The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-04-06
"A WHrE MAN IN SLAvERY.-The New

York papers state that a lad Of very dark
Complexion, the son Of Dutch farmer in
Cataraugus county. joined q company Of itin-
ssrant showmen, and travelled with them for
,rnany months, and through several States,
and finally into the interior of Virginia, where
his companions sold this dark complexioned
10 'eph into slavery, and he is now in bond
age No knowledge Of his fate reached his
relatives till a few weeks since. His father
has gone to his release. He must have been
as darkenod in intellect as in skin, to have
fallen into such condition. 1t is q parallel
: to the Northup case, Of kidnapping excepting
in the circumstance that the latter was in fact
q negro. But it is one of the shocking evils
of slavery that such wrongs may occur un-
der the Institution. The records Of the
courts Of Louisiana some ten years ago pre-
sented case that shocked the feelings and
caused deep sensation among the people Of
that State. From the years 1918 to 1924,
large numbers Of German emigrants were
+. brought into all the ports of the country from
Boston to New Orleans, whose services were
sold for certain period, to pay the amount OF
their passage money, very much as coolies are
now disposed Of in Cuba. In Philadelphia,
New York and Boston, these cargoes Of hu-
man beings were bid off at auction. The
passages Of some were paid for one year of
their service; others served two. three, four
and five years; and children were sometimes
bought for ten or twelve.
However revolving such transactions may
now appear to us, they were frequently wit
nessel only thirty-fve years ago among the
good Quakers Of Philadelphia, and the pous
people Of Boston. The immigrants when sold
were called "Redemptionists," because they
redeemed themselves from bondage" or from
their contract by certain term of service
A cargo Of Redemptionists sometime in 1924,
was sold in New Orleans, and among them
was father, mother and child, who were
taken by their purchaser into Attakapas.-
The father and mother died soon after their
purchase. The daughter grew up among the
young negroes Of the plantation; and by de-
grees became mixed and identified with them
The owner. who was without family, died.
His estate fell into the hands of strangers; the
force was sold with the estate, and the Ger
man girl was included in it. She was sup
posed by her master to be light mulatto and
was treated as a slave. In 1874 or 1916, she
became affected with some disease, to cure
which, she was sent to New Orleans, to he
under the charge Of more skilful physician
than could be found in the country. One day
there came to the house, where she was en-
ployed in such household work as she could
perform, an old German lady, who by the re-
markabls changes in fortune that occur some
times in this country, had risen to position
in society.
While looking upon the movements of the
supposed slave domestic in adjusting the fur
niture Of the room, the old lady sudden
ly recognized in her the features of little
girl that had come over in the same ship with
her, and of whom she had made an especial
pet during the passage. The slave girl had
no knowledge of her own origin, except ii
was some faint glimmerings Of infantile men,
.ory. But the old lady's memory Of her was
clear and positive; and was confirmed by some
peculiar congenital marks upon her person
which the old lady recolected to have observ.
ed when dressing her favorite on their passage
The disclosure led to investigations. and the
story of the lady was confirmed. Suit was
instituted for her freedom and the facts lie.
gally established; the case was carried to the
Supreme Court Of the State, which confirmed
the decree Of the lower Courts, giving he
freedom. But nothing could restore her NOR
oil and social condition-she had harboret
with the slaves, and had fallen into the con
dition Of slave. The case was most abl,
managed by the Hon. Christian Roselus. nov
the most eminent lawyer of tho State, VIII
came to this country himself as Redemp
ZIONIST boy; was sold to printer; was brough
up in printing Office, where he laid the foun
dations Of an education, which enabled hir
to study law. and to become, finally, one ,
the ablest men Of the Southern States.
public opinion had been consulted, the Gs,
man Rsdemptionist boy would be occupyin
the place now filled by Judge Campbell @
the bench of the Supreme Court of the Unite
Statw.