The voice of freedom. [volume], August 03, 1839, Image 2

About The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848

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THE tOICE OF FREEDOM.
other states lo bring their slaves within its limits,
for the purpose of emancipating them.
His friends meanwhile condemned his efforts,
ridiculed him, expostulated with him, and told him
that, if lie were not blind "he could see the hand
of God in the matter, had he not baffled all his
efforts?', But Mr. was of one mind ; noth
ing could turn him.
Hearing at length that he could find in Ohio
facilities for settling them comfortably, he set on I
for this place in company with his bruiher.-iu-law,
(the owner of the other family,) and all their
slaves. On his way, he was continually solicited
to sell the slaves at fair prices, but poor as he
was, heavy as was the responsibility of settling so
large a number of dependents in a strange country,
desirable as it was to increase his means of taking
care of his own large family, he steadily refused
, all offers ; until finally, all the slaves were safely
landed in Cincinnati. ,
His,st6ry was soon told. A few Abolitionists
immediately met together, agreed to raine some
money to help them on their yvpy, and appointed
one p'f thai number to4ukelhe place of Mr. ,
-wbo nowKhatvinq; seen them in good hands, re
turned home. '-'$131 were raised in the course of
a few hour; chietly among . and by the colored
, people,, who manifested the dei'pVsj interest in-the
'welfare of their" strange brethren. They have by
this time,'ve presu me-, reached one of the interior
counties of the. 'State,' where it- is their intenUdti lo
settle. Mr.- informed its, that there ycre
some other persons 'hkNorth Carolina, waiting to
' see whpther his experiment proved successful, be-
inS prepared, if it did, to follow his example.
After all the confident predictions of our ud ver
saries, it seems then, thatour efforts are not fruit
less. Thus the truth begins to work. Let him
who has been disheartened by the despairing let
ter of , the .veperabie Adimis, take-courage. Tire
hearts of men are in the hands of God, and hp
can turn thetri as the streams of wale-r are turned.
From llie Emancipator.
? ' JlMlUliCH. .
' ,We have a letter before us, from an intelligent
gentleman near Kingston, dated 'June 17, to his
correspondent, in this city, from which we make a
short -extract. . '
am' at a loss what to say to ypu about the
present prospects of the Isle, for I 'do not know
what (acts you are in possession of, or what facts
you may wish. The truth is, I fecH.' regard to
the subject, much as you would in visiting Eng
land .or France, and telling how -America gets on
with her freedom. I do not1" mean that - the peo
ple here are as settled as they are in America, but
they arc doing well on the icholc. A short time
since, I heard a man who has long been a resident
Here, and a planter, say that 'there is more work
doing now than ever was before in the Island.' It
is true that, on many properties, there is not as
much work done as before ; for the people are be
ginning to work far themselves : i. e. they are pur
chasing land, building houses clearing grounds,
and making preparations, for their own comfort,
instead of spending their toil and wealth for 'mas
sa.' I think this is an important viuw of the sub
ject, and I hope abolitionists will not forget to
place, it in its true light. The Christian philan
thropist is not to look at the bare exports of a na
tion to learn their prosperity, but at the socio I
state, the domestic comforts, the improvcmc?Us of
the people, if one can see, as we do here, misera
ble hovels exchanged for decent dwellings, rags for
comfortable clothing, ami domestic happiness in
stead of quarrelling and fighting , if we can sec
those who have lived for years in fornication now
married, and sending their children to school and
taking them to the house of God, we ought to ad
mit that they are in a prosperous state, whether
they can boast of great exports or not, These im
provements I see here"" '
Oil the subject of labor, he mentions sonic es
tates on which the work is more forward than it
was last year. He had recently taken a journey
of 75 miles over the Island, and says, "Where the
people are offered fair wages, and well treated,
they are at work, so far as I know."
The commercial papers of this city have been
tickled with melancholy news from Jamaica, gath
ered from the Despatch and Gazette, received by
late arrivals. We also have received the papers,
to June 26. The Morning Journal is a business
paper, devoted to liberty to a certain extent, but
opposeu to tue uovcrnor, ami to any new concess
ions to the working classes, anil especially opposed
to the intended- suspension of lite constitution.
The paper of June 25, contains the following
statement respecting the chosen oracle of the A -merican
press.
