The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-01 00:00:00

A PHASE OF SLAVERY.

A moving incident came to our knowledge last
week, which we lay before our readers. We suppress
names for reasons obvious to every one. Near Louis-
vine, Kentucky, lives a planter of wealth and
standing. He was the possessor of 100 negroes,
and he was noted for his thrifty, money-making
disposition. He had never been married, and was
an incorrigible bachelor of 50. His house was
managed by a young lady of about 20, his daughter
by a quadroon, whose complexion was lighter by
half than his, and in whom the negro blood was
scarcely visible. The mother died 10 years ago,
leaving her daughter with the father's solemn pro-
mise that she should be educated and should live as
a free woman rather than as a slave; and that she
should pass as his daughter, as she was. The
planter gave this promise, because he had been
really attached to the dying woman, and was
greatly attached to her and his beautiful child.
And so she grew up, radiantly beautiful, receiving
a reasonable education—all that her father could
give her and in time took the management of his
household. She never knew that there was any
negro blood in her veins; and never dreamed that
she was a slave. Last fall a series of misfortunes
overtook the planter. His house was burnt down,
and in it the notes, books, and papers that composed
a large portion of his fortune. His crops failed to
a great degree, and some heavy speculations in
which lie was engaged resulted disastrously.
Added to all this, he had lost heavily at play,
the besetting sin of Southern gentlemen, and
had completely exhausted all his ready means, and
found himself in the terrible situation of having
more money to pay than he could possibly raise in
a given time. He applied to his attorney for
counsel in his extremity. The attorney, after exa-
mining the situation of his affairs, advised him to
sell off a portion of his negroes. The planter ob-
jected strenuously ; first objecting to the sale of ne-
groes, and secondly, that his force was barely suffi-
cient to work his plantation. But, after full delibera-
tion, he found this to be the only alternative, and
sorrowfully consented. A list was made out, and
every head that could be possibly spared was put
down. After all was done, and the most favourable
prices for them, the aggregate fell 5,000 dol. short of
the sum. The attorney remarked quietly that he
had not included all that could be spared. I

have put, down all I can dispense with," replied
the planter. "I do not see Mary the housekeeper's
name in the list;' replied the lawyer. " She, if
offered to the right person, would make up the
deficiency. I would give that for her myself." At
any other time the planter would have taken the
suggestion as an insult, but necessity is a hard
master, and he grasped at the idea, and before an
hour the transaction was closed. It troubled him
not a little to disclose the matter to her, but the
fear of bankruptcy and ruin drove him to it. The
poor girl's horror and distress may be imagined.
She had known nothing but happiness, and now.
was to be plunged into the deepest and most hope-
less misery. She had been sold, and was then the
property, soul and body, of one who purchased her
merelylfor the gratification of his beastly lusts.
The idea was too horrible, and she swoonei, and
remained almost delirious for several days. There
was another upon whom the intelligence came with
crushing weight ; a junior partner in a produce
house in Louisville had frequently visited the
planter's house on business, and, struck with the
beauty and intelligence of the supposed daughter,
had become enamoured, and after prosecuting his
suit a proper time had declared his passion, and,
unknown to the father, .the two had betrothed
themselves. As soon as possible after her father
had told her !_er fate she despatched a messenger
to him, stating the facts, and implored him to save
her from the doom that awaited her. Though thun-
derstruck at th 3 intelligence that his affianced
bride was a slave, and had just been sold to a fate
worse than death, like a true man he determined
to rescue her. That night he saw hcr, and a
plan was formed for flight. The day she was to be
transferred to the possession of her purchaser they
fled, and in due time arrived in Cincinnati, where
they were married. Our hero obtained an inter-
view with one of the agents of the Underground
Railroad located in that city, who immediately
telegraphed instructions to the different agents
along the line to keep strict watch, and if woman
catchers were on the watch at any point to tele-
graph back and give the fugitives timely notice,
that they might leave the train. Accordingly
they staged, purchasing tickets for Crestline. In
the meantime the lawyer, as soon as he discovered
his loss had commenced active measures to recover
it. He had no difficulty in tracing them to Cincin-
nati, and none whatever in ascertaining that their
destination was Crestline. But having arrived se-
veral hours after their departure, he was com-
pelled to content himself with telegraphing to
Crestline to the proper officers to arrest them
at that place. But unfortunately for his
prospects, the intended arrest got wind,
and when the train reached Galion, two
citizens of that place stepped into the car,
and a conversation of a few moments ensued
in the lowest kind of whispers, at the close of which
the four left the car. A carriage was in waiting,
and in two hours the fair fugitive and her husband
were domiciled in the home of one of our whole-
souled farmers, near Bucyrus, who has long taken
pleasure 1R helping fugitives on their way to the
Canadian Canaan. When the train on which they
embarked reached Crestline, the officials were un-
utterably chagrined at not finding the fugitives, and
more so when they learned that they had been
within four miles of them. After a lapse of two
weeks they ventured a move, and went to Detroit
by the way of Sandusky city, and without accident
reached the Canadian shore. They are now resid-
ing in Toronto.—Bucyrus (Ky.)

The In4endente of Turin states that the ring
presented by the Empress of the French to the Princess
Clotilde was accompanied by the following autograph
letter :—" It is customary in Spain, when a young person
takes a husband, for her best friend to offer her a ring. A.
Spaniard by birth, I wish to observe towards you the tra-
ditions of my country. Will you, then, receive this ring,
and permit me, while waiting to embrace you as a cousin,
to call myself your first friend."
THE MURDER AT SHEFFIELD.—The Sun of
of yesterday contained particulars of a brutal murder at
Sheffield. Yesterday evening, George Plant, brew et 's
traveller, was apprehended on the charge. He was under
the influence of liquor ; and stabbed the deceased, William
Wilson, opposite the Post-offioe, with ad i
gger which he
had been displaying in other parts of the town.
WILLS.—The will of Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew
Pellett Green was proved on the sth of January. The
whole of the property is left to Lady Green. The person-
alty was swell). under £5,000.—The will of Vice-Admiral
Peter John Douglas was proved on the 6th of January-.
The sword presented to him by Lloyd's Patriotic Fund hi
has bequeathed to his eldest son, and leaves his property in
specific and pecuniary bequests among his children, and the
residue equally among them.—The will of Charles Cotton,
M.D., late of King's Lynn, Norfolk, was proved in London
on the l&th January. Personalty, £4,000,