The Portland daily press., 1862-11-13
How a Kentucky Girl emancipated her
Slaves

ntn, hooie daughter oil Kentucky, left her
native State because her generous young soul
was filled with such deep adherence of sla
very. She wrote book heedful in its mower
called "The Autobiography ofa Female slave y
and she herself assured me that every incident
it contained had occurred within her own
knowledge. She was an orphan and all the
property she had consisted in slaves: but She
took the heroic resolution to emancipate them
all. She was pet in the large circle of her
relatives and friends, but not one of them SYM
pathlzed with her gene, Gus project They're
garoed her as Insane In her views on that sub
Ject IL required the strongest convictions of
duty and the loftiest moral courage to mass
through such social martyrdom as she en-
countered. Her womanly nature qualed be-
fore 1t, but conscience was victorious. She
felt that no position was so mean as TO live
on the wages of others: and in the face of all
opposition, she emancpated all her slaves.
When she wrote to me announcing the reso-
luton to rely upon her own exertions hereaf.
ter, she added: II shall work with light
heart, and better still, l shall work with an easv
conscience"
She left Kentucky where her opinions rem
dered her unpopular; but subsequently re-
turned, on visit, to superintend the process
OF emancipation. The most valuable article of
her human property was an intelligent slave
named Henderson. Some wealthy gentleman
tried TO tempt her from her purpose. by offer
ing very high price for this man; but she
shook her head. saying, Il could not enjoy
spending the money" Hendersons wife be-
longed to another family, and her masters will
had enjoined that none of his slaves should be
sold till his youngest child, then six years old.
was of age. But her husband was bright and
industrious, and, stimulated by the hope of
buying her some day. he made the utmost of
facilities for earning money, which his kind
mistress had tried to afford him.
In letter TO me, Miss Griffith described the
emancipation of her slaves. 1t was not in
tended for publication, but it is well calculated
to serve the cause of freedom; and as it con-
tains no remarks that can be personally ofien-
sive to any one, think | am not guilty of any
impropriety in sending it to you without her
knowledge. therefore subjoin the following
extracts -
immediately upon my arrival in Kentucky
l sent for the servants and informed them Of
my intention. l explained the laws as simply
as | could. and told them it would be necessa-
ry to leave the State as soon as they were
free. They listened with emotion, and earn
esny inquired whether there was no way of
evading the law, so that they could remain on
their native soil, among old home influences
/ warned them of the inevitable danger of
staying or OF returning under any pretext
whatsoever. When they wers made to under
stand this, they became resigned to the hard
conditions, and said, with an eloquent sigh,
"All places are alike to the negro"
1T was delightful to watch their countenan-
ces. as they slowly received the idea of person.
al freedom. 1t seemed as if they underwent
some heavenly TRANSPORTATION. Their faces,
even their bodies, appeared to glow. 'Whatr
they exclaimed, ARE we going to be FREE? !?
To belong to ourselves? oh, it seems like a
dreamH They laughed and they wept, they
sang and they danced, alternately. Indeed, /
almost feared Henderson was crazy, he was so
bewildered with Joy. 1t was blssiil moment
for me when placed the deeds of manimis-
sion in their hands. / never expect to exper-
ience such thrill Of happiness again. Poor
creaturesl They embraced my knees, they
kissed my hands, they would have covered my
very feet with caresses, if would have per-
mitted it. They called me by every exalted
name in the English language. But when these
first ebullitions Of feeling were over, they be-
gan to think more of me than of themselves.
They returned with downcast looks and said
But Miss Matte, you can't afford to do this.
You will have have to work. You amt used
TO work, and we don't want YOU TO work.
Take US back Miss Matte. We are all willing
to keep on working for you.' Now wasn't
this very touching? Poor faithful, loving
creatures! can never be forgetful of nv dn-
orous offer, they urged me at least never to
want for any thing, but to send to them, and
they would always divide their earnings with
ME. or give me the whole.
"The separation of Henderson and his wife
was extremely affecting. 1t was to her as if
the light Of life had gone out; for she has lit
tie hope of obtaining her freedom, though he
thinks he shall manage TO buy her before long.
You see he is not such an ultra Abolitionists
L..x. Il. n
and intelligent quadroon, with nice little hands
fitted for dainty work. With all a woman's
tender spirit of self-sacrifice, she rejoiced in
her husbands good fortune, and tried to forget
the cloud under which her own life rested
She endeavored to conceal her emotions from
him, and told him she would try to bear her
bereavement as well as she possibly cold.
tell you, my dear iriend that few people know
how TO appreciate the beauty of the African
character.
Henderson had $500 in money. and the
Others had all more or less which they had laid
up, besides some live stock and other articles.
They wished to dispose of some of these be-
fore they left the State, so made provision in
the deeds of emancipation for their remaining
until the LIST of March, when they must leave
or be liable to be sold into slavery again,
Henderson accompanied me to Cincinnati,
where he obtained situation on New Or
leans boat. He preferred that employment be-
cause it would give him an opportunity to see
his wife occasionally, or at least to hear from
her, as the boat touched at Louisville They
are most iondly attached to each other. 1t
was amusing to see how soon he adopted free
state modes of expression. After four hours
sojourn in Ohio, he began to speak of "colored
gentlemen" and "colored ladies'" | was glad
to hear it. 1t urged a proper respect for his
race. The Others thought ofgetting situations
in or near Cincinnati. They are all sober, in
dustrious, economical people; so, with little
friendly advice, left them TO their own Judge
ment in the choice OF occupations. / did not
wish to act as if were their mistress after
had given them their freedom"
The noble young Kentuckian who wrote the
above letter, always disclaims any credit for
/ her righteous proceedings. She says quietly,
"Why do you praise me for generosity? 1t
appears to me very simple act of Justice
What right had to their earnings, any more
than | have to yours ?" 1t seems very strange
that Northern minds are generally so slow to
recognize this principle. That man should
be robbed of his wages on account of black
skin, seems to her as wrong and absurd as it
would be if he suffered the same injustice on
account Of black eyes or black hair. In COM
mon with several other emancipated slavehold-
ers, with whom have talked, she marvels at
Northern apathy concerning an institution
whose baneful effects extend to everybody
and everything connected with it.
You will be interested to know that not
withstanding Henderson's eager desire to pur-
chase his wife, he repeatedly urged Miss Grif
nth to take the money he had laid by; and
when she refused, he begged her to accept al
least of half it, saying, Il earned it when my
hpnp IN h.,