New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-17
THE DOMESTIC SLAVE TRADE.
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wAanIs Co (Yiss..l Sept. %, 1854


hos. HoRseE GEEsLsY. Ssz- YSrk CIy. r
Ny object in addressing you these lines Is 'ls' l
own negro girl named Catharire, bright uinlstto
aged between IS and 30 yeas, who Is Intelligent aai
beautiful The gri wishes to obtain her freedom ssf
reside in either Ohio or Sew-York State; aud 70
crafty her desire, am wiling TO take the SUN OF
81 600. which the friends of Liberty will no doubt
make up Casharine, as she tells me, was born near
Savannah, Ga, End was daughter Of Judge Hop
Lins, and, at the age Of = years, accompanied her
youpg mistress who legitimate daughter OF the
.Judaes on visit to New Orleans where she the le-
climate died Catharins wrs then seized aud sold
by the Sheriff OF New-Orleans, under attachment to
yay the debts cen Tacted in the city by her young
mistress, and purchased by Dutchman named
Shinoski Shnoski, being pleased with the young
girls looks placed her IN aqusdrOon school AMI gave
her good education The gil caa read and write as
well or better than myself and speaks the Datch and
French languages almost 10 perfection. When the
girl attained the age of Is, Shnoshi aled; and she
was again sold and fell into traders hands, by the
rsme vi John Valentine, q native OF your State.
Valentine brought her up to Warreuton, where pur-
chased her, in l54i for the sum OF 81 So Catharne
is considered the best seamstress aud COOK IN this
county, WsHren.) and could tomorrow cell her Tor
al COO but prefer letting her 20 for 81 OOO 50 that
she NAV obtain her freedom. She has had opportuni
ties 70 get to free State and obtain her freedom, but
she saws that she will never run away to do 1t. her
Shinoski If | was aole, would free her without any
conversation but losing els coo the last Prssi-
Dental election has take very near my ALL
Mr. Geo ID. Prentice, editor OF The LOUISVILLE (ky.l
Journal knows me very well by character, 10 whom
III you with 10 make any inqur1es regarding this
matter you are at liberty to refer
Ii you should make any publication in your paper
in eation this matter you VIII please NOT mention
my lame in connection with IT, nor ne place whence
this letter was written Catharine is honest and for
the ten wears that have owned her, never struck
her lick about her work or anything else
Ii it was not that intend to emigrate to California,
money could not buy her.
have Given you a complete and accurate state.
ment concerning this girl, and AN willing that she
shall be examined here or in Louisville, n.y., before
the bargain iaI : SlSsed' ruos yyowLAyp
PosC0fice, w arrenton, Miss,
Reply
Nh X. have carried your letter of the 2Sth
ult. in my hat for several days, awaiting an op-
portunity to answerit. now seize the first OPP
perfume moment, and, as yours lie one of class
with which i am frequently favored, will send
you my reply through The TRIBUNE, wishing it
regarded as general answer to all such applica-
tons.
Let me begin by frankly stating that am not
engaged in the Slave Trade, and do not now
contemplate embarking in that business; but no
man can say confidently what he may or may not
becomes and, if ever should engage in the traf-
fc you suggest, it will be but fair to remember
you as among my prompters to undertake it. Yet
even then | must decline any such examination
asyou prefer Of the property you wish to dis
pose Of Your biography is so full and precise,
so frank and straight forward, that prefer to
.:. 81 in fha
ses.
You will see that have disregarded your re-
quest that your name and residence should BIO
suppressed by me. That request seems to
me inspired by a modesty and self-sac-
rifce unsuited to the Age of Brass we live in
Arey you not seeking to do humane and generous
act Are you not proposing to tax yourself 5000
in order to raise an intelligent, capable, deserv'
ing woman from Slavery to Freedom Are you
not proposing to do this in manner perfectly
lawful and unobjectonable, involving no surrea-
der or compromise OF Southern Rights :" My
dear Sir such virtue must not be allowed to
''bush unseen" Our age needs the inspiration
of heroic examples, and those who would "do
good by stealth, and blush to find it Fame"
must-by gentle violence, if need be-stand re-
yealed TO an amazed, admiring world, True, it
might (and might mott have been still more as
founding but for your unlucky gambling on the
Last Presidential Election, wherein it is hard to
tell whether you who lost your money or those
who NOE their President were most unfortunate.
again.
And now as to this daughter of the late Judge
Hopkins of Savannah Ga, whom you propose TO
cell me:
cannot now remember that have ever heard
Slavery justified on any ground which did not as
sert OF imply that it is the best condition for the ne
gro. The blacks, we are daily told, cannot take
care of Themselves, but sink into ideness, de-
baucbery squalid poverty and utter brutality, the
moment the master sustaining rule and care are
withdrawn. If this is true, how dare you turn
this poor dependent for whose well-beng you are
responsible, over to me, who neither would nor
could exert masters control over her? If this
slave ought not to be set at liberty, why do you
ask me to bride you with 81 900 to do her that
wrongi If she ought to be, why should pay
you 81 600 for doing your duty in the premises
You hold peculiar and responsible relation to
her, through your own voluntary act, but lam
only related to her through Adam, the same as to
every Esquimaux, PatagOnian or New Zeaander.
Whatever may be your duty in the premises,
why should l be called on to help you discharge
it,
Full as your account of this girl is, you say
nothing of her children, though such she IN
doubtedly has, whether they be also those Of her
seyeral masters AZ abe Wa or their fathers