"A Middlesex Jury has found the Editor of the
Despatch guilty of a libel on the Executive. The
Editor says, that 'having been found guilty we
can arrive at no other conclusion than that the
mind of the country is changed, and that we must
now prepare for the new and altered state of
things. It. would be madness in us to persist in
pursuing a system which is now condemned by a
Jury of ourconntry.'
"We are very glad to hear this, ami that the
conductors of the Despatch have at length pereeiv
fcd that their polic.y is not approved by those
whose interests they pretended to advocate, and
views they professed to lay before the public.' The
paper in question is no longer- the organ of the
planters. The public have been long disgusted
with the ribaldry and vulgarity of the Despatch,
and will be very happy to'tind' that the conviction
of its editor has opened his eyes to the fact, and
pointed out the necessity of his'being somewhat
more decent. A strong reason exists why such a
change as that spoken of in yesterday's Despatch
should take place. That reason is, no one pla
ces the smallest reliance in any thing which ap
pears in its columns. In the "colony, as well as
in the Mother country ,o the slightest importance
is attached to any statement which it makes. It
vku therefore utterly vselcss for pood, whilst it
vms invoked as evidence against us, and icsed to our
injury" .
,:' Such is the proven character of the chosen and
Accredited witness of the slavery party in this re
public. The Morning Journal of June 3, speak
yigof a new public force, on the Engljsh plan,
says,
"In the Mother country nothing appears more
essential ' than. a public "force. Here no one at
taches the slightest importance to such n force,
whilst its expense presents a serious objection to
it. The' peasantry are peaceable, quiet, and or-
derly-'-they may refuse to labor continuotsly, but
certainly do not require- policemen lo kecp'thern
in order." . .
The British Emancipator also gives the follow
ing extract of a letter, which is as late information
as we have received : j
"THE CANES WOT ROTTED!
"Extract of a letter from the Rev. W. Kuilb, to
Mr. Sturge, dated
Falmouth, Jumaica, March, 26th, 1639.
"The crop ia going on merrily all round, and at
fair wages generally. Wait a little, and the friends
of freedom will find that the canos which rotted
on the ground, and which were eaten by cattle,
have been made into sugar, and have some how
or other found their way to England. Our good
friends the planters are beginning to find this out,
and are therefore beginning to prophecy that
though this crop is fair, there will not be any for
forty. This is the old story, I have heard it eve
ry year, but it is too stale to obtain much cre
dence." The plan of settling the laborers on freehold
or leasehold lots cf their own in villages, and thus
making them independent of the estates on which
they labor, is laying the foundation of a pew and
encouraging state of things in Jamaica. The
British Emancipator says:
"The free village system is working delightful
ly in Jamaica. If it is nut opening the eyes, it is
provoking the bile of the plante rs ; and after the
ejection of a quantity of this irritating element,
they may perhaps see-.better: The lordly ones
are seeing th land.'divided into smatl lots to build
up negro huts and cattHges' vvf'.h absolute dismay;
and ii the clear foresight of tho inevitable effects
of ..tins, systcmyre performing some very amusing
antics. - Thrysee, that" not only the-"' occupation
of free cottages -will enable the peasants to carry's
their lahor, as the planter does his sugar, really to
market, and.,so break up the atrocious .attempted
monopoly of labor Ky getting for it what it is
worth ;' they 'see alsohat such occupation will
confer the elective franchise. " -
Frfffi the. Cetibisof Uliiersal E'ma?icipatiot.
Mr.-'Editok,: Your, papef-i? .hiTaijed "Peace
on Earths-Free" discussion." Therefore, I would
take the liberty to ask why,- arid onwhat gounds,
you are opposed to colonization ?,"
'..'," And",- secondly : Why do abolitionists fear to go
to the South, where the sin abounds, end labor
with them to convince them of 'he error of their
Ways ? Paul feare.d not to go tip to Jerusalem.
Please answer through your paper and oblige,
" A FRIEND.
