Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-27
For the Green Mountain Freeman.


Mrs. Mary NJ Wright, wife of Mr. Ephraiu
Wright, died in Springfield April 9th aged "a years.
Her disease was the dropsy and her suferings wert
endured with christian patience and submission to the
Divine will We trust her sufferings are ended ant
that her happy spirit has already joined the blood
washed company in heaven where none Of its members
are oppressed neglected or injured on account Of tbs
color of the tabernacle they have inhabited.
The on'y regret ever heard her express at leaving
this world of prejudice and wrongs was on account oil
her husband, who is now left in circumstances Of
very deep affection He is native of Maryland. AT
an early age he was sold away from his parents broth
ers and sisters, and the man who claims him as his
slave; lives in Charlestown S. Carolina. About six
years since he escaped from slavery and to this
place. lie was married to Miss Kellum, a colorod
lady of Chester whose death is noticed above about
four years since.
When the Methodist Conference held its annual
session in this place neatly two years ago, brother
George Putnam and myself were appointed to board
with this family. They lived in their own beautiful
white cottage house, and SO pleasant in every respect
was our situation, that many Of the members seemed
almost to envy our place Probably our conference
was never better convened than it was that year, but
think none of the inhabitants here will feel injured
when | say that no family in the village did, or could,
make the situation of their guests more agreeable than
that of those who boarded at Mr. Wrights.
Mrs Wright had some property before their marri-
age, which, with the concurrence of her husband she
has left for the excellent purpose of educating the
children Of her sister, They also laid up in about five
years, as good as six hundred dollars, worth of pro-
perty, beside what she possessed; this circumstance
may be regarded one of the many contradictions of
the notion that the slaves could not take of them
Selves if they free. Indeed the that reiter
ates this sentiment shows himself grossly ignorant or
most abomnably dishonest
So far as honesty, industry, general intelligence and
the properties which constitute good citizen con-
cerned, Mr.. Wright has no supeiors among U.S. He
is very highly respected by all his acquanances here,
Still he is peculiarly alone in the world, When
we turned away from the grave of his dear companion,
his tears and signs evncel how deeply he felt the pc
culiarity of his situation. His father and mother,
brothers and sisters would gladly mingled their tears
Of sympathy with him in this time of bereavement and
sorrow, but he dare not visit them the peril of be-
ing made Sauc the rest of his life. This afflicted
man is not even charged with being guilty of any
crime under the light of heaven and both he and his
friends, live under the protection Of government
whose constitution declares that the citizens Of each
state shall be entitled to all the privileges immunte
Of the citizens in the several states" and yet he,
good citizen of this state is exiled from all thlis dear
to him on earth. To venture near the companions Of
his youth; would subject him to the most horrible pun
ishnent that can be conceived on earth. Who can
think Of these things and especially, who utnesS
them in the of their friends whom they respect
and love, and not have every power of his soul
csel, with indiscribabe feelings of shame, grief ana
indgnltion
But this is not all. Mr.. Wright is liable every day
to be siezed by officer of the UntedStates govern
ment and dragged to South Carolina, to groln away
his life under the lash of u slave driver The unco-
sttutiona law of Congress, passed in 1893 fully au
thorzes this. And yet who of all our vain boosters
of Justice and liberty, has even made effort to re-
peal this dabolical cursed act which "well might
shame EXTREMIST hell;" Will not God be avenged of
such nation as this?
J. C. ASPENWALL.
Springfield April Is. l648.