The Rev. J.W. Loguen, as a slave and as a freeman
page: Illustration[View Page Illustration] page: (TitlePage) [View Page (TitlePage) ] THE REV. J. W. E LOGUEN, AS A SLAVE AND AS A FREEMAN. A NARRATIVE OF REAL LIFE, SYRAICUSE, N. Y.: J. G. K. TRUAIR .k (C'., 'TI.,I-i.:OTvraI'IEI A\n D PRINTERS, 1859 page: -445[View Page -445] APPENDIX Testimony of Rev. E. P. Rogers. Tea following article, from Rev. E. P. Rogers, was written for a Preface to this Book-but it came too late to be used for that purpose; and we give it a place in -our Appendix. Early in the winter of '88, I became acquainted with the Rev. J. W. Loguen. Being then engaged as a teacher of a public school, in the city of Rochester, N. Y., Mr. Loguen made application, and was cheerfully received as a pupil. Having been brought up in Tennessee slavery, which institution, wherever it istfound, never fails to bequeath to its victims the miserable inheritance of ignorance, he was of course without education, save the little which he had gleaned from time to time, by his own per- severing efforts. But though the taskmaster had fettered his limbs, and deprived him of learning, yet it was evident that his soul was unshackled, and his lofty spirit unsubdued. I am not aware that Mr. Loguen made any secret of the fact that he was a fugitive, and then, as now, bid defiance to his claimant page: 446-447[View Page 446-447] :S4 J. w. ij .EN . During the winter which Mr. Loguen was under my tuition, he improved rapidly in the primary branches of education; and at the same time manifested a strong desire to be serviceable in some way to- his down-trodden race. The writer, being about the same age of Mr. Loguen, and both being in pursuit of knowledge with a view to future use- fulness, a close intimacy sprang up between us which time has not impaired. Observing that Mr. Loguen was a man of. uncommon energy of mind, and of a truly benevolent spirit, I soon became anx- ious that he should .enter pon :a epose of study, in some of the liberal institutions of-the day. In the following Spring, when about to return to the Oneida Institute in WXb iteoro, N. Y., ,f which I w :;a member, (at that time presided over by Rev. Beriah Green, a well known A . .wa dp,^ pl^iJthr)o pist.,) I uged Mr. -Logeun .to iiagl. him- jsejf of the :beheSts of that Institution. His friends, likewise, of whom he had very many in Rochester, (among whom was Mrs. Sherman, now ilHe wife of the writer,) counselled him to go forward and prepare for a higher calling. M'. Logen, :yielding to the solicitations of his friends, who clearly saw that he was a man of no ordinary'abilities, entered A e prtoy departmente of the Institute- the same season, wind ci mened a bcourse of study, which, had timie and means ieti'aiittiBdhim to finiih,' Wouldiave placed him among the best Say iin- that Instiution. * p' Aie&day upon which 'Mr. Loguen entered the Institute, was t ai6ioious one for him--because it brought him' in contact -itW ithd^it',f1'faspiring genius, most of whom were the open and avowed enemies of slavery, and the advocates of equal :i -t andrequen listenin g to President Greenupon those t' s"ulj'ectshdose words.- in those days .touchnlg the rights of man, " were as 'if one 'inquired at the oracle of God,;' it is 4m1t gsiangethat?-Mgr. Loguen, particularly as these truthful ,seninmei6T .found 'a ready response in the deep chambers of his soul should be so iufluenced thereby, as to dedicate himself to APEENDIX. 447 that particular branch of the anti-slavery work, in which he has since been so successfully engaged. Such was Mr. Loguen's progress at the Institute, that at the end of the first term he was able to teach an excellent school in Utica. And after spending some t*o seasons at the Institution, where, by diligence and christian deportment, he won the .con- fidence and esteem of both students and professors, and during that time making himself useful as ,a Sabbath School teacher and e;exhorter among his brethren in Utiea hbe was happily united in marriage to Mis Caroline Storom, 9 lady every way worthy of him, entered the ministry, and ettled at Syracuse, N. Y., where he has since acted in thia double capacity of religious teacher and Superintendent of the Uiergrw'nd Railoroad Since Mr. Loguen has been engaged in the noble work .lluded to, he bhas been well known to the public, nd :his biography wiUl - be -eagerly sought by thousands who have. heard his elo- quent appqals, nd isted to the Otrags yxich hear1leas tyrants perpetrated upon him and lis unfortunate relatives. From the firt, I beheld in Mr. Lgn a .noWe spirit .and manly ind epldeane, -s well -as other qualities indicative of futur- grbtnws and usfalness. ;6 litledi I.1jnkxfe yer s w tind. hiw occup yim g one of :tproudee t . 