The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-02-20
From the New York Evangelist.
An lmmoIution TO slavery.

Our readers have heard of, and some
have wept over, the fate of The Rev c.. Z.
Torrey, who has been convicted in the
State OF Maryland, and will doubtless soon
be doomed 10 long years of Imprisonment
and separation from his family and fiends,
and the rigor Of punishment awarded to
The criminal. 1t is hard lot for Il man
of education and sensibiity, who is conf
PEELED 10 feel, amidst all his punishment,
that he suffers for that which no man who
carries 10 his bosom a heart of flesh can
really disapprove, and which neither the
law OF God nor his own conscience cons
dennis. He has broken the laws of slave
State and the court and jury who found
him guilty 10 accordance with those laws,
are not 10 be blamed; but they are laws
which, in Gods sight bring Infinitely
more guilt upon those who have made,
and who execute them, than upon him
who has broken them. What crime has
Mr. Torrey been guilty off Let US state a
few facts furnished by correspondent-a
clergyman OF high standing aud estira>
Bile character, which may help US to ans
wer the question.
a few years ago the writer Of this pas.
sed week at Barnum's Hotel, in WASH
ington. A young slave, about twenty
years OF age, was in attendance for such
services as were required. One morning,
as James was building the fire, the follow
iug conversation occurred:
Who owns you James?
'Mr A. owns me now. lie bought me
about three years ago Of Mr. Brown. and
lets me TO Mr. Bdrnum.'
What does Mr. Barnum pay your mas
ter for your workF
q do not know; get none Of it myself
DO you expect ever 10 get your
liberty, JamesP
NO, sill! My former master was very
kind 10 me, and gave me portion OF my
time, and told me tha! as soon as would
pay him five hundred dollars, | should be
free. paid him litte over two humid
red dollars, when he failed, and / was
sold to my present master, who takes ev>
cry dollar of my wages, and now | have
no hope of ever being free, and the tho't
makes me so miserable that at times can
neither ca. nor sleep.
James, having now finished The fire,
left The room and there was one who, IN
his weakness, sal down aud wep,, and
prayed for that poor brother, who is prob
ably now in the fields of the South, tolling
hop less slave till death shall release
him from his wo. Now suppose he had
said to him James the North star will
yuide YOU TO freedom. Here are five dol
lars. May God bless you in your eudea-
vors 10 regain those rights OF which you
have so long been defrauded.' The Rev.
Mr. Torrey, in the fullness of sympalhi~
zing heart, has said this; and for thus do
ing to his brother, as he would that his
brother should do to him, protested Chris
tians are calling him 'thiel.' aud slave
seaer,' and be is torn from his home of
prayer, from his wife aud children, and
lies chained in The dungeon of an Ameri-
can prison. But there is an eye that wit
nesses this scene, and there is an hour of
terrible retribution Fastening on.
When travelling, some years ago, at
the South, a gentleman, who was a pro-
lessor Of religion, Informed the writer that
young slave, Of fine personal appear
ance, about eighteen years ofagc, aud
member OF the same church with himself,
complained to him, with tears of anguish.
that she was compelled TO be the concubne
other masters sou, a dissolute fellow,
whose harem consisted of all the young
females on the plantation. Aud here this
poor Christian grI, perhaps tie ssler of
the wretch calling himself a Southern
gentleman, who was thus abusing her,
was compelled 10 submit to his outra9es;
if she raised a hand of resistance, or utler.
ed "a cry OF remonstrance, there was no
power on earth to rescue her, in tho>
onely fields, from the most mercless re-
Venge.
Suppose this gentleman had said 10 her
My Christian sister, my heart bIeeds for
you. You must seek refuge in flight
You must traverse MANY A weary mile in