Rki'i.v. I am opposed to colonization, (as a
means of abolishing slavery) because, it is calcu
lated to do 710 good : because, to carry it into ef
fect," a portion of .our fellow creatures must be
wronged - and persecuted, our Southern country
dosohtted, and the free people of this nation taxed
(as Henry Glay estimates) TWEVE HUNDHFD
MILLION S OF. DOLLARS !!!too much for
any nation to pay : because, it is lulling the con
sciences of our citizens, fostering an unholy preju
dice against the poeple of color, and encouraging
the spirit ol niobocracy to assail the advocates of
Universal Emancipation : .because, in short, it is
the -very handmaid of Sloven, and calculated to
PE RPETU ATE THAT ANTI-REPUBLICAN
ABOMINATION.
I do not go to the South, at jp-escnt, (other
"abolitionists" have reasons of their own,) be
cause, 1 choose to stay here: because, I have al
ready spent more than three fourths of my life in
the slaveholding regions of America, pefe'cily un
derstand the nature of slavery, & know the charac
ter cf those who uphold it : because, the corrupt
and wicked advocates of the hellish system, at
"the South," tfhave often sounht my life, and had
nearly tahen it, while there : because lean plead
the cause of the slave more effectually and
therefore do mere good where I am : because,
the influence oi the people in the free Stales is
the only thing that ever will abolish slavery, at
"the South," by ,'peace"-ablc means; and they
must be convinced that it is in perfect accordance
with their interest, their rigit, and their duty, to
exert that influence.
Is my correspondent answered ? If not, I have
enough more to say, upon the subject of this in
inquiry. ' " Editor.
From the Cincinnati (n.ite, May 23.
Shivery Matters.
Our fellow citizens, of " the slave states, every
now and then deliver a fiat, for the regulation of
the free Slates in respect to slavery. To this fiat
the free State politicians bow in submissive obedi
ence. If an -orator or an editor run counter to this
fiat a horvifieatioti comes over all about him, lest
the South should take vengeap.ee of the many for
the offences of the few. There is a f-H riding fiat
for the regulation ofall the horror-stricken. "Sla
very is the peculiar a flair of (he slave States, and,
at their peril, the legislatures cf the free States
must. let it alone. So preaches Harrison Gray
Otis, Henry Clay, the National Intelligencer and
our neighbor Whig,. arid the legions who agree
with them in opinion. And with these preach
ments in their mouths, what do they hold of such
proceedings as are here mentioned?
"The JJemis Cask, We see, by the report of
the'proceedings of tho Legislature of Pennsylva
nia, that a bill has been passed by the lower house
of .that assembly for the trial of Messrs. Bemis
and others, of llartford county, in.this State, who
stand indicted in York county, Pa., for the bring
ing away of certain of their slaves, whom they
found in that county,, without obtaining, as the
laws of Pennsylvania require, the order of a judge
for their removal.
It w ill be recollected that this case occupied a
considerable portion of the time of the legislature
of that State, at its session of 1827, and that a
resolution was adopted authorizing the Governor
to appoint- a commissioner to visit Harrisburg,
&to make known to the Legislature of Pennsylva
nia the desire of Maryland that the questions in
volved in the case should he taken up for the de
cision to the Supreme. Court of tho United States.
Jonathan Mi'.rf.ditji, Esq., of this city, was ap
pointed commissioner, and as he is now in Har
risburg, we suppose that, the law, recently passed
by the House ol Representatives of Pennsylvania,
nnencied to meet the wishes of Maryland.
"The questions involved in this case are deep
ly important to the slaveholding Slates of the tl
nion and it was this that caused the Legislature
lopt the course pursued. Among
"1st. Thorichtof a citizen nC U..kt.i:
to pursue his fugitive slaves into a non-slavehold-mg
State, and to bring thorn awny without a re
sort to the judicial tribunal.
" Jll. I lip rio-ht nf n mnctnr in tlirt r
his fugitive slave, born of her in a non-slavehold
m - . t ...... .y ...... j,iuuui.e oi
ing Slate.
'Jlil. The constitutionality of tho laws of Penn
sylvania on the subject of fugitive slaves."
