The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-01-04
Painting White Girl to make Her a
Slave.

HThe Natchez (Nliss.) Free Trader of the
18th inst, Says passenger on one OF oul
boats observed a pensive looking little girl
aged about nine or ten years, whose black
hair and yellowish brown skin would indicate
that she was mulattress. There was some,
thing about her that interested him, and he
inquired of the captain concerning her. He
was informed that she was slave belonging
to man on board, HON the captain point
ed out, who said he was taking her to New
Orleans to sell her, he having bought her for
$lGO in Northwestern Missouri on the Dor
ders. The passenger then had conversa-
ton with the pretended owner of the child,
and his answers did not agree with the cap
tain's statement. Thereupon the little girl
was taken aside and examined, with the fol-
lowing result:
"She said she was an orpllan,and had been
taken from an asylum in New York by this
man that her hair was light and her COM
plexion brunette that this man told her he
was going to the South with her, where, as
his adopted child, she would have a good
home that black hair was preferred in the
South, and prettier than hers, and that he
had taken her to barber and had her fair
dyed black. He also told her that if she
would allow him to put some yellow dye on
her skin that her complexion would become
much whittier in a few days, and that he had
put the stain on. On hearing these state
ments, the girl was taken charge of BY the
captain, and potash, soap and water being
applied, the dyes were taken off and the light
hair ard light complexion brought 20 light
The pretended master was seized by the ex-
cited passengers,who were abou. to deal with
him summarily, but it was finally arranged to
lock him up in sta.eroom until the boat
should land. In the meantime the boat had
passed St Joseph, and when few miles be-
low that town rounded to to take on wood
.At this point, how or in what manner is not
known, the border ruiiian escaped from the
boat, leaving his baggage behind. The girl
was taken by the captain of the boat to New
Orleans, and placed in one of the orphan a,
sylums in that city
THURLow WEEDS OPINION OF Mr. LIN
COIN. The Albany Evening Journal SAYS :
"Since the newspapers have made our re-
cent visit to Springfield the occasion of re-
mark, it may hot be improper to say that an
interview with Mr. Lincoln has confirmed and
strengthened our confidence in his fitness for
The high position he is to occupy of his EN-
inent qualifications for the great trust rcpos-
Cd in him Of his enlightened appreciation
of the difficulties and dangers that surround
US ; of his desire that the free states. if in
anything delinquent, should fulfill their con-
Stitutonal duties of his determination to
require from all the states an enforcement of
the laws and obedience to The constitution !;
and finally, of his earnest AMI intlexible De
votion to the principles and sympa,hies of
republicanism.
The American people will not have cause.
SO far as the head and heart of Abraham
Lincoln are concerned. to regret the conf
dence they have reposed in him. He is not
only honest and true, but he is capable-ca-
pabIe IN the largest sense of the term. He
has read much and thought much. of gov
ernment, 'inwardly digesting its theory and
principles. HIS mind is at once phiosophi-
cal and practical. lie sees all who 90 there.
hears all they have to say, talks freely with
everybody, reads whatever is written to him;
but thinks and acts by himself and for him
self. Our Only regret is, that Mr. Lincoln
could not have taken the helm of state. as
successor to Mr. Buchanan, on the first Mon
day i'll December