Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-08-25
An Interesting Incident.

One of the most interesting incidents We
ever witnessed occurred during the annual
meeting. Henry c. Wright said he rarely
attended a meeting where there could not be
found an illustration, in the person of some
man or woman, of the terrible effects of the
system of American Slavery, and stated
there was then upon the platform a woman
who was "born" an American slave, and
had been held as property by the family of
an American Doctor of Divinity. After Civ
ing a history of the individual in question,
during which the audience became deeply
interested, a call was made for her to come
to the front of the platform, as but a small
portion Of the audience could see her where
she was then sitting. She and Maria L..
Giddings, who was sitting next her, advanc.
ed a few steps. "Here," said the speaker,
Z" stands an American slave, and here the
daughter of an American Congressman
" Which is the slave! Which is the slave7"
was the question which came up from all
parts of the meeting and truly there was
need for the inquiry, for in complexion, in
personal appearance, and in dress, there was
nothing to distinguish the Congressman's
daughter from the one whom American laws
and American religion had regarded and treat
ed as chattel property. "This," replied the
speaker, I" is the daughter of Joshua r. Gid
dings, and this the American slave" He
then proceeded to draw a vivid picture of the
horribly demoralizirg influences of the &C.
cursed system.
We were on the platform when this incl
dent occurred, and felt that Angelina Bown
in thus silently appealing to that vast audi
ence in behalf of those of her sex who vet
drag the chain, had made a holy sacrifice Of
her W feelings, had overcome the sensitive
ness of her nature, that her suffering sisters
might be benefited. And we were glad that
the daughter of Joshua R. Giddings was not
only willing to fully identify herself with
Disunionists, but directly with that prosecuted
class for whose redemption they are labor
ing.
Angelina Downs history is briefly this
Several years since she was brought from
Virginia to Pittsburgh as the property of the
Rev. DR.. Riddle or some member of his ia
miIy. The laws of Pennsylvania do not, and
did not then permit a resident of that State
to bring a slave there and hold such as pro-
perty, although non-residents could then hold
; their slaves in the State six months. This
t time having elapsed, some of the anti-slavery
/ friends interested themselves in her case, and
! spoke to the Doctor about her, who promised
! to have her registered as a free girl. AS he
=, did not, however, seem disposed to fulfil his
promise, she left his service and sought othel
protectors, who had her freedom duly ant
legally certified to. She was then advised
10 return to the Doctors house, which sh,
e did, explanations of her course having beer
previously made him by her friends. Tn,
r Doctors family, of course, disclaimed al
evil intentions, and talked seriously to her o
the disobedience of which she had beef
guilty. The Doctor even took her alone int,
his study, and, after having solemnly admo
nished her, requested her to kneel and pra,
God to forgive her for having run away
This she refused to do, for she told him sh
was not sorry he then knelt alone, and fel
vently imPlOred forgiveness for her. Whe
ar Angelina related this incident to US, she add
l. ed "although lived with him so long, tina
n was the first and the last tima he evaY ~
lie tempted to teach me to pray" She soon a
1T ter left the Rev. DR.. and found a home an
a father at the freside and in the person G
her early friend and protector Benjamin Bowr
s. orr. c. FLEEsoN. formerly editor Of Il