4 - m 9t responsible pstionS, :among ,thse . ho .care for, t hepp ade '. .hith Tad. -, But it is even iso; Jer./in W. -Logupe is unqusti# I one of ithe Imofst .dtinguished men mfe country, in tihe paratc. r feld in wBhich he labors.; and not only in this cotry, bt also ia :old Englad, thousands ,of mnti-slavery aon I and ww-om, are - .mailiar wiwth his, nawe, and the -Wstory. pfi s bows for ,the last few years. On -acount ,of .te- interest fel in I .life nd :!ba , m Engsland, Mr.:Lpe gu?s work will .4qubtess have a wide .r- lation in that country. Tosay nothing of the .hundreds of poor hearthroken -fugitives, page: 448-449[View Page 448-449] "8 J- . W. LOGUEN. who have been sheltered and cared for by Mr. Loguen, and who have been sent on their way rejoicing by means collected by his own hand, he has done muchY in various other ways to aid the anti-slavery cause. He has lectured in towns and cities, and preached in many pulpits in western New York; and wherever he has been, he has done much to remove prejudice against the colored man, and to break down the prevailing opinion that the black man is naturally inferior to the white man. Anrid as none can feel for the fugitive from slavery as he. can, ;who has been crushed by its power, and whose heart has been made to bleed by it- cruelties, let us never fail to encourage those having thie requisite qualifications, to aid others, escaping - from the land of despotism to the land oy the free. Such conduct is not only according to the dictates of human- ity, but a plain and solemn duty which God requires man to perform. If the words of the Bible, "hide the outcasts and betray not him that wandereth," mean anything at all, they mean that it is the duty ot Christians and philanthropists to do all that Mr. Loguen and his patrons have - done for the last few years, for those who were jiustly entitled to their sympathy. And not only is the fugitive peculiarly fitted for the work of aiding those who have just come from the house of bondage, because of his experience in suffering, but none can describe so gifaphically the workings of Slavery, and present so clearly its different phases, and make so stirring and pathetic appeals as he. Undoubtedly,' Douglas,' Bibb, Brown, Clark, and others, would have been distinguished men had they been raised on the soil of freedom; but neither ot them would have been able to portray the wickedness and cruelty of Slavery with such amazing power, had they not been within its grasp and felt/: heavy scourge. Multitudes-have listened to Mr. Loguen on the subject of Slavery, and thousands have been moved to teats by his affect- ing narrative. His book, written in a clear 'and vigorous styli -Vontain i 'a's . APPENDIX. 449 a full and complete history of all events connected with Mr. Loguen's escape from bondage, and of what he has since been able to do for his brethren, both bond and free. And we have reason to believe that the present work will be most favorably received by all classes in community, whose hearts are not be- numbed by the influence of slavery. May heaven smile upon this new effort of Mr. Logue is to aid the sacred cause of liberty, and may the noble sen ents contained in the work, kindle anew the hatred of philanthro- pists to the'accursed system of American Slavery. E. P. ROGERS. NEWARK, N. J., August 1, 1859. LOGUEN'S POSITION. BY E. P. ROGERS. They say I have a daring look- A bold and fearless mien: For this I'm not accountable, As shortly will be seen. I am athletic, they declare, And strong in every part, With lurid vengeance in my eye, And mischief in my heart. But let each one be slow to judge, Until my tale is told, In which the reason will appear Why! am tart and bold. I am a panting fugitive- I fed from Tennessee, From chains, and whips, and bloodhounds, too, In search of Liberty. Twas there I saw my sister fegged, - And heard her thrilling prayer, Oh I spare me, master I master I Oh, God For God's sake, master, spare! page: 450-451[View Page 450-451] 450 J. W. LOGUEN. I 'and my mother felt the lash-- Our sufferings who can tell I O Slavery I thou bloody fiend, I hate thee worse than hell I And now they wish to drag me back To servitude again; But never, no! so help me Cod I Will I endure the chain. I would not turn upon my heel To flee my master's power; - But if he comes within my grasp, He falls the self-same hour 1 I know 'tis God-like to forgive--, Perhaps I may be wrong; But, were your soul in my soul's stead, You'd doubtless feel as strong. Hasten, O God I the joyful day When Slavery shal not be; When millions now confined in chains, Shall sound a jubilee. APPENDIX. 