This is from the Baltimore Patriot. Mr. Bemis
ahd others stand indicted in York county, Penn
sylvania, upon a clear and strong case of kidnap
ping. They have been demanded by the Govern
or of Pennsylvania from the Governor of Mary
land. The crime is undoubted, the punishment
is the penitentiary, and the offenders are wealthy
and respectable ! The action of the law has been
impeded by official par.e'yings of no legal proprie
ty, and now the Legislature of Maryland has sent
an ambassador to tamper with the Legislature of
Pennsylvania. And so far us the mob House of
Representatives is concerned, the wish of Mary
land is complied with. Thus it is made manifest,
that the legislature of a free State may legislate,
upon the subject of slavery, provided a, slave State
ask it to do so.
r The slavery folks want a made case, for settling
all the laws, m the Supreme Court ol the United
States. Yes Taney, Barbour, Wayne, M'Kin
ley, and Catron ! Very convenient time to settle
slavery questions; the District of Columbia, the
locus in quo.
THE VOICE 'OF
MONTPEUER, SATURDAY, Al'GUST 3, 1839.
C7 The absence of the editor, who is in atten
dance upon the Albany Convention, tvill be a suf
ficient apology for our deficiency in the editorial
department.
. Extract of a letter from the editor, dated
Burlington, July 20.
' Col. Miller delivered a two hours' anti-slavery
auuress to a crowded meeting in the court house
here, last -evening. It is spoken of in terms of
high commendation, and seems to have pleasei
an wno naa tne privilege or hearing. 1 He cause
of tho slave, is evidently on the advance in Bur
lington'? 1.; A'few men and- women have been in
defatigable in their efforts "to -gcatfer " the living
coals of ti'ih." A' library ha.s. been purchased
and circulated to good eilect. ., A goodly number
of the college students are understood to be fast
friends of the cause.'
Sympathy lor the Slave.
The inquiry is often made by our opponents
' why is all this sympathy and brotherly-kindness
manifested towardrlhe bfScks, when, you' feel ntj
. . -
morefor the suffering whites in nur own and other
countries than ourselves?' and then the conclu
sion of the whole matter, is, .'It is all mistake!
philanthropy; blind enthusiasm of weak-minded
men and silly women.'
Now we flatly deny this charge. Abolitionists
are the friends of humanity the world over. They
sympathize equally with the oppressed son of Eu
rope, of Africa, and of our own country, irrespec
tive of color. Their efforts are more particularly
directed to the colored people of our land, because
their degradation is so unparalleled. "What race
of people under heaven are at this moment pining
beneath such an oppressive and cruel system of
slaver'? What nation cam be named, whose cit
izens arc, ly law, torn from their homes, their
friends, their kindred, their everything, and sold
like meat in the shambles destined to drag out
their whole life, whether it be longer or shorter,
under the lash of the cruel task' -master ? Could
a single instance, equal in cruelty
own country, be pointed out, thinl
pathics of abolitionists, to an equa
to that of our
you .the sym
degrce, would
be for a moment withheld ? 4
Abolitionists sympathize with the oppressed
blacks, not because they are blacks, but because
they are men not because they have a colored
skin, but because they have ijimoktal souls -not
because they represent' the colored race, but be
cause they are representatives of all mankind.
They remember thi't he bears the image of God
that Jesus Christ died to redeem him that he
is our brother by creation, by affinity, by redemp
tion that in his veins flows the 'one blood' of all
nations of the earth, and that God created him
but a little lower than the angels, crowned him
with glory and honor, tho' he is now dethroned.
degraded and inibruted.
Let our opponents bear these truths in mind.
when they look at the condition of the colored
population in our country, and think you they will
wonder at tho degree of sympathy manifested to
wards them ? Will they not rather stand amazed.
at our slight exhibition of the good Samaritan's
pirit, and abashed that they have so long seen
their brother robbed and spoiled, and consented
thereto ?
Abolitionists denounce this prejudice against co
lor, which exists to such a degree in our land that
it would deprive the black population cf all the
privileges and enjoyments of civilization which
would shut them out from -the common civilities
of life, and even deny them the facilities of public
conveyance and the benefits of our houses of pub
lic entertainment; and which would deny them
a seat (or at least, coop them up) in the house of
God ! They say that this is rum of the 'many in
ventions' which men have souplit cU ; that it is
not natural that it is ungenerous, unchristian
and inhuman.
I he friends of humanity anticipate tue tune
when the. maxims of this world and the customs
of society rJiall have been done away, when all
nations shall be gathered before the throne of God,
to be judged for the deeds done here in the body.
