The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-25

AFFECTING SCENE.

J.
travelling in the South, and passen-
ger on board ola steamboat on Cape
Fear River, observed some Of The
consequences OF slavery, which he
has communicated to the public
We are no abolitionists, in the re-
ceived sense of that word-we be-
, lieve the Constitution must be kept
invlolate ; yet we cannot conceal
our horror at scenes like those de-
scribed in the following extract from
the Christian Journal. The writer
says True Sun.
AS | went on board the steamboat,
| noticed eight colored men, hand
cuHed, and chained together in
pairs, four women, and eight or ten
children, of the apparent ages of
from four to ten years, all standing
together in the bow Of the boat, in
charge of Il man standing near them.
OF the men, one was 60, one was
81, three of them about 30, two of
them 25, and one about 20 years of
age, as | subsequently learned from
them. The two first had children,
the next three had wives and chill
dren, and the other three were sin
gle, but had parents living from
them. Coming near them pelceiv-
ed that, they were all greatly agi-
tated; and on inquiry, l found that
they were all slaves, who had been
born and raised in North Carolina,
and had just been sold TO a specu-
lator, who was now taking them TO
Charleston market.
Upon the shore there was a num-
Der Of colored persons, men, women
and children, waiting the departure
OF the boat; and my attention was
particularly attracted by two color
cd females, Of uncommonly respect
able appearance, neatly attted, who
stood together, Il little distance from
the crowd, and upon whose coun-
tenance was depicted the kecnesl
sorrow. AS the last bell was toling
| saw the tears gushing from their
eyes, and they raised their neat cot
ton aprons, aud wiped their faces
under the cutting anguish of scveled
affections. They were the wives of
two OF the men in chains. There,
too, We're mothers and sisters, weep
ing at the departure of their sons
and brothers; and there, too, were
fathers, taking the last look Of their
wives and children. My whole at
tenton was directed to those on the
shore, and they seemed to stand in
solemn submissive silence, OCCASION
ally giving utterance to the intensity
of their feelings by sigh, or a sti-
fled groan. AS the boat was loosed
iiom her moorings, they cast a dis
uessed lingering look toward those
on board, and turned away in ST.
lencc. My eye now turned to those
in the boat; aud although | had
tried to contrcl my feelings, amidst
my sympalhies for those on shore, |
could conceal them no longer, and |
found myself weeping with those
that weep" stood near them, and
when one of the husbands saw his
wife upon the shore wave her hand
for the last time, in token of her af-
lection, his manly efforts to restrain
his feelings gave way: and fixing his
watcry eyes exclaimed, "This is
the most distressing thing Of all -
My dear wife and children, fale-
WE'LL" The husband of the other
wife stood weeping in silence, with
his manacled hands raised to his
face, as he looked upon her for the
last time.
! Of the poor woman on board,
three Of them had husbands whom
they left behind. One Of them had
three children, another had two, and
the third had none. These hus-
bands and fathers were among the
thIong upon the shore. witnessing
the departure Of their wives and
children; and as they took their
leave of them they were sitting to-
gether upon the floor of the boat,
sobbing in silence, but giving utter
ance 10 no complaint. But the dis
tressing scene was not yet ended
Sailing down the Cape Fear river
rs miles we touched at the little viii
lage Of SInithport, on the south side
OF the river. 1t was at this place
that one of these slaves lived, and !
here was his wife and five children ;