Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-01-14
A White Girl nearly sold into Slavery

the following startling incident:
One Of the most revolving and at the
same time, touching scenes, it has ever
been our lot 10 witness, occurred yesterday
in the auction store of Mr.. N. Vignie, on
Conta ST. The estate of Mr. Benvenuto
Duran, lately deceased, consisting chiefly
of slaves, was to be sold chiefly for the ben.
eft Of a crediter. The negroes were bro'l
up, as is usually the case,one by one, and
exhibited to ths bystanders, before being
put TO the hammer. On ,he presentation
Of the third, advertised us $ lMadeiine, ~,
orphan qnadroon. aged about nine yeurs.ssi
every one. was ehorritied 10 behold before
them ], . lovely girl delicaiely formed.
white as the purest oflhe Circassian race,
her face buried in her hands, and her slen,
der frame convulsed with sobs. There
was a pause for some minutes. The.crowd
could not realize that one Of their own
race could thus be lead up among negroes
10 be passed into long bondage. Amaze.
ment was succeeded by indignation, as sew.
eral gentlemen set about enquiring ass to
the. manner ia which the child had been
thrust inlo such degrading associations. 7
Mr. Daran, 1t appears, was Spaniard
by birth; was some, y ears since in affiuence
in this city $ but latterly, his circumstances
declining, hesmoved from the First to.the
Third Municipality, where he kept small
grocery store, and struggled through conn
parative poverty. None of the negroes
knew amy thing ofthe early history ofthe
girl, except one old man, who,r dying
when. her child was yet bat an infant,
Mr.. Duran took the orphan in charge
to rear as an adopted child. This was
when be was in prosperity For#some
years1afier the death Of the mother, lady
was lin the habit Of visiting Mr.. Duran, s
house regularly, to see the child, and con
tinueo her visits until about the time he
moved in, the Third Municipality, since
when,. -four or FIVE years ago, she hadnev.
Eer, been seen. Whether this lady was a
relatiye ior afriend of the mother, lnteres-
ted in the fate Of the offspring, the old man
knew not; nor did he know who the lady
was, OF Whence she came. '--,E ! a
Upon this information, the sale was
stopped, aud Madeline was taken posses
sion Of by Mr.. Charles Lovenskiold, to
whose humane exertions in her behalf, she
IS perhaps indebted for her liberty. Mr.
p. hns kindly installed her in his own fam.
i1y, and wi1f bring her 6P rs member 81
it, if the law does not defeat his benevolent
intentions. The girl though of late years
minging with the negroes of Mr.. Duran 5
household, is intelligent beyond her years,
speaks both French and Spanish fuently,
and understands English.
The af',ir speedily obtained public no
toriety in the lower part Of the city, asd
created an intense excitement. Several
free persons Of color interested themselves
in the case, and in few hours collected
among their own class nearly 5000, to
buy the girl out of the estate and bes;ow
upon her her freedom. This has not been
permitted, however, and from present ap-
pearances there is little probability of her
subjection to the degradation of being inclu-
ded in the cha,tels of the succession. Mr..
Duran has left no heirs, and dying intes.
tate, his property escheats to the State, af:
ter satisfaction Of the creditors There is
but one creditor, and his feelings we're as
deeply affected yesterday as those of any
person present. Mr.. Lovenskiold and 9th.
ers, who have taken the girls cause in
hand, however, have determined upon on
entire publication of the girl, and. ifit be
practicable, will bring the case before the
Courts in such manner that Jury shall
pass upon her blood.