New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-09
The Garter Family.
From the Albany Patriot

WASHINGTON, FEB. -. l-io
CHAs A. WHEATON, Syracuse Dear Friend:
Nv letter to YOU, some weeks since. containing
statement abou, the sale and treatment of Luke
Carter wife and family, perceive has been copied
by the Evening Journal and am told II has been also
by numerous country papers. am graieiu! Tor Inc
generous impulse which prompted Mt w eed 10
place it before his long list OF readers and mar oy
his example others have been induced 10 DO the
same thing. | did not make the statement neon
sideratelv Its ,ruihfulness | was satisfied could
be established beyond q reasonable doubt Nor
were the facts embodied because they presented
new or peculiarly striking case. but rather Tor the
reason tha, they OF class OF every day occur
renee In slave-hodlng HE aud simply Inc hatuIai
odsboot OF the system The case was stated Tor
YOUR information and that Of the readers OF the
Patriot with no expectation il would extend be-
voud one or two Liberty papers 10 our own STATE
learn. however it has attracted the somewhat
earnest attention Of Mr. Monroe. He cane TO Mt
Horace Wheaton some lime since with q letter
which ne had written 10 some person IN Berkshire
Comfy. Mass who bad called his attention to the
number OF the Evening Journal containing the Car
ter letter and saving IF he could not or did not
dsnv III. statement to be true il would render him
infamous al least 81 the North. give the sub
stance merely a note was appended THE bottom
forbiddipg the publication OF the letter NJ Wheaton
simply suggested, that the name would De ndispen-
sibe 10 give it weight. In the letter am inform
ed, Mr. Monroe attempts general, vague contra
diction OF my statement
la the Albany Evening Journal OF the 10th inst
see piece over the signature 0! Old Neishoo'
which abuses me somewhat smartly, but does not
depv the material facts stated by me. brought no
accusation against Mr. Monroe in the letter referred
to- bring none now. I clearly admitted him 10
he in the higher rank of society in Washington, and
have no doubt be is quite as good man as the
average Of his class. For the satisfaction OF those
who have taken some interest IN the matter, thlnk
il right 10 make farther statement.
Luke Carter and his wife are tcitnesSes for the
peopie They say the statement in my letter is true
10 a dot with two exceptions, which are these -
said Sarah Carter was raised by Bishop Mead Of
Marvland-it should have been written Nedt,
Catholic Bishop. also said the seven grend-chil-
dren belonged 10 one mother, which Is not correct
They had Two mothers-one was with them the
other was sold few years ago, by Mr.. Monroe. and
the hack drove up TO the door take her oh but by
some most happy inerposItlon. she had made good
her escape and found her way TO your village where
she now resides trust under the protection OF
safe public sentiment.
Are these poor, outraged people-this husband
and wife credible witnesses 10 the facts as stated!
If So that ends all caviI and dispute Let US
see ! have half dozen certificates lying before
me- from Intelligent respectable, near nelghbors OF
Mr. Monroe, who say they have known Luke and
Sarah Carter for years; and l give here extracts
from two or three OF them as tar sample oil the
whole. A gentleman in one Of the public offices
thus writes:
81 have known Luke Carter for several years, during
which time his conduct has been exemplary His char
ac,er for sobrey and correct habits cannot be question
ed. His statements respecting The unfortunate affair
may be relied upon.
Another:
Luke Carter has been known to me for many years,
and kno,p him to be honest and trustworthy man
as possible He has much distress, and the tale
about his wife and family is true lie Is trying TO raise
the OF s. TO pay Tor his VILE, who IS hard roTiiHs
and Industrious pomdn.
cannot withhold the entire note OF a noble wo
man. who as pledge OF her sincerity, gave Luke
ten dollars out OF her own hard earnings. Hereitis;
WASHINGTON, Feb 10. 1916.
a. take great pleasure in stating, that have known
Luke Carter for 10 years and believe him 70 be as faith
full honest sober and industrious Old man ever
lived. Nor ever did hear aught OF him that was not
upright and just will ee very much pleased 10 know
he has friend no vii. aid him in in.a trouble, and
feel coajeu, ne wi! acver forget the favor. And Al.
mighty God will bless The charity.
have in nv hands also certificate Of his Chris
tan character in his church and in his neighborhood
bv two ministers OF religion. But enough Luke
Carter and his wife could multiply recommends
lions of this sort from morning TIL night among in
telligent, truthful people who knew them. ought
TO add perhaps thnt | bare seen the bills and re
ccpts OF grocers to the amount OF several hundred
dollars and extending through number OF years,
which show that poor Carter expended the wages
OF his labor in supporting Mr. Munroe' stock
There are TWO circu instances which naturally be-
long the drapery OF The picture, that must not be
omitted Sarah Carter was kept in the slave pens
of Richmond fourteen days and nights In that time
she never touched nor saw bed-not rag. nor
straw was over or beneath her except simply the
ordinary clothes she wore The hard plank floor
was her pillow This she states, and know It 10
be the usual course Of The trade, by my own inspec
lion of slave prisons. What would be said in your
Syracuse, ifa member of Presbyterian Episco
palian, Baptist or Methodist, or Catholic church.
should send an cid domestic. who had nursed his
children and ministered with simple hearted fidelity
and devotion to the mother of them, in her hours
OF deepest distress and perl TO the hard floor oil the
garnet for lodging
The other circumstance is this. One ofAIr. Mon
roe's daughters married Capt. R of the army.
Ten years ago or Whereabouts, she died, leaving an
infant ten DAYS old. Sarah Carter had one u few
DAYS or weeks older. She weaned her own child
TO take charge of the motheress one winch she did
for three vears-ralScd il they call 1t The
neishbors all exclaimed, Mr.. Monroe rW free
=" Aunty" she has been good n raising the child
rem, having performed the same Office for one before
The immediate neishbors OF Mr.. Monroe, who
know all about this would be unwilling 10 have
their names made public He Is man OF wealth
and OF hot temper, and has the means OF annoyance
People here who hate slavery cordially are afraid OF
each other and conceal their sentiment the side
OF right and justice is ieeble--welln nigh extinct.
Thus much my friend, circumstances seemed 10
compel me 10 say. lthas spread itself over surface
larger by half than intended must only add.
thar the effect OF this story upon the public mind con-
firms me in conviction long entertained, that if such
journalists as Weed, Bryant, Greeley and OSulli-
van, would be so far true civilization and decent
morality, 10 array before the people III the North
such facts as are within their reach utraive OF this
internal system of brutality few years only would
be required TO boot it from the continent
So lar as these statements depend upon my own
naked testimony, leave 10 the people of our State
10 decide upon | am personally known to pretty
large number o: them. They know what value te
attach to them.
Faithfully, your friend and brother. WI
q An almost total suspension of navigation has
again been brought about 81 Louis, by The cold
Their