The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-17
The Stery of a Slave Girl.

In the exciting days of 1886,
Washington city was strangely moved.
Anti-slavery sentiment was rapidly
spreading; the long and fierce struggle
for the election of a speaker of the
house eliminating in the election of
Banks, "A republican, over which the
slavocrats CRASHED their teeth, and
which shook the whole country as by an
earthquake. The end was coming.
In Washington city were large mum
Der of slaves. House servants and la
boring men were m, silly of this class.
Shareholders frequently visited the city,
picking up here and there bargains
when the owners were Decessitaied TO
sell, aud moving them off South for a
market. Against these Shylocks there
were, in combination, friends of the
slave, who closely watched their move
ments and reported each attempt at
purchase. ten appeals were made to
us in the house for aid for the purchase
OF the freedom of some one who had
made such an arrangement with the
owner, aud we often put in SIS or so.
One day in the summer of 1856 ru-
NOR spread through the ami slavery
was in the city and was in negotiation
for the purchase of female slave, a
native OF the city, who was reportt d to
be fhvorite among the slave fraternity.
A messenger had come to the capitol
with the news, who stated that the
owner must sell the woman unless she
could raise certain sum for her re-
demption, and that she was almost
crazed with the excitement. "Could
we not do something for her?" We'll,
we would contribute, but who would DO
the work? eff you wish anything done,
go yourself and do il; if yoH are indif-
ferent about it, send some one" l got
from the. messenger the address OF the
family in which the slave was domes
tic, and after the adjournment of the
house | went home, took my dinner
hastily at five O'Clock, harnessed my
horse, and drove to The address given.
In Response 10 the bell, good-looking
white woman came to the door.
g. docs Mrs. reside here?" /
askei,
IL am Mrs. -"
Have you slave woman in your
empl y by the name of Eliza Brown?n
Her whole deportment underwent an
instantaneous change. She eyed me
very closely, as, l presume, she took
me for a slave-deaer, and with seeming
reluctance answered.:
/" Yes, there is such a woman here"
Can | see her?"
/" Yes, come in"
She led me into the reception room.
and very coolly said, "Sit down -
whether on the floor or chair, she did
not cOndescend to say
/ saw the aoOman'S heart, and at once
fastened TO relieve her.
Madame, / am not a save-trader,"
l said; "my object is to try and do
something for the relief of this woman"
Her GOODNESS and Indifference van
ished at once, her eyes grew moist, as
she said: " l am so glad"
then questioned her as to the char
acter of the woman, and she said "She
is honest, faithful, trustworthy and
Christian. She is suffering iearfully
now, as a slave.dealer has been here
TO see her, and she fears that her old
master, who is very poor, will sell her.
But will call herr
She left the loom, but was gone so
long that presumed she explained to
the slave that | was not one of the
DEVILS emissaries, but a friend. The
colored woman came into the room with
a low courtesy, and with sad smile
upon her face, but her eyes "were red
with weeping" In answer to my uues-
tons, she informed me that she was
twenty seven years of age, and had
been raised by her present owner; that
she was the last slave he owned; that
he was old aud poor; that he wanted to
give her her freedom, but her wages
were about all he had for support; that
he would give her free papers for $3.50,
but she could not raise such a sum: and
added that dealer bad been to see her,
and she was afraid she would be sold
and taken to New Orleans. Here she
broke down completely. The lady also
wept, while my own eyes were dim.
Closing now my interview with the
slave, | at once drove to the house of
her master, whose address | procured
from the girl. 1t was in the outer sub
urbs of the city, small, Imprinted cot
tage. A knock on the door brought to
view small-sized, gray-headed old
man, feeble, and STOPPING under a
weight of years. was invite d in, and
to seat. Poverty and negligence
marked all within, and he, the occu-
pant, seemed to be living alone.
" Yes" he said, in answer to my
question, 81 have such woman"
g Is she for sale?" | inquired.
He hesitated a moment, then said,
81 should like TO give her her freedom,
but she is all have left. l cannot af-
ford it, but l tell her if she can raise
$3.50 will give her free papers,"
"Poor old mani" said to myself;
"after service, unpaid, for twenty years,
you cannot afford to say, Go freeP"
Well" / said, twill you give me
your word of honor that whatever you
may be offered for her, you will not sell
her to any one between now and to-
morrow about this hour, and in the
meantime | have your promise of her