Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-04-18
THE FIRE L M AN.
PREACHING AND PRACTICE.
For the Freeman

err lie, win 1Ve OtnefS, was condemned 10 De
hung but the night before his execution he arose
upon his keepers, dispatched them at once and
escaped for life. They belt their course towards
the northwest part of the State, penetrated the
mountain region, and selected beautiful vale,
high up the mountain, for their future residence.
Here was wild game enough, and there was little
prospect that any white man would scale the
mountain peaks and find them, Graded among the
clouds.
After clearing away the wood and preparing
their cabins, they decided that man should not lire
alone, and that they would go in quest of help
desperate effort to fnd recover, and take away,
the wives and children from whom they had been
driven. They went; and after encountering many
hardshps, they returned in safety; two having re-
covered their families 4; the other learned that his
loved wife had been sold and carried off, and he
induced colored girl to return with him. The
appearance of these females in the mountains was
IA joyful sight, and hailed with much delight
Soon after, Sanbo, with his two companions
made descent into North Carolina, hung about
the plantations, and at length returned with four
horses, well ladened, three females, and one young
man, who had joined them. On his way, Sambo
had visited small band of Indians, entered into
friendly connection with them, and they had a.
greed to take such furs and game as he had to
spare and 10 carry them to market among the
whites. The plantation being now 50 happily
commenced, all agreed that Sambo should be king,
aud that the laws should be expected by all. His
first law was, L" One person shall mol injure ono
therj but all shall loue his neighbor. Cd. The life,
liberty, and property ofcolOred persons are sacred,
and no man may hold them as Slaves. Sd, White
men, bought Of The Indians, or seized in The lou
country may, they and their children, be held as
slaves." In few weeks the horses were taken to
the Indians, and exchanged for four whites, who
we're, according to law, held as slaves, and for
hidden to pass certain boundaries under pain Of
death. All things now went on pleasantly in the
colony-lands were cleared, and various produc.
tons rased while the forest furnished abundance
Occasionally, some of the party stole down into
the settlements, seized what they wanted, and
brought back some of their own color for settlers
or white children for slaves. Thus their society
gradually increased, and those who had been slave.
tasted the sweets of liberty. Sambo now dashed
for wife, and after few weeks returned from
Virginia with a young lady, the daughter Of {
planter, who was recognized us queen by the col
ony. The next year an event occurred which
produced great excitement among the Caron
ans. A young clergyman. with his wife, was Wis
itng in one Of the middle counties of the State
: when they suddenly disappeared, and no trace o
them could be found. Sambo bad seized then
and carried them to the mountains. The law wa
read, and he required to conform strictly to it
This was hard saying, but what could he reply
He had always maintained that slavery was not;
moral evil-that it was clearly sanctioned in thu
bibIe-that good men might under the sanction o
law compel their poor neighbors to labor for thei
benefit, and that sci wants are bound 10 obey thei
] masters in all things" And so thoroughly was HI
e confirmed i'll these sentiments, that he had pur
chased gang of slaves and carried his sentiment
into practice. Why, then, should he not be slav
to Sambo and quietly submit to the establishe
lawf hard question. Why should not bibl
institutions be kept up among the mountains a
well as on the low lands? Why should he not b.
e constrained to serve master Sambo even as Sam
= bo's brethren were compelled to labor on hi
S plantation? Revolving such questions in hi
h mind he and his wife retired to the cabin assign
c ed them. How much rest they got know not
e but one thing is certain, they were fully convince
h that the state of slavery is not a very peasan
7 state for the slave. The morning came, and tn
slaves called up and their task assigned them
This was new position for Mr.. Fuller and hi
r wife to occupy He ventured to remonsrate bu
$ Sambo answered, My father was stolen, and you
It knowing the fact, purchased hm,-my mothe
s and sisters are laborlng on your plantation unde
J., the power Of brutal driver, exposed to all tn
n evils of the system of slavery, which you have al
Y ways justified, and said it was sanctioned by you
bible. Go to your task and see that you are nc
i an eye servant. Such a day Mr.. Fuller and hi
q wife had never seen! Weary and sad they re
D. turned to their cabin to ponder and weep. Th
n next morning Sambo addressing them said yo
9 have for one day seen what field service is; now
y appoint you, Mr.. Fuller, chaplain and teacher I
Ia our settlement, and your wife | assign as hous
"a servant to the queen; and expect you will bot
;s show all good fidelity in your respective stations.
> Under Sambo's government there were no fe
:. lers, whips or tortures. All were comfortably fe
! and clothed improvements were extended, dc
nestle animals introduced, and there was niue
:. harmony there; but slavery was there also;-in i
mildest form, indeed-but it was slavery Aft
~ the lapse of years it was reported that one of II
- slaves was missing, and all efforts to find hi
= were vain. He was gone, and would hetray the
to the whites. About week after the escaI
- of the whites, friendly Indian informed Saml
80 that body of whites had assembled and meant
10 attack him. The next day the whole populate
- were assembled all resolved TO resist, aud
:" methods of defiance were adopted. Trees al
, brushwood were thrown into the gorge, throu
which the enemy must approach, and masses
- stone were collected on the precpce by viii
=, they must pass. Sambo, with twenty faithful f
y lowers, were at their post at the dawn of day.
The trampling of horses was heard-the enem