Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-08-05

his heart! But Sherry knew his duty, and was
faithful to what was given him to do. Every
one in the building loved him, and when | saw
him, six years after his imprisonment he had
risen, so said the overseer, to be the head baker
of the establishment In the mean time MS
friends had not been idle. New England blood
had boiled as it listened to his story, ana scores
Of Baltimore merchants signed, once and again,
petition to the Governor IN his behalf Inc
last effort was founded on his exemplary conduct
during the six years of his imprisonment, and
was presented to a new Governor, just after he
had taken his chair, and while his heart, 1t was
thought, would be inclined to mercy, Alas how
far were the petitioners mistaken lie was a
little man, and measured all things by little
standard. "Gentemen," said he, "lt l were to
take any action in this matter, in the present
state of the public mind, fayorte though am,
should be impeached and there the matter
ended till it was carried to higher court, and
the gov ernor became defendant
This happened just before my first arrival in
Baltimore, two years ago. | went to see Sherry,
whose tall frame had bent, and whose dark har
had whtencd during those painful SIX years lie
was busy at his oven, his apron was white with
flour. and he seemed only intent on serving the
hungry men about him-but, deeply engrayen
On his fine manly features was a look Of unsatls-
fled anxiety which shall never forget Once
only during these six years had he heard from his
home for neither he nor his children could write,
and that once, by dint of misery thrift, his old
est son had made the long Journey, and brought
him welcome tidings Of health and peace. about
his hearth. His hymn-book, Of course, had
boo ,,.bC g.,
t-slayery and revolutionary" principles the gov
eminent of Maryland is not yet sharp-sighted
enough to discern was his only companion in
his cell. AS looked upon the gray-haired man,
and saw his lip culver, as he spoke of his family,
my heart throbbed almost to bursting, and | de-
termined that something should be done to re-
lieye him. Once and again my husband had
communication with influential persons concern
ing him, but all who knew anything of the mat
ter, more especially the intimate personal friends
of the governor, declared that all the proper
means had been tred-but one resource was left
him, calmly to wear ont the remaining part OF
the sentcncc-thc governor had determined to
pardon no persons convicted on such counts So
] dcsisted but often since, when | would have
closed my eyes for nights rest has the image
Of that injured man, grev-haircd and STOPPING,
come between me and sleep, and tears have start
ed to my eyes as regretted that did not pre-
sent that petition in my single woman's strength
There were two things which made Sherry's case
seem hard. The first was that uniform testimony
to his probty and excellence of character, which
prevented Shareholders themselves from doubling
his account of the manner in which he obtained
the book and the other was the fact that the
statute which made it criminal to hold it, did not
become a law till Sherry had had it full two
years in his possession, and he was as ignorant
of the statute itself as he was Of any sinister in
depreciation which the government Of Maryland
might choose to put upon plain representations
of t0ct But two years of imprisonment remain
to him, and doubtless he prays more and moro
earnestly that life may be spared till he shall gaze
once more upon that precious family circle. Yet
who but the all-wse Father of us all, can tel
whether it be best that his prayer should be
heard-whether that gaze would not be one O
agony! We will not doubt the fidelity of hi;
wife, we will believe that the spoiler has touched
none of those whom he, by the Grace of God
kept holy but, at least he will find her whom
he loved bent under the sense of social degrade
ton, the weight of unusual cares and the press
ure of poverty He will hardly know her sunk
en- eye and anxious brow The babe who was
unconscious Of his fate, will have grown to the
active boy the girls who clustered about his
knee will be wives perhaps mothers, und God
grant that none of that dear circle may have
been sold into scryitude to pay the poll tax Or
secure the livelihood of the rest Yet this and
more things might have been in those long ten
years However joyful the return Sherry will
see with pain that the hours when he was needed
in his home have passed by, principles are al,
ready decided for his children, and if they could
not read the language in which their Bible was
written, before he wont away, they probably new
or will
have written his history without comment
simply as it occurred, 1t seems to me that an
expression of strong Indignation would weaken
the anti-slayery argument contained in these pa.
gcs Let the story burn in your hearts, Amcr
can frccmcn and kindle there the fire of truth
The time shall yet come, when we shall see hel
torches blazing on all our hills and her God-li
barks floating even on the bosom of the Chesa
peake A system which to sustain itself among
men feeds alike on the hearts blood of slaves
and freemen, trampling everywhere at the Nortl
and South alike Oh human right and human law
so surely as God is true, contains within itsel
the seeds Of its own death.