Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-06-13

SLAVE GIRL PURCHASED ~ REV. II. W
| BEECHER 5 CHURCH. 4 remarkable and excit-
ing scene was enacted in Plymouth Church
Brooklyn, on Sunday last, full account of
which we copy from the New York Tribune
of Monday:
at the conclusion of the sermon yester-
day morning, the Rev. Henry Ward Beech
cr announced to his congregation that he
was about to perform an action of n most ex-
traordinary nature, which he would preface
by reading portion of the 10Th chapter of
Matthew. lie accordingly read the 10th
lth and 18th verses of that chapter, after
which he proceeded to give a sketch of the
late history of a slave girl, Sarah by name,
an appeal in whose behalf he ha d lately re-
ccived. She was, he said, the daughter of a
southern planter, acknowledged by himself
as his own offspring and rered in his own fam
! lily until his other daughter growing up had
! treated her 50 cruelty that she attempted to
| escape. She was captured and taken back
! to her plternal 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 remain. in the neighbor-
hood.
Many persons in the vicinity, knowing her
to be a most faithful, efficient, and, there fore,
valuable piece of property, were anxious to
| purchase her, but her owner utterly refused
to sell to them, his object being to have her
/ removed to SO great distance that her near
relation to the others of his children could
occasion them no further modification. She
was, accordingly, sold to a Southern man
who held her at Slj00-but who finally con-
>ented to part with her for $1,000, A slave
| holder in Washington, pitying the girl,
/ lought her for the latter sum, Immediately
however, setting on foot subscription to
enable her to purchase her freedom, he him
self contributing 800, another man, also a
| stakeholder, gave 500, and 500 were final
| ly obtained. AT this iuncture, said Mr..
Becchcr, Il received IA letter asking if we
could do any thing towards making up the1rest
Of the money to which replied, that |
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 platform young,
| intelligcnt-lOoking mulatto girl, whom he
/ presented to the crowded audience as the
| slave girl in question,
She is apparently about twenty-three years
old, probably three-quarters white, Of very
/ pleasing and modest appearance, Mr. Beech
cr seated her in chair by his side, while he
continued his remarks. She was here, he
said, ON her parole of honor She had prom
! iscd to 90 back, and she must return, either
with or without the five hundred dollars
which were yet necessary to make her u free
woman. \ 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 nearly
| 5000 people Men wept, and women sobbed
not shameiaccdly, but openly and without
any attempt at concealment. All seemed to
be touched to the very heart. The like scene
has never been witnessed in the world,
One gentleman here rose and announced
that the money should be Forthcoming to
make her free, and that if necessary he
would he personally responsible for the entire
amount. This announcement was received
with hearty and long continued applause, the
audience being no longer able to restrain
their feelings, and Mr.. Beeoher expressing his
approval Of the jubiant demonstrations
Sarah, the slave girl, had, up to this time
preserved tolerable compOsure, but when
the certainty was declared that she should
not 90 back to a life of Slavery, she buried
her face in her handkerchief and wept aloud
As the collectors passed among the audience
the plates were actually heaped up with the
tokens OF substantial sympathy one lady
even took the jewelry from her person and
cast into the fund The amount collected on
the spot was $7S4, which, besides complet-
ing the sum necessary for the purchase OF
Sarah, will also rescue her child, boy OF
! four years, who is now in bondage"