days and more
after being warned out. I escaped going to jail through the kindness of
Mr. Haywood, a son of my former master, and Mr. Smith, who jointly became
security for my appearance at court.

This was on Monday; and on Wednesday I appeared before the court; but as
my prosecutors were not ready for the trial, the case was laid over three
months, to the next term.

I then proceeded to get up a petition to the Legislature. It required
much hard labor and persuasion on my part to start it; but after that, I
readily obtained the signatures of the principal men in the place.--Then I
went round to the members, many of whom were known to me, calling upon
them at their rooms, and urging them for my sake, for humanity's sake, for
the sake of my wife and little ones, whose hopes had been excited by the
idea that they were even now free; I appealed to them as husbands,
fathers, brothers, sons, to vote in favor of my petition, and allow me to
remain in the State long enough to purchase my family. I was doing well in