The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-27
NJ ISCE ELL A N E O u S.

" Condition of Slaves" now in the press by the
American Anti-Slavery Society. 1t needs no
comment.
Narrative and Testimony of Sarah M. Grimke,
Miss Grimke was daughter of the late Judge
Grimke of the Supreme Court of South Carroll
ma, and sister of the late Hon. Thomas s. Grim
Ike.
As left my native state on account of slavery,
and deserted the home ofmy fathers to escape the
sound of the lash and the shrieks of tortured VIC
tins, | would gladly bury in oblivion the recol-
lection of those scenes with which have been IA
miliar; but this may not cannot be; they come
over my memory like CORY specres, and implore
me with reslstess power, in the name of a God
of mercy, N the name of cruclfed Saviour, in
holder, as well as the slaves, 10 bear witness to
the horrors of the southern prison house. feel
mpelled by a secret sense of duty, by my obliga-
tons to my country, by sympathy for the bleeding
victims of tyranny and lust, to give my testimony
respecting the system of American sIavery-to
detail few facts, most of which came under my
personal observation. And here | may premise,
that the actors in these tragedies were all men and
women of the highest responsibility, and of the
first families of South Carolina, and, with one ex-
ception, citizens of Charleston; and that their
cruees did not in the slightest degree affect their
standing in society.
A handsome mulatto woman, about IS or 20
years of age whose independent spirit could not
brook the degradation of slavery, was in the hab-
it of running away for this offence she had been
repeatedly sent by her master and mistress to be
whipped by the keeper of the Charleston work
house. This had been done with such inhuman
severity, as TO acerate her back in the most shock
ing manner; finger could not be laid between
the cuts. But the love of liberty was too strong
to be annihiIated by torture and, last resort
she was whipped at several different times, and
kept close prisoner. A heavy iron collar, with
three long prongs projecting from it, was placed
round her neck, and a strong and sound front
tooth was extracted TO serve as mark todescribe
her, in case of escape. Her sufferings at this
time were agonzing; she could lie in no position
but on her back, which was sore from scourgings,
as | can testify, from personal inspection, and her
only place of rest was the foor on blanket
These outrages were committed in family where
the mistress daily read the scriptures, and assem-
bled her children for family worship. She was
accounted, and was really, so far as alms-giving
was concerned, charitable woman, and tender
hearted to the poor and yet this suffering slave,
who was continually in her presence, sitting in
her chamber to sew, or engaged in her otherhouse-
hold work, with her lacerated and bleeding back,
her mutilated mouth, and heavy iron collar, with
out, so far as appeared, exciting any feelings of
compassion.
A highly intelligent slave, who painted after
freedom with ceaseless longings made many at
Temps tie get possession of himself For every
offence he was punished with extreme severity
At one time he was tied upby his hands to tree,
and whipped until his back was one gore of blood.
To this terrible infection he was subjected at in
tervals for several weeks, and kept heavily roned
while at his work. His master one day accused
him of fault, in the usual terms dictated by pas
sion and arbitrary power; the man protested his
innocence, but was not credited He again re-
PEELED the charge with honest indignation. His
masters temper rose almost to frenzy; and seiz-
ing fork he made deadly plunge at the breast
of the slave. The man being far superior in
strength, caught his arm, and dashed his weapon
on the floor. His master grasped at his throat,
but the slave disengaged himself, and rushed from
the apartment Having made his escape, he fed
to the woods; and after wandering about for ma
ny months living on roots and berries, and endur-
ing every hardship he was arrested and commit
ted to Jail. Here he lay for considerable time
allowed scarcely foodenough to sustain life, whip
ped in the most shocking manner, and confined in
a cell so loathsome that when his master visited
HIM, he SAID the stencil was enough to knock a
man down. The filth had never been removed
from the apartment since the poor creature had
been immured in it. Although black man,
such had been the effect of starvation and suffer-
ing that his master declared he hardly recognized
him-hs complexion was so yellow, and his hair,
naturally thick and black, had become red and
scanty; infallible sign oflong continued living
on bad and insufficient food. Stripes, mprison-
ment, and the knawngs of hunger, had broken
his lofty spirit for season and, to use his mas
ter's own exulting expression he was as humble
as dog After time he made another attempt
to escape, and was absent so long, that reward
was offered for him, dead or aHce. He eluded
every attempt to take him. and his MASTER despair
ing of ever getting him again, offered to pardon
him if he would return home. 1t is always un-
derstood that such intelligence will reach the run
away; and accordingly, at the entreaties of his
wife and mother, the fugitive once more consent
ed to return to his bitter bondage. believe this
was the last effort to obtain his liberty. His heart
became touched with the power of the gospel
and the spirit which no infection could subdue,
bowed at the cross of Jesus, and with the Ian
guage on his lips the cup that my Father hath
given me, shall not drink it g submitted TO the
yoke of the oppressor, and wore his chains in I'M
patience till death released him. The