Witness--J.A. Campbell.
On leaving Mrs. Haywood's, I called upon Mrs. Badger, another daughter,
and wife of Judge Badger, previously mentioned. She seemed equally
affected; she wept as she gave me her parting counsel. She and Mrs. Hogg
and I had been children together, playing in the same yard, while yet none
of us had learned that they were of a superior and I of a subject race.
And in those infant years there were pencillings made upon the heart,
which time and opposite fortunes could not all efface.--May these friends
never be slaves as I have been; nor their bosom companions and their
little ones be slaves like mine.
When the cars were about to start, the whole city seemed to be gathered at
the depot; and among the rest the mobocratic portion, who appeared to be
determined still that I should not go peaceably away. Apprehending this,
it had been arranged with my friends and the conductor, that my family
should be put in the cars and that I should go a distance from the city on
foot, and be taken up as they passed. The mob, therefore, supposing that I
was left behind, allowed the cars to start.
Mr. Whiting, known as the agent of the rail road company, was going as far
as Petersburg, Va.; and he kindly assisted in purchasing our tickets, and
enabling us to pass on unmolested. After he left, Capt. Guyan, of Raleigh,
performed the same kind office as far as Alexandria, D.C., and then he
placed us in the care of a citizen of Philadelphia, whose name I regret to
have forgotten, who protected us quite out of the land of slavery. But
for this we should have been liable to be detained at several places on
our way, much to our embarrassment, at least, if nothing had occurred of a
more serious nature.
One accident only had happened: we lost at Washington a trunk containing
most of our valuable clothing. This we have, not recovered; but our lives
have been spared to bless the day that conferred freedom upon us. I felt
when my feet struck the pavements in Philadelphia, as though I had passed
into another world. I could draw in a full long breath, with no one to say
to the ribs, "why do ye so?"
On reaching Philadelphia we found that our money had all been expended,
but kind friends furnished us with the means of proceeding as far as
New-York; and thence we were with equal kindness aided on to Boston.
In Boston and in the vicinity, are persons almost without number, who have
done me favors more than I can express. The thought that I was now in my
new, though recently acquired home--that my family were with me where the
stern, cruel, hated hand of slavery could never reach us more--the
greetings of friends--the interchange of feeling and sympathy--the
kindness bestowed upon us, more grateful than rain to the thirsty
earth,--the reflections of the past that would rush into my mind,--these
and more almost overwhelmed me with emotion, and I had deep and strange
communion with my own soul. Next to God from whom every good gift
proceeds, I feel under the greatest obligations to my kind friends in
Massachusetts. To be rocked in their cradle of Liberty,--Oh, how unlike
being stretched on the pillory of slavery! May that cradle rock forever;
may many a poor care-worn child of sorrow, many a spirit-bruised (worse
than lash-mangled) victim of oppression, there sweetly sleep to the
lullaby of Freedom, sung by Massachusetts sons and daughters.
A number of meetings have been held at which friends have contributed to
our temporal wants, and individuals have sent us various articles of
provision and furniture and apparel, so that our souls have been truly
made glad. There are now ten of us in the family, my wife, my mother, and
myself, with seven children, and we expect soon to be joined by my father,
who several years ago received his freedom by legacy. The wine fresh from
the clustering grapes never filled so sweet a cup as mine. May I and my
family be permitted to drink it, remembering whence it came!
I suppose such of my readers as are not accustomed to trade in human
beings, may be curious to see the Bills of Sale, by which I have obtained
the right to my wife and children. They are both in the hand writing of
Mr. Smith. The first--that for Laura is as follows:
_State of North Carolina, Wake County._
Know all men by these presents, that for and in consideration of the sum
of two hundred and fifty dollars, to me in hand paid, I have this day
bargained and sold; and do hereby bargain, sell and deliver unto
Lunsford Lane, a free man of color, a certain negro girl by the name of
Laura, aged about seven years, and hereby warrant and defend the right
and title of the said girl to the said Lunsford and his heirs forever,
free from the claims of all persons whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Raleigh,
this 17th May, 1841.