Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-07-28

this work. which is one Of no small mag
Dltude, and we trust hat her ,Eorls will
be crowned with abundant success.
SIR VIII you allow me through
The columns Of y'ur paper to make an
appeal 10 The many readers 81 Uncle
Toms Cabin ~ there are thousands
even OF those who disapprove lhe pur-
pose, ana challenge the larness Of our
great American iNvel, who have had
Their sympaihies called forth la bchali
Of the race it advocates. In tie South
such sympa,hl,s find ready vcut--at
the North opportunities are more rare
Of legitimate action. have been pas
sing part OF the summer in Clarke COun-
ty, Virginln, where two cases Affecting
persons | have known tor years have
greatly enlisted my sympathy and
now venture 10 make my most earnest
appeal to persons richer than myself TO
assist me in the attempt to give them
freedom, home. and happiness. The
more pressing case rs that OF man
named John Gordon, n very light mu-
la,to, "A b acksmith and paper hanger
by trade, whom have known slncc
lS42. and who bears The highest char
acter amongst the gentlemen who TN
ploy him. He wis horn The slave
ui Mrs. llaNes ol Rappahau-
neck county, aud received his
freedom al her death, when all her ne.
groes were emancipaied and provs on
made for their transport TO Africa. John
Gordon, who had recently married II
al, IA, ell, I,,,
tachcd. prelrrrcd to remain in Virginia.
lie had continued TO reside there l5
years as Tree negro, but under tie
laws recently passed by the convention
of Virginia, he has been called before
the County Court, and warned that he
must quit the Slale within two months
or return into slavery. Ii is easy calm
ly TO read or state these facts, but 1t was
not easy 10 listen TO them calmly when
the poor fellow IN deep distress came
up 10 speak 10 me. He had an idea
tina; people in free countries would pity
him-that Miss Lizzie from the Northn
could do something 10 assis, him in the
purchase OF his wife and at least some
OF his eight children, so that they might
leave the State together. Was there
nothing could do he asked was
there nothing he could do TO prevent his
being separated forever from his family,
leaving his wife and children to the un-
certain chances Of slavery. "Oh |
would DO anything" he exclaimed with
pathos that deei ily touched me, "any-
thing on earth for them, Miss Lizzie
but 90 back and be a slave again" |
could not bear to tell him that | had no
power eiiectually 10 assist hlx- that |
could give him only my own few dollars
AID my sympathies. did, what think
any one else in my place would have
done. | sed-however, painful il
might be 10 me 10 ask assisiance-ihai |
would lay his case Before my friends
when came North and see what could
be done Tor him. The gentleman who
owns the family also urged me to inter-
est myself in the case. He is Il person
OF great ben, Violence, and the heir at
law OF Mrs llawes. Instead OF oppo.
sing the emancipation OF her negroes, he
took the most lively interest in their
welfare, superin,ended their embarka.
ton, and continues 10 receive the most
grateful letters from Liberia. But he
is lar from rich, and though he assures
me he will gladly sell Evelina and her
children (whom he originally bough, at
the earnest request Of John Gordon TO
save them from being separated and
sold TO the traders) for less than hall
their market value, in order 10 secure
their freedom, the state OF his allahs is
such that he is not justified in giring
them their liberty. My other case is,
that OF a woman. now about 80 years
OF age, who was the beloved and devo-
ted attend ant o! one OF NY dearest re-
latlons. Ii was her mistress most ear
nest wish upon her death-bed, TO give
Sarah the freedom she had long sighed
for, and after many difficulties, owing
to the arrangement oi the property, the
family Was enabled to give her her pa
pers. But, by the same law of Virgin
la. which operates So harshIy on John
Gordon, she is compelled 10 leave the
State within year or return into sla-
very. She has n husband 10 whom she
Is devotedly attached. Con]ugal aHec-
,ion is (not unnaturally) rare amongst
negroes, but thus attachment | have new.
er seen surpassed in any condition, and
che canno bear 10 leave HIM. He is a
slave OF excellent character, trusted, and
esteemed through all the neighborhood
but, unfortunately, though hired by
the family 10 whom Sarah belonged.
and living for the past ten years under
The same root with his wife, he belongs
to another master THIS gentleman is
willing to sell him 20 his wife for a sum
very much less than his market value.
They have warm friends at the South
willing 10 do all in their power to pro-
mote their oblCct-and, once free. are
secure OF employment aud the highest
wages III Baltimore. About $500 are
necessary TO accomplish both these OBJ
jecis; sum 80 large that | can hardly
hope to raise 1t all. a thousand dollars
would set free John Gordon's wife and
five youngest children. The cause
seems 70 have been committed TO my
hands, and earnestly pray that though
| cannot present the case in such IL way
as would muse my own feelings of sym
pa'hy INTO the hearts OF others, that
some of those TO whom thus a, peal,
may be willing TO assist we in an object
which is one that must commend itself
10 e,e-y breast that estimates tae value
of family affection.
have the honor 10 remain. Sir,
Yours faithfully.
MARY ELIZABETH WORMELEY.
Newport, r. l.,
July, %, 1853.
Any sums for this object will be
gratefully acknowledged. If forwarded