Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-27
The Horrors of Slavery.

The Buycrus (Ohio) Journal relates an effect
ing and highly romantic incident which recently
transpired in Kentucky. 1t is as follows
:" Near Louisville, KY, lives planter Of
wealth and standing. He was the possessor of
hundred negroes, and he was noted for his
thrifty, money-making disposition. He had
never been married, and was an incorrigable
bachelor of fifty. His house was managed by
young lady of about twenty, his daughter by
quadroon, whose complexion was lighter by
hall than his, and in whom the negro blood was
scarcely visible. The mother died ten years ago,
leaving her daughter with its fathers solemn
promise that she should be educated, and should
live as free woman rather than as slave, and
that she should pass as his daughter as she was.
The planter gave this promise, bacause he had
been really attached to the dying woman, and
was greatly attached to his beautiful child
And so she grew up, radiantly beautiful, receiv-
ing reasonable education, all that her father
could give, and in time took the management of
his household. She never knew that there was
any negro blood in her vains, and never dreamed
that she was slave.
Last fall series of msfortunes overlook the
planter. His house burned down and in it the
notes, books and papers that composed large
portion of his fortune. HIS crops failed to
great degree, and some havy speculatons in
which he was engaged resulted disastrously -
Added to all this, he had lost heavily at play,
the bcsettng sin of Southern gentlemen, and
had completely exhausted all his ready means.
and found himself in terrible situation of hay-
ing more money to pay than he could possibly
raise in given time.
He applied to his attorney for counsel in his
extremity The attorney after examining the
situation of his affairs, advised him to sell off
portion Of his negroes A list was made out,
and every head that could be possibly spared was
put down. After all was done, and the most
favorable prices for them, the aggregate fell five
thousand dollars short of the sum.
The attorney remarked quietly that he had
not included all that could be spared.
have put down all can dispense with,
replied the planter.
| do not see Mary the housekeeper's name
in the list, replied the lawyer. She, if Of
fered to the right person, would make up the
deficiency. would give that for her myself.
AT any other time the planter would have ta-
ken the suggestion as an insult, but necessity is
hard master, and he grasped at the idea, and
before an hour the transaction was closed. It
troubled him not little to disclose the matter
to her, but the fear of bankruptcy and ruin
drove him to it. The poor gir's horror and dis
tress may be imagined. She had known nothing
but happiness, and now Was to be plunged into
the deepest and most hopeless misery. She had
been sold, and was then the property, soul and
body, of one who purchased her merely for the
qualifications of his lnsts. The idea was too
horrible, and she swooned, remaining almost de.
lirious for several days.
There was another upon whom the intelligence
came with crushing weight A junior partner
in produce house in Louisville had frequently
visited the planters house on business, and,
struck with the beauty and intelligence of the
supposed daughter, had become enamored, and
after prosecuting his suit a proper time had
declared his passion, and unknown to the father
the two had betrothed themselves As soon as
possible after her father had told her her fate,
she dispatched messenger to him, stating the
facts, and mploring him to save her from the
fate that awaited her. Though thunderstruck
at the intelligence that his affianced bride was
slave, and had just been sold to fate worse
than death, like true man he determined to
rescue her. That night he saw her. and plan
was formed for fight. The day she was trans
ferred to the possession of her purchaser they
fled, and in due time arrived at Cincinnati.
where they were married"
The lawyer, as soon as he learned of the fight
OF the young woman, commenced active meas
ures to recover her, but through the aid Of
watchful friends she and her husband foiled
their pursuers, and in short time reached Can.
ada and settled in Toranto, where they are now
residing.