Of what avail will it be to us, when inquired of
how we have treated these representatives of Je
sus Christ, to answer, ' they were blacks, and pub
lic opinion was such that we could not, consistent
ly with our dignity, minister unto them ?' Think
you this excuse will stand in judgment ? Will
not Jesus Christ answer " Inasmuch as ycam
it not unto these, the least of my brethren, .ye did
did it not unto me?"
In another column may be found a pertinent,
interesting and important letter, from Augustus
Watti.es, superintendant of a school of colored
people in Ohio, detailing an account of the eman
cipation of twenty-one slaves. The disinterested
philanthropy of Messrs. Knox and Hall is high
ly commendable, and tells well for the cause of the
oppressed American. . We cannot learn that the
benefactors of these slaves have had their throats
cut in consequence of this act of benevolence, by
those to whom it was extended, or that they haw
the most distant apprehension of such a result.
IIay they have "an hundred fold reward in this
life, and life everlasting in'that which is to come."
For the Voico of Freedom.
At a regular monthly meeting of the Execu
tive Committee of the Vermont Anti-Slavery So
ciety, recently holden, it was
Resolved, unanimously, That the Committee
will use their best endeavors to pay into the Trea
sury of the American Anti-Slavery Society, for
the Vermont Society, a sum not less than two
thousand dollars, during the ensuing year; with
the understanding that all moneys paid into said
Treasury by the inhabitants of this State, shall
be credited towards the redemption of this pledge.
J.A.ALLEN,
Stee'i Ex- c"m- n- A- s- Society.
Executive Committee Meeting.
On Tuesday, August G, at 10 o'clock, A. M.,
a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Ver
mont Anti-Slavery Society will be holden at Mid
dlcbury. ' Each member, our Agents, and gentle
men who have special business with the Commit
tee, are respectfully invited to attend. Business
of essential importance in this philanthropic enter
prize will demand prompt and specific action.
" J. A. ALLEN, Secretary.
MiJdlebury, July 20, 1839.
For tha Voice of Freedom. -
Pledges and' Donations to the Vermont Anti-Slavery
Society.
Brandon John Oormnt Esq. 40 00, Rev.
0. S. Murray 20 00, W. H. Chamberlin
2 00, Calvin Chamberlin 100, Kezia Cham- "
berlin 1 00, Win. D. Button 50c, Wm.
Powers 50c, Do a. Jacob Powers 20 00,
widow Piozina Couant 5 00, Win. June
10 00, Kosina Juno 10 00, Milton P. June
50c, Lois C. June 10c, Win. Smith 50c,
widow Mercy Field 1 00, John Beal 1 50,
Alvan Fairbanks 2 00, Melinda Burnell
1 50, Lewis Barker 10 00, Minerva Bar
ker 2 00, Dea. David Merriam 5 00, Mrs.
Mc rriam 1 00, Dan'l P. Merriam 25c, Da
vid Merriam jr. 5 00, Dea. Isaac Merriam o
10 00, George Parmer 1 00, H. A. Sum
ner 1 00, Sophia June 12 00, David M.
June S 00, Caleb Arnold 1 00, John L.
Barker 50c, Phc-be Arnold 1 00, Armedia
Powers 2 00, Sarah A. Field 50c, Eliza
M. Barker 25c, Sarah Arnold 25c, Harri
et E. June 75c, Almira II. Fi-h 25c, Han
nah Arnold 25c, Betsey Bucklin 50o, Jes
se Soper 2.1c, Asahel Bucklin 50c, Philan
der Stiles 50c, Mary Ann B. Arnold 25c,
iuartha Sopor 2oc, Geo. Davis 12 l-2c,
Seymour Fisk 25c, Richard Wlch 1 00,
Oram Parmer 12 l-2c, Betsy Soper 25c,
Arabella June 2oc, Lucy M. Spencer 1 00,
Sarah L. June 10c, Wm. Conant 5 00, Le
vi Bacon 2 00, Geo. W. Walker 50c, Dea.
Asahel June 10 00, E. Dodge 5 00, Dan
iel Avery 50c, J. P. Duraiu 2 00, C. An
drews 2 00, Dea. A. Burnell 2 00, H.
Rust 1 00,. Geo. Walker 50c, H. Aldcn
2 00, widow Barnes and daughter 1 00,
Eliza Hitchcock 25c, Betsy Lamb 25c, A
manda Hitchcock 50c, Mary Ann Lamb
50c, Margaret Holly 50c, A. Boynton-50c,
John 50c, .Thomas Clark 1 00, Mr.
