_P. Secretary to Gov. Dudley._
Raleigh, Nov. 20, 1840.
The foregoing petition was presented to the Senate. It was there referred
to a committee. I knew when the committee was to report, and watched about
the State House that I might receive the earliest news of the fate of my
petition. I should have gone within the senate chamber, but no colored man
has that permission. I do not know why, unless for fear, he may hear the
name of _Liberty_. By and by a member came out, and as he passed me,
said, "_Well, Lunsford, they have laid you out; the nigger bill is
killed._" I need not tell the reader that my feelings did not enter into
the merriment of this honorable senator. To me, the fate of my petition
was the last blow to my hopes. I had done all I could do, had said all I
could say, laboring night and day, to obtain a favorable reception to my
petition; but all in vain. Nothing appeared before me but I must leave the
State, and leave my wife and my children never to see them more. My
friends had also done all they could for me.
And why must I be banished? Ever after I entertained the first idea of
being free, I had endeavored so to conduct myself as not to become
obnoxious to the white inhabitants, knowing as I did their power, and
their hostility to the colored people. The two points necessary in such a
case I had kept constantly in mind. First, I had made no display of the
little property or money I possessed, but in every way I wore as much as
possible the aspect of poverty. Second, I had never appeared to be even so
intelligent as I really was. This all colored people at the south, free
and slaves, find it peculiarly necessary to their own comfort and safety
to observe.
I should, perhaps, have mentioned that on the same day I received the
notice to leave Raleigh, similar notices were presented to two other free
colored people, who had been slaves; were trying to purchase their
families; and were otherwise in a like situation to myself. And they took
the same course I did to endeavor to remain a limited time. ISAAC HUNTER,
who had a family with five children, was one; and WALLER FREEMAN, who had
six children, was the other. Mr. Hunter's petition went before mine; and a
bill of some sort passed the Senate, which was so cut down in the Commons,
as to allow him only _twenty days_ to remain in the State. He has since,
however, obtained the freedom of his family, who are living with him in
Philadelphia.
Mr. Freeman's petition received no better fate than mine. His family were
the property of Judge BADGER, who was afterwards made a member of Mr.
Harrison's cabinet. When Mr. Badger removed to Washington, he took with
him among other slaves this family; and Freeman removed also to that city.
After this, when Mr. B. resigned his office, with the other members of the
cabinet under President Tyler, he entered into some sort of contract with
Freeman, to sell him this family, which he left at Washington, while he
took the rest of his slaves back to Raleigh. Freeman is now endeavoring to
raise money to make the purchase.
It was now between two and three months to the next session of the court;
and I knew that before or at that time I must leave the State. I was
bound to appear before the court; but it had been arranged between my
lawyer and the prosecuting attorney, that if I would leave the State, and
pay the costs of court, the case should be dropped, so that my bondsmen
should not be involved. I therefore concluded to stay as long as I
possibly could, and then leave. I also determined to appeal to the
kindness of the friends of the colored man in the North, for assistance,
though I had but little hope of succeeding in this way. Yet it was the
only course I could think of, by which I could see any possible hope of
accomplishing the object.
I had paid Mr. Smith six hundred and twenty dollars; and had a house and
lot worth $500, which he had promised to take when I should raise the
balance. He gave me also a bill of sale of one of my children, Laura, in
consideration of two hundred and fifty dollars of the money already paid;
and her I determined to take with me to the North. The costs of court
which I had to meet, amounted to between thirty and forty dollars, besides
the fee of my lawyer.
On the 18th of May, 1841, three days after the court commenced its
session, I bid adieu to my friends in Raleigh, and set out for the city of
New York. I took with me a letter of introduction and recommendation from
Mr. John Primrose, a very estimable man, a recommendatory certificate from
Mr. Battle, and a letter from the church of which I was a member,
together with such papers relating to the affair as I had in my
possession. Also I received the following:
RALEIGH, N.C. May, 1841.
The bearer, Lunsford Lane, a free man of color, for some time a resident
in this place, being about to leave North Carolina in search of a more
favorable location to pursue his trade, has desired us to give him a
certificate of his good conduct heretofore.
We take pleasure in saying that his habits are temperate and
industrious, that his conduct has been orderly and proper, and that he
has for these qualities been distinguished among his caste.
Wm. Hill, R. Smith,
Weston R. Gales, C. Dewey.
C.L. Hinton,
The above was certified to officially in the usual form by the clerk of
the court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions.
My success in New York was at first small; but at length I fell in with
two friends who engaged to raise for me three hundred dollars, provided I
should first obtain from other sources the balance of the sum required,
which balance would be one thousand and eighty dollars. Thus encouraged, I
proceeded to Boston; and in the city and vicinity the needful sum was
contributed by about the 1st of April, 1842. My thanks I have endeavored
to express in my poor way to the many friends who so kindly and liberally
assisted me. I cannot reward them; I hope they will receive their reward
in another world. If the limits of this publication would permit, I
should like to record the names of many to whom I am very especially
indebted for their kindness and aid, not only in contributing, but by
introducing me and opening various ways of access to others.
On the 5th of February, 1842, finding that I should soon have in my
possession the sum necessary to procure my family, and fearing that there
might be danger in visiting Raleigh for that purpose, in consequence of
the strong opposition of many of the citizens against colored people,
their opposition to me, and their previously persecuting me from the city,
I wrote to Mr. Smith, requesting him to see the Governor and obtain under
his hand a permit to visit the State for a sufficient time to accomplish
this business. I requested Mr. Smith to publish the permit in one or two
of the city papers, and then to enclose the original to me. This letter he
answered, under date of Raleigh, 19th Feb. 1842, as follows:
LUNSFORD:--Your letter of the 5th inst. came duly to hand, and in reply
I have to inform you, that owing to the absence of Gov. Morehead, I
cannot send you the permit you requested, but this will make no
difference, for you can come home, and after your arrival you may obtain
one to remain long enough to settle up your affairs. You ought of course
to apply to the Governor immediately on your arrival, before any
malicious person would have time to inform against you; I don't think by
pursuing this course you need apprehend any danger.
* * * * *
We are all alive at present in Raleigh on the subjects of temperance and
religion. We have taken into the temperance societies, about five
hundred members, and about fifty persons have been happily converted.
* * * The work seems still to be spreading, and such a time I have never
seen before in my life. Glorious times truly.
Do try and get all the religion in your heart you possibly can, for it
is the only thing worth having after all.
Your, &c.