Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-22
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
Miss D. A, Webster's Defence.

Miss D. A, WeDSleES DGIellCe,
MEssRs. ED1roRs.-T have this moment cast my
eye upon the last Freeman containing Miss Webster's
reply to an article ofmine in the Anti-Slavery Repor-
ter for November. In the hurry of leaving the city
for a time, | can only say a few words in reply--nor
does the case require more-which | will be obliged
If you will publish, as | believe you have not published
the original article, and probably will not deem it best
to do SO at this late day.
Miss Websters filings about Popery and the like
will pass with sensible people for what they are worth.
In commencing my article in the Reporter, said;
We never saw Miss Webster before and we never
read her book until on our way from the Convention
having there bought it, mainly to lend our mite towards
relieving her of her %pecuniary embarrassments conse-
quent on her prosecution. We would gladly aid her
farther. Nothing but claims higher than all personal
considerations should ever lead us to say, what we now
feel compelled to-.
My charge was, that in Kentucky, in fact, if not in
terms, she denied aiding the escape of slaves, while in
Massachusetts, by her friend, she admitted and assem-
ted that she had done it. Ny charge was stated thus
We pass over all that might be said about the letters
to friends. We fix only upon her denial of having
aided the escape of slaves. She admits in Boston, by
her friends, that she did it. In her book and in Ken
tuckey, she denies it. Nor will we admit for a mo-
ment that any play upon the term "seduce" is to re-
lieve her of the charge and the guilt Of f~alsehood, in
the case. It'll not true, as the explanation affirmed,
that all Miss Webster did inher book and in Kentucky
was to deny the mere act of seducng slaves. She de-
MED more, as the extracts will show. .4ndj she did
not, she knetO right weV that denying TINT, in The way
she did, toGS understood as denying more.
l then gave what l regarded, and still regard, as full
proof of the charge. In declining to publish Miss
Webster's reply, l gave in addition to the reason she
quotes, the fact that had other evidence than her
book of the truth Of my representation, and cited par
ticularly the testimony of a gentleman who saw her in
the Kentucky penitentiary, and also that of the Evan
gelst at Oberlin, where Miss Webster was well known
previous to her going to Kentucky. In another letter,
subsequent, l called Miss Webster's attention to her
petition to the Governor for a pardon in which, as
we shall soon see, she does deny, in terms, having
@Tdef" slaves to escape.
Miss Webster's entire defence, as your readers will
see, turns upon the word "seduce." She insists that
"seduce" and "aiding" are not the same thing. This
IN strict technically, is true. But as we said before,
it was used in Kentucky as one with aiding. 1t was
90 understood by the parties there, and Miss Webster,
as | doubt not, knew it. But whether it was, or was
not, | now ask your attention to her remarkable petit
ton for release. I give it entire -
To his Eroellencg, Wihiam Opsleg
Go0Nnor Of the Slate Of kentucky:
Your petitioner Della A. Webster, would represent
that she has been indicted in the County Of Fayette
for AIDING NEGROES TO ESCAPE to Ohio, and
kau ham fniad omJ foIaI o,ilty, o-l l, ,n. L,,oc4
fixed at two years in the penitentiary of your State.
Although it is humiliating and Notifying in the high
est degree to the feelings of your petitioner to have
such a verdict rendered against her, and much more
so for her to be compelled to ask a pardon, for an Of
fence Of Ihtch she is not guilty. yet Notwithstanding her
feelings revolt in asking a pardan, she supposes she
must, from necessity, ask it. Therefore will you look
at the evidence in her case, and extend to her such
clemency as her case will JUSTIFY, and her condition
and sex merits. Let your petitioner add, that she is
not guilty ofthe crime imputed to her, yet if still she il
TO be condemned, she has a clear and easy conscience
DELLA A. WEBSTER.
Such was the petition. The same morning viii
this, a remonstrance went to the governor from ONT
hundred and twenty citizens of Fayette County, IL
which they speak Of her having been convicted on
charge of aiding slaves to escape" Here then, Of
Miss Webster's own confession, confirmed by the ties
timony of one hundred and twenty persons of the 9th
er party, the charge, as there understood, both in tn
court and by the people, was that of "aiding the escap
Of slaves" Miss Webster so states it, in terms, An
then solemnly atirms, that she sis not guilty of it" an
is m%ortifyed Gin the highest degree to have such a vel
dict rendered against her. In Boston, by her FRIEND
she says she was guilty of it, and makes a virtue of til
deed, and appeals to the friends of the slave for aid Of
the ground of it!
Such briefly are the facts. I am sorry to be oblige
thus to speak them before the public-especially i
reference to q female and protested disciple of Chris
Nothing but a sense of duty, higher than all persona
considerations, should ever have led me to do it. M
honest and sober conviction is--a conviction fully ez
pressed to Miss Webster in private, as now in publ
that she owes the cause Of truth, of the slave, and
Christ a hearty and penitent confession of her wrong
and that she ought never to have the confidence an
support of the friends Of the slave until she makes il
Ofthis however each must Judge for himself. For my
self, | will only say now, as / said in my original art
Gle in the Reporter
We speak strongly. We think the case demands
mot that we have no care for Miss Webster, but NOR
for the cause Of the slave and the reputation ofthe alb
clifton body. We deem it vital to our hold on the pub
lie conscience, and our whole usefulness in behalf c
the slave, saying nothing Of its own intrinsic obligation
that we maintain, as aboiitionists, on all occasions,
character for truth, above all d~uplicity and beyond sus
picion. The public must feel, and especially the South
that IN all matters coming within our own knowledge