Cupen 25c, J. N. Dartt 1 00, Reuben Al
k'li 1 00, Elias Mattison 50c, Nathan Ca- -pen
ir. 25, George Darrt 25c, Mrs. A Clark
25c,"C. J). Bancroft 25c, Eliza Allen 25c,
Triphena Mattison 25c, Susan Washburn
50c, Polly Allen 25c, Mrs. Boynton 12 l-2c,
M. P. Allen 12 l-2c, Martin Allen 2 00,
Benjamin Bales 50c, Wm. A. Bates 1 00,,
Lucia Tracy 1 00, Elisabeth-Tracy 1 00.
Almira M. Tracy 1 00, widow J. Hill
1 00, D. S. Murray 2 00, S. B. Johnson
1 00, Rev. C. A. Thomas 3 00", Doct. J.
W. Hale 20 00, Mr. Town 50c. J. G.
Walton 2 00, Chester Winslow 5 00, Dea.
Ira Benson 1 00, Carlcton Parker 1 00,
Denison Blackmer 1 00, O. M. Smith
4 20, A Friend 50c, Chester Thomas 2 00,
A. Soper 12 l-2c, Mary J. Kelly 12 l-2c,
Wm. P. Wheeler 1 00," Albert Locke 4 00,
Mrs. Birchard 1 00, B. A. Goodrich and
wife 10 00, A. M. Sanderson 1 00, S.
Damond jr. 1 00, John Hart 50c, Nathan
Houghton 1 00, Harvey Hall 1 00, Barzil
lia B'unard 1 00. ' g:302 65
Rutland Dea. John Smith 20 00, Jo
seph Allen 10 00, Daniel Marsh Esq. 3 00,
John L. Marsh Esq. 2 00, J. L. & W. D.
Marsh 2 00, Josiah French 5 00, . Isaac
Mattison 5 00, William Green 5 00,tDca.
Sam'l Grigos 5 00, Reuben R. Thrall Esq.
10 00, Lester Mason 2 00, Geo. Graves
5 00, G. Graves fie, sundry persons by Geo.
Graves 1 (37, Alvan Tenny 2 50. Samuel
Coding 5 0O, Adonijah Ford 1 00, Will
son Ford 2 00, Amasa Pooler 1 00, A
Friend 50c, Duct. S. Sheldon 1 00. SSS 73
J. SEELY,
Agent Yt. A. S. Society.
A Circumstance. We lately examined the in
dex at the close of the volume of a large weekly
relio'ious newsnaner published in this city', and we
do not find a single article noted on the subject of
slavery or slaves ; the condition of otie-sixth of
our nation being n taboo subject of Christian in
quiry i Mem. Theto are fifteen references to
articles on colonization, the subject of "getting
rid of them" being very interesting to the church
es. Email.
From tl,e Emancipator.
Fruits of Abolition Labors.
The following communication from Mr. Wattles
to Mr. Weld, will be read with much pleasure on
three accounts. 1. It presents a noble specimen of
humanity and love of justice among our southern
brethren. 2. It proves that the influence of anti
slavery principles is not confined to the North.
Yet the knowledge of this case will, doubtless, be
confined to the anti-slavery circles, and our cdlon
izationists will ask at the nest anniversary, as in
nocently as at the last, " Where are the fruits of
abolition ? We have yet to hear of the first slave
emancipated through their influence." 3. As
Americans, we rejoice lo find a way in which our
country can be saved from the present calamitous
drain of serviceable men, escaping to the dominion
of a foreign power. Should any other slaveholders
wish to address Mr. Wattles, his Post Office is
New Bremen, Mercer Co., Ohio.
. WoonviLi.i:, June 30, 1S30.
" Dear Brother Weld, Every now and then an
incident occurs which almost instinctively causes
me to say, I will wrile that to Weld. And it is not
till after a calculating thought that I conclude not
to write. If the following letter is riot worth pe
rusing, then nothing has come under my observa
tion which is. I should like to know thy opinion
of such things.
" Livonia, In., 23d, March, 1830.
