The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-08-08
imprisonment of Chasles It. Torrey.

| lmprisonment of Chasles II. TOrrey'
A citizen Of Massachusetts lies incar
cerated in loathsome prison in Maryland
charged with the high misdemeanor o
having endeavored 10 deliver HIM that Is
spoiled out of the hands of the oppressol
and to sell the bondman free not, how
ever, by any act of violence, but in the
spirit of good will to the oppressed and
without injury to the oppressor. A de-
mand for his person has been made upon
the Executive Of Maryland by the Elk
ecutive of Virginia, in order that he may
be tried by the laws of the latter State;
but whether the requisltion will be COM
piled with is yet matter OF uncertainty
Between the upper and the neither mill
stone, he is undoubtedly in great danger
of being crushed, no matter how inno-
cent he may be of the charge now pre-
ferred against him. In case like this,
no great amount of evidence is needed
to convict him; for trihes light as air.
will be regarded 'as strong as proofs
from holy witt by the slaveholding ban
ditti who have made him their captive.
l know, by experience. what chance he
has for fair trial and speedy release.
| spent forty mine days in the same pris-
on in which he is now confined, and The
cell which | occupied had just been va
Gated by q murderer. My crime was,
in declaring the domestic slave trade as
bad in principle, and as att ocious in
practice, as the foreign traffic; in saying
that they who we're engaged in the for
mer, were deserving ofthe same punish
mcnt as had been decreed to those who
should be caught in the trade on the
coast of Africa; in stating that the ship
Francis, of Newburyport, (my native
place, had sailed from the port of Bal
timore with cargo ofseventy-five slaves
confined in the usual manner, for the
New Orleans market; and in severely
dcnouncing the owner and master of
that vessel. On my trial, / proved by
the customhouse books that eighty eight,
instead Of seven;y-fve slaves had been
transported in the Francis; but of what
value was evidence under such circum-
stances? was tried before slaveholdng
Judge, nicholas Brice, notorious for his
enmity to the cause of emancipation
aud pronounced guilty by packed
jury of shareholders and slave-traders,
who sentenced me to pay fine of one
thousand dollars, in addition to my seven
weeks Imprisonment. Mr. Torrey, as
an avowed abolitionist, has just as good
a chance ofreceiving fair trial. wheth.
err in Baltimore or Richmond, as lamb
in the embrace of wolf has of being
set at liberty, without any bodily harm.
l can think of nothing that will be
likely to work in his favor, except the
apprehension that may justly be fell by
the court, that, in case of his conviction
and punishment in the penetentiary,
fresh excitement will be produced a
gainst slavery throughout the country
a specimen of which has somewhat re-
Gently been given in the case OF John l..
Brown. of South Carolina, on both sides
of the Atlantic. True, it was mainly
the sentence OF death pronounced on
Brown, that caused the deep sensation
Of horror that ensued; but the fact that
he was even arraigned as felon, for
performing so mercilul an act, in this
profescdly christian and democratic coun.
try, excited universal abhorrcnce and as
constituent throughout Europe. Mr..
Tory is to be tried on similar charge
and ought to receive the sympathy and
aid Of all who, being in bondage, would
bless the hand that should be extended
to break their letters.
Circumstances have occurred in the
painful dvis ons which have taken qlace
in the anti-slavery ranks, to impair my
confidence in Mr.. Torroy as a tru-hear-
ted aboitionist Probably. of all the
false friends who have lifted up their
heels against me ofthe host of enemies
who have maliciously sought TO destroy
my influence in the anti slavery cause
by covertly assailing and misreprosenting
my religious sentiments no one has
surpassed him in the venom or subtlety
of his attacks upon me, especially during
his agency in behalf Of the Massachu-
sets Abolition Society. But | care
nothing for the past He is now in
| 49, oS@ "nu III Pilooh, vi u CHaTSc winch
II 1t be true. is highly crediablc to his
courage and humanity, but which may
doom him to many years confinement
in the penitentiary. feel as ready to
espouse his cause as though he were my
bosom friend; for, an occurrence like
this does not admit of hesitancy or doubt
orjustify the slightest personal alena
ton ofmnd He shall have my mite
toward procuring all necessary pecun
larry assistance, and hope will have 9
host ready 10. come upt his aid Lei
all the anti-slavery journals speak ou
in thunder tones on this subject Tn
Libe1 at0r.
Toast, given at The celebration a,