Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-07-11

down IN the dust together, as we do
A Slave Purchased in Plymouth
Church. Brooklin.
At the conclusion OF the sermon on
Sunday morning. the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher announced To his con-
grega,ion that he was about to per-
form AN action OF most exiraosdina.
ry, nature, which be would preface BY
reading a portion Of the 12lh chapter
OF Matthew. lie accordingly read the
10Th. l1th and l2th verses Of that
chapter. after which he proceeded to
give sketch Of the later history Of
slave girl, Sarah by name. an appeal
in whose behalfhe had lately received.
She was. he said. the daughter Of
Southern planter, acknowledged By
himself as his own offspring, and rear
ed in his own family until his other
daughters growing up had treated her
so cruelty that she attempted to es.
cape. Sne was captured and taken
back toher paternal master. who made
immediate preparations to sell her TO
the Extreme South. refusing to dis
pose Of her 10 any one who would
permit her to remain in the neighbor-
hood. Many persons in he vicinity.
knowing her to be most faithful, ef-
ficient. and therefore valuable piece Of
property. were anxious to purchase
he-. but her owner utterly refused to
sell to them, his object being to have
her removed to so great distance
that her near relation 10 the others OF
his children could occasion them no
further modification. She was, ac-
cordingly. sold to Southern man who
held her at 3 I 800. but who finally con-
sented TO part with her for 81, goo. A
slaveholder in Washington. plying
the girl. bought her for the latter sum
immediately. however, setting on
foot a subscription to enable her to
purchase her freedom. he himself con-
tributing 800. another man, also =
Shareholder, gave 800, and 500
were finally obtained. .At this
juction," said Mr.. Beecher. 81 recviv-
ed letter asking il zoe could do any,
thirg toward making up the rest Of the
MONEY" to which replied, that !
would promise nothing unless we could
see her here.
The reverend gentleman here step
ped from his dssk. and With an en-.
couraging Come up. Sarah." he led
upon the platform young. intelligent
looking mulatto girl. whom he presen
ted TO the crowded audience as the
slave girl in question.
She is apparently about twenty.
three years old, probably three. quar-.
lers white. Of very pleasing and mod.
est appearance. Mr.. Beecher seated
her in chair By his side. while he
continued his remarks. She was here,
he said. on her parole Of honor. She
had promised to go back. and she
must return, either with or without
the five hundred dollars which were
yet necessary TO make her free wo-
man. A collection would be taken up,
and the result would show their ver-
dict. an
By this time there was hardly q dry
eye in the whole immense consr rega-
ton Of nearly 5000 people. Men
wept. and woman sobbed-not shame.
facedly. but openly and without any
attempt at concealment. All seemed
to be touched TO the very heart. The
like scene has never been Witnessed ia
the world. In a Christian land. on
the Christian Sabbath. in the pulpit o
a Christian church. by the lips Of a
Christian minister, trembling
shrinking woman begged from q
Christian people. money TO save her
self from a life OF slavery and compul'
sorry prostitution.
One gentleman here rose and m.
nounced that 4 e money should bt
forthcoming TO make her free. and
that IL Necessary he would be person.
ally responsible for the enlile amount
This announcement was received with
hearty and long continued applause,
The audience being no longer able Il
restrain their feelings. and Mr.. Beech
er expressing his approval Of the jubi
liant demonstration. Sarah. the slave
girl. had. up to this time. preserved .
Iolerable composure, but when the
certainty was declared that she should
not 10 buck to a life Of Slavery, shs
buried her face in her handkerchie
and wept aloud. As the collector
passed among the audience, the plSiel
were actually heaped up with the to
kens Of substantial sympathy. one Ia
dy even took the jewelry from her per
son and cast IL into the plate. Th,
amount collected on the spot wa,
S784. which. besides completing tn,
sum necessary for the purchase o
Sarah. will also rescue her child. I,
boy offour years. who is now in bon
dage.
The scene was one Of the most re
markable and exciting ever enacted Il
this country before a religious congre
cation; and the instan ;aneous Rnt
most satisfactory ptcuniary respons'
to the plea for liberty. shows that IN,
Anli-SIavery sentiment il ready, wher
locca,ion reouires. IN indicate he ain