Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-12-06
"Hail Columbia, happy landl'

There are at Washington City, at Nor
folk, at Charleston, aud perhaps some other
places in the old States of the South, slave
markets, where slsve-dealers may purchase
upon speculation, such slaves as they can
obtain, for the purpose of re-sale, at profit,
in the extreme South.
GAS went on board the steamboat, I no
ticed eight colored men, hand-cuffed, and
chained together, in pairs, four women, aud
eight or ten children, Of the apparent ages
OF from four to ten years. all standing in the
bow of the boat, in charge of man stand
ing near them. OF the men, one was 90,
one was So three of them about 80, two of
them about 25, and one Of them about 20
years of age, as subsequently, learned from
them. The first two had children, the next
three had wives and children, and the other
three were single, but had parents living
from them. Coming near them, perceiv-
ed they were all greatly agitaied; and on
inquiry found that they were all slaves, who
had been born and raised in North Carolina,
and had just been sold to specuator, who
was now taking them to Charleston market.
Upon the shore there were number of col
ored persons, women and children, waiting
the departure Of the boat; and my attention
was particularly attracted by four colored
| females, of uncommonly respectable appear
ance, neatly alfred, who stood together, a
little distance from the crowd, and upon
whose countenances was depicted the keen
est sorrow. AS the last bell was tol!ing
saw the tears gushing from their eyes, and
they raised their neat cotton aprons aud wi
ped their faces, under the cutting anguish of
severed affection They were the wives Of
the two men in chains There. too, were
mothers and sisters, weeping at the depar-
ture Of their sons and brothers; and there,
too, were fathers, taking the last look OF
their wives and children. My whole atten-
ton was directed to those on the shore, as
they seemed to stand in the solemn, submits
sive silence, occasionally giving utterance to
the intensity of their feelings by sigh, or
a siifed groan. As the boat was unloosed
from her moorings, they cast distressed,
lingering look towards those on board, and
turned away in silence. My eye now turn
ed TO those in the boat although tried to
control my feelings, amidst my sympathies
for those on shore, could conceal them no
longer, and found myself literally weep
ing with those that weep" | stood near
them, and when one Of the husbands saw
his wife on the shore wave her hand for the
last time, in token of her affection, his man
ly efforts to restrain his feelings gave way,
and fixing his watery eyes upon her, he ex-
claimed This is the most distressing scene
of all My dear wife and children fare
well !" 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 women
on board, three of them had husbands, whom
they left behind. One of them had three
children, another had two. and the third
none. These husbands aud fathers were
amidst the throng on the shore, witnessing
the departure Of their wives and children
and as they took their leave Of them they
we're sitting together OH the floor of the
boat. sobbng in silence, but giving utter
ance to no complaint But the distressing
. scene was not yet ended Sailing down The
Cape Fear River, twenty-five miles, We
touched at the village Of Smhhport, on the
south side of the river Ii was at this place
that one of the slaves lived, and here wa.
; his wife and five children; and while a
work on Monday last, his purchaser tool
him away from his family, and carried hin
in chains to Wilmington, where he ha,
since remained in Jail As we approached
the wharf, food Of tears gushed from hi
eyes, and anguish seemed TO have pierce,
I, his heart. The boat stopped but moment
I and as she left, he bid farewell to some o
2 his acquaintance upon the shore, excaim
ing, "Boys, wish you well tell Mol.
T (meaning his wiie) and the children, wisl
them well, aud hope God will bless them
: At that moment he espied his wife on th,
4 stoop of a house, some rods from the shore
r and with one hand which was not in iii,
E handouts, he pulled off his old hat, am,
a waving il toward her, exclaimed, "Fare
e we'll p As he saw by the waving OF he
: apron, that she recognized him, he leane,
back upon the railing, and in lalterin.
d voice repeated, Farewell forever |" Afe
e a moments silence, conflicting passion
n seemed to tear his heart. and he exclaimed
"What have done that | should deserv,
d this doom? oh, my wife and children,
o want TO live no longer !" and when the bit
d ter tear rolled down his cheek, which h,
: wiped away with the palm Of his unclaimed
s hand, he looked once more at the mother o
= his five children, till the turning of the boa
: hid her face from him forever As locke,
a around saw that mine was not the onl,
0 heart that had been affected by the scene
r but that the tears standing in the eyes o
f many of my fellow-passengers, bore tesii
d mony to the influence of human sympathy
d and could, as an American citizen, stand
$ ing within the limits OF one Of the old thir
/, teen States, but repeat the language of M
d Jefferson, in relation to the general subject
e 81 tremble when think that God is just