The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-13
A Slave Purchased in Plymouth
Church, BROOKLYN.

dsy morning. the Rev. Henry Ward Beech
or announced 70 his congregation that he
va. about 10 perform an action Of the most
extraordinary nature, which he would pre-
face by reading portion Of the l2'h chap
FAR Of Matthew. lie accordingly read The
10Th. llih and l2th verses Of that chapter,
.l,sr which he proceeded TO give sketch
of The later history Of slave gill, Sarah BY
name, IN appeal in whose behalf he had
lately received She was, he said, The daugh.
ter Of a Southern planter, acknowledged BY
himself as his own offspring and reared in
his own family until his other laughter
growing up had treated her 80 cruelty thai
she attempted to escape. She was captured
and taken back 10 her paternal master. who
made immediate preparations to sell her to
the extreme South. refusing to dispose Of
her to any one who would permit her to re-
main in he neighborhood. Many persons
In the vicinity. knowing her to be u mot
faithful, Efficient, and therefore valuable
piece Of property. were anxious TO purchase
her, but her owner utterly refused to sell 10
them, his .bjec, being to have her removed
TO so great distance that her near relation
20 the others Of his children cosld occasion
them no further modification. She was.
accordingly. cold to Southern man who
held her at 81, Soo-bat who finally consent
ed to part with her f1r $1,000. A slave
holder in Washington, plying the CIR,
bought her for the latter SUN, Immediately,
however. setting on foo, a subscription TO
enable her to purchase her freedom. he
himself contributing 500, another man
also a STAKEHOLDER, gave 500. and 500
were finally obtained. "Ai this junciure,"
said Mr.. Beecher, al received letter ask
ing IL ,ss could DO anything toward making
up the rest Of the money to which l replied
,ha, would promise nothing unless we
could see her here.
The reverend gentleman here stepped
from his desk. and with an encouraging
" Come up Sarah" he led upon the plat
form young. iniellseni.looking mulalto
girl, whom he presented to the crowded au-
dience as the slave girl in question.
Shei. apparently abou, 'wen'y-'hree years
old, probably three quarters white, Of very
pleasing and modes, appearance. Mr.. Beech
er seated her ia chair by his side, while
he continued his remarks. She was here.
he said, on her parols Of honor. She had
promised TO 30 back. and she must return,
ether with or without the Eve hundred
dollars, which were yet necessary TO make
her a fee woman. A collection would be
taken up, and the result, would show their
verdict.
By this time there was hardly dry eye
In the whole immense congregation Of near
ly 5000 people. Men weps, women sob
bed -no, shamefscedly. but openly and
without any a,temp, a, concealment. All
seemed to be touched TO the very heau.-
The like scene has never been witnessed in
the world. In a Christian land. on the
Christian Sabbath, in The pulpit Of Chris
tian Church, by the lips Ola Christian min-
lister, a tembling, shrinking woman begged
from Christian people, money 10 save her.
self from a life Of slavery and compulsory
prostitution.
One gentleman hero rose and announced
Il at The money should be forthcoming tn
make her free. anil that IL necessary, he
would be personally responsible for The en-
tire amount. This announcement was re-
ceivei with hearty and long continued ar
plauss, the audience being no longer able
10 restrain their feelings, AM Mr.. Beeche'
expressing his approval Of the iubilant de-
mous,raiion. Sarah, the slave girl, had, up
to this time, preserved a iolerable compos-
IRE, bu, when the certainty was declared
that she should no, 90 back to lie Of slave
~, she buried her face in her handkerchief
and wep, aloud. As the collectors passed
among the audience, the plates were acip-
ally heapej up with the token Of substantial
sympathy, one lady even took The jewe'ry
from her person and cast into the fund
The amount collected on the spo, was s7Sl,
which. besides completing the sum neces.
sary for the purchase Of Sarah, will also
rescue her child, a boy Of four years, who
Is now in bondage.
The scene was one Of the mos, remark
able aud exciting ever enacted in this coun-
try before religious congregation and the
instantaneous and most satisfactory pecuni-
ary response to The plea for liberty, shows
that the An,i.Slavery sentiment, is ready
when occasion requires, IL indicate its sim
certify by arguments more tangible and sub
s,aniisl than me,s ords.-Nsv York Tr6-
ans, Jane Q.