The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-11

r prevent our saying a good word for Nh. Halves,
. the heir and owner Of John Gordon's family
His kind Offices in carrying out the will OF his
Q testator and in protecting John 8 family from
being sold to q slave trader, receive very just
D but scarcely remunerative tribute from the
| pen of Miss Wormeley An admirable oppor-
tunity is now presented for rowarding his dis
) interestedness. He had purchased them, Miss
: Wormeley says, TO save them from the slave
, trader. If now, those who wish to see business
tact and philanthropy receive their just reward
will raise enough to pay Mr. hawes the fnii
value of these slaves we do not doubt but the
public sentiment of the country would sanction
the act though it should incidentally involve
the manumssion of some hall dozen persons 10
whom a. freemen. the laws Of Virginia do not
extend their protection:
Those who are 80 reckless Of consequences as
to countensuce Miss Wormeleys appeal, may
send their contributions and advice to her at
Newport, or to Messrs Tcknor, Reed, & Fields,
at Boston but those law-abiding citizens, who
respect the Baltimore platform and the Com
promise, those who value the Union, and are
anxious for the success of good Democratic can
ddates for Congress in Kentucky, Tennessee,
North Carolina, Alabama Texas, and Arkan-
sas, and who wish to see deserving Virginian
get ahead in the world may send their contrl-
buttons to this Office and we will see that they
are appropriated in the way We have above
suggested, for the benefit of Mr.. Halves.
ASECTI0NAL APPEAL.
NEWPORT, X. l., July %, 1883.
SIR: Will you allow me, through the columns
of your paper, to make an appeal to the many
readers Of I" Uncle Toms Cabin ?' There are
thousands, even of those who disapprove the
purpose and challenge the fairness of our great
American novel who have their sympathies
called forth in behalf of the race it advocates.
In the South such sympsthies find ready vent;
at the North, opportunities are more rare OF
legitimate action. have been passing part OF
the summer in Clarke county, Virginia where
two cases, affecting persons have known for
years, have greatly enlisted my sympathy, and
now venture to 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 is that of man
named John Gordon very light muhtto,
blacksmith and paper-hanger by trade, whom
| have known since 1912, and who bears the
highest character amongst the gentlemen who
employ him. He was born the slave of Mrs.
Halves, of RappahannOck county, and received
were emancipated, and provision made for their
transport to Africa. John Gordon, who had
recently married slave woman, to whom he |
was much attached, preferred to remain in Vir-
ginia He had continued to reside there fifteen |
years as free negro but, under the laws re-
Gently passed by the Convention of Virginia,
he has been called before the county court, and |
warned that he must quit the State within two |
months or return into slavery. 1t is easy, calm
y to read or state these facts but it was not easy
to listen to them calmly when the poor fellow, in
deep distress, came up to speak to me. He had
an idea that people in free countries would pity
him-that Miss Lizzie from the North could
do something to assist him in the purchase OF
his wife, and at least some of his eight chill
dren, so that they might leave the State togeth-
err. Was there nothing could do he asked;
was there nothing he could do to prevent his
being separated forever from his family leav-
ing his wife and children to the uncertain
chances of slavery? "Oh would do any
thing" he exclaimed, with pathos that deep
ly touched me- "anything on earth for them,
Miss Lizzie, but 60 back and be slave again"
| could not bear to tell him that had no pow
er efiectually TO assist him-that could give
him only my own few dollars and my sympa-
thies. did what think any one else in my
place would have done. promsed--however
painful it might be to me to ask ASSISTANCE
that ! would lay his case before my friends
when ! came North, and see what could be
done for him.
The gentleman who owns the family also
urged me TO interest myself in the case He
is person of great benevOlence, and the heir
at-law of Mrs Halves Instead of opposing
the emancipation of her negroes, he took the
most lively interest in their welfare, superin.
tended their embarkation, and continues to re.
ceive the mast grateful letters from Liberia.
But he is far from rich, and though he assures
we he will gladly sell Evelina and her chill
dSn whom no originally bought at the ear
neg request of John Gordon, to save them
frors being separated and sold to the tradersl
for Ids than half their market value in order
to secu'e their freedom, the state of his affairs
is such s9at he is not justified in giving them
their libe,ty.
My other case is that of woman. now
about thirty years of age, who was the be-
loved and devoted attendant of one of nv
dearest relations. II was her mstress's most
earnest wish upon her death bed to give Sarah
the freedom she had long sighed for; and after
many ditiicutles, owing to the arrangement of
the property, the family was enabled to give
her her papers But by the same law of Vir-
gnia, which operates so harshly on John Cor
don, she is compelled to leave the State within
year, or return INTO slavery. She has hus-
band, to whom she is dcvotedly attached Con-
Jugal affection is lhot unnaturally) rare among
negroes, but this attachment have never seen
surpassed in any condition; and she cannot
bear to leave him. He is slave of excellent
character, trusted end esteemed through all
the nelghborhood-hut unfortunately, though
hired by the family 70 whom Sarah belonged,
and living for the Fest ten years under the
same roof with his vito, he belongs to another
master This gentleman is willing to sell him
to his wife for sum very much less than hY
market value. They hive warm friends at the
South, willing to do aim their power to pro-
mote their object and, once free, are secure OF
employment and the highest wages in Balti-
more.
About $4,000 are necessary to accomplish
both these objects sup 20 large that can
hardly hope to raise it ell. A thousand dollars
would set free John Gordon's wife and five
youngest children. The cause seems to have
been committed to my hands, and earnestly
pray, that though cannot present the case in
SUCH way at would infuse my own feelings
ct sympathy into the hearts Of Others that
some OF those to whom thus sgQeal. may be
willing to assist me in an object whlon ~,
commend itself to every breast that estimates
the value Of family affection.
! have the honor to remain, sir, yours faith
fully, MARY ELIZABETH WoRMrLEy.
Any sums for this sbjeot will be gratefully
acknowledged, If forwarded to Miss Worme-
ley, at Newport, or to the care of Messrs.
T,cknor Reed, & Fields, Boston, or to the office
Of the RecPort News.
EXTRACTS PROM opR OoRaEsPoEDENcs.
Troy Geauga co.. Ohio, Judy Is, 1s5a.-En-
closed you viii and one dollar, for another six
copies of Facts for tAs People This is no mis-