" Dear Sir, Having lately seen a letter from
you in the Emancipator, respecting a school of col
ored people which you are superintending in their
settlement near New Bremen, Mercer Co., Ohio,
we take the liberty of addressing to you the fol
lowing inquiries :
" 1st. Can colored people, going into that col
ony, purchase lands, either improved, or unim
proved ? and if so, at what prices generally?
"2d. Could they receive profitable employment
as laborers in general and as mechanics in partic
ular? "3d. What would their board and tuition cost
them when at school ? and could they have an op
portunity of discharging any part of it by labor dur
ing the intervals of school?
' 4th. (and much the most important,) Is there
any possible way for colored people who go to
Ohio, either as bond or free, to get leave to re
main without giving security for their good beha
viour ?
" Any other information you may deem interest
ing will be thankfully received. Between us, we
have. about twenty slaves which we wish to liber
ate and place in one of the free states. They are
in Tennessee, where there is no possibility of lib
erating slaves. We have understood, that if a
person takes a slave to Ohio for the purpose of lib
erating hi rn, he must give security for the slave's
good conduct before he can have leave to remain ;
and that if a free black- goes to that State, he will
be driven from it unless he give the security above
named.
" As we are not citizens of that Slate, and have
no property there, we could not assume that re
sponsibility were we so disposed. We will make
a further inquiry. Were we to take our people
to you in the character of slaves, and then return
home without offering to liberate them, would the
laws grant them liberty and a home there, as we
presume it does in the case of slaves who take
refuge in that State and are not pursued nor claim
ed by their masters? And were we to take this
course, would it subject either of us, or our colored
people to any penalty according to the laws of
Ohio 1
" We wish to have very particular information
on this last point, because, some years ago one of
us took our colored people to Illinois, and instead
of being permitted to liberate them, was obliged
to remove them at great expense and trouble; and
watt near being fined twelve hundred dollars be
sides, by the free people cf Illinois.
' "Our people consist of two men and one. wo
rrtan advanced in life, two young men and two
young women, and twelve or fourteen boys and
girls, of all ages under nineteen. Their charac
ter is generally good, some of them are professing
Christians. Those over twenty years can all read
a little except one. 'Those under that nge we have
not had the opportunity to instruct. One of the
young men can' work at the house-carpenter bus
iness. " From the spirit of your communication in the
Emancipator, we hope noapology is necessary from
us for troubling you on this occasion, strangers as
we are.
" We a
you to write as soon as possible.
We
the
have to go to J enncssee carlv m 3Iay, tor
purpose of attending to our people.
" With much respect, Sec,
" Bknj. Knox,
" Robt. S. Hall."
To this letter I wrote a favorable answer, and
to day I had the happin'ess of receiving into my
house these twenty-one emancipated slaves. Rob
ert S. Hall owned the most of them, and has left
them, better off than his own family i. He has
qient a large sum of money m travelling with
them from N. Carolina to Illinois, and Missouri,
Tennessee and Ohio. He has been baffled in ev
ery attempt to emancipate them but the last.
He hired them out in Tipton Co., fenn., and
supposed they would have about $600 due them
this spring, which would be sufficient to move
them up here and purchase them some land. But
the hard times in Tennessee prevented his collect
ing any thing, and for fear he should die and they
remain in slavery, he resolved to spend what little
property he had left, in freeing, moving and set
tling them. He did so, and said, as he started to re
turn to his family " I have but one suit of clothes
and not five dollars in the world."
Every obstacle which slaveholding malignity
could invent has been thrown in his way." In
speaking on the subject he says : " The spirit of
slavery is the spirit of Satan. "I was born and liv
ed forty years or more -in the midst of it, but I nev
er saw its dark spirit so manifestly as on mv late
lourney.
While his mind was unsettled, and he was
casting about for a resting place for his people
and his conscience, theColoi ization Society camo
up before him. This was after his return from
Illinois, Missouri, &c. He wrote to the Secreta
ry, and after ten months he received a letter from
Elliot Crcsson, saying "if he would keep them, till
they were ready, they would take them to Afri
ca, if he would pay their passage." He then con
cluded to emancipate them here at all hazards.
The result I have told thee. He travelled with
them all the way from Tennessee on foot, and
camping out. Through the whole journey they
met the most determined opposition, till they ar
rived at Cincinnati.
The emancipated slaves say, '' It seemed like
the people was possessed. Soon as they found he