451 [From the Wesleyan.] INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter to Rev. J. W. LOGUEN from his old Mis- tress, and his reply to her, will be read with interest by our readers. Mr. L. is a clergyman and gentleman of high standing in this community; and any attempt to capture him will involve consequences that we hardly dare picture to our imagination. LETTER FROM MRS. LOGUE. MAURY CO., STATE OF TENNESSEE,) February 20th, 1860. ' To JARM :-I now take my pen to write you a few lines, to let you know how wo all are. I am a cripple, but I am still able to get about. The rest of the family are all well. Cherry is as well as common. I write you these lines to let you know the situation that we are in-partly in consequence of your running away and stealing Old Rock, olq fine mare. Though we got theknare back, she was never worth much after you took her; and, as I now stand in need of some funds, I have determined to sell you; and I have had an offer for you, but did not see fit to take it. If you will send me one thousand dollars and pay for the old mare, I will give up all claim I have to you. Write to me as soon as you get these lines, and let me know if you will accept my proposition. In consequence of your running away, we had to sell Abe and Ann and twelve acres of land; and I want you to send me the money that I may be able to redeem the land that' you was the cause of our selling, and on, receipt of the above named sum of money, I will send you your bill of sale. If you do not comply with my request, I will sell you to page: 452-453[View Page 452-453] 452 J. w. LOGUEN. some one else, and you may rest assured that the time is not far distant when things will be changed with you. Write to me as soon as you get these lines. Direct your letter to Bighyville, Maury County, Tennessee. You had better comply with my request. I understand that you are a preacher. As the Southern peo- ple are so bad, you had better come and preach to your old ac- quaintances. I would like to known if you read your Bible? If so, can you tell what will become of the thief if he does not repent? and, if the blind lead the blind, what will the conse- quence be? I deem it unnecessary to say much more at pres- ent. A word to the wise is sufficient. You know where the liar has his part. You know that we reared you as we reared our own children ; that you was never abused, and that shortly before you ran away, when your master asked you if you would like to be sold, you said you would not leave him to go with any body. SARAH LOGUE. MR. LOGUEN'S REPLY. SYRACUSE, N. Y., March 28, 1860. MRS. SARAH LOGUE :-Yours of the 20th of February is duly received, and I thank you for it. It is a long time since I heard from my poor, old mother, andt I am glad to know she is yet alive, and as you say, "as well as common." What that means I don't know. I wish you had said more about her. You are a woman; but had you a woman's heart you could never have insulted a brother by telling him you sold his only remaining brother and sister, because he put himself beyond your power to convert him into money. You sold my brother and sister, ABE and ANN, and 12 acres of land, you say, because I run away. Now you have the un- utterable meanness to ask me to return and be your miserable chattel, or in lieu thereof send you $1,000 to enable you to re- deem the lnd, but not to redeem my poor brother and sister! APPENDIX. 453 If I were to send you money it would be to get my brother and sister, and not that you should get land. You say you are a cripple, and doubtless you say it to stir my pity, for you knew I was susceptible in that direction. I do pity you from the bot- tom of my heart. Nevertheless I am indignant beyond the pow- er of words to express; that you should be so sunken and cruel as to tear the hearts I love so much all in pieces; that you should be willing to impale and crucify us out of all compassion for your poorfoot or leg. Wretched woman! Be it known to you that I value my freedom, to say nothing of my mother, brothers and sisters, more than your whole body; more, indeed, than my own life; more than all the lives of all the slavehold- ers and tyrants under Heaven. You say you have offers to buy me, and that you shall sell me if I do not send you $1,000, and in the same breath and almost , in the same sentence, you say, ' you know we raised you as we did our own children." Woman, did you raise your own chil- dren for the market? Did you raise them for the whipping-post? Did you raise them to be drove off in a coffie in chains? Where are my poor bleeding brothers and sisters? Can you tell Who was it that sent them off into sugar and cotton fields, to be kick- ed, and cuffed, and whipped, and to groan and die; and where no kin can hear their groans, or attend and sympathize at their dying bed, or follow in their funeral? Wretched woman! Do you say you did not do it? Then I reply, your husband did, and you approved the deed-and the very letter you sent/me shows that your heart approves it all. Shame on you! / But, by the way, where is your husband? You don't speak of him. I infer, therefore, that he is dead; that he has gone to his great account, with all his sins against my poor family upon his head. Poor man! gone to meet the spirits of my poor, out- raged and murdered people, in a world whert Liberty and Jus- tice are MASTERS. But you say I am a thief, because I took the old mare along with me. Have you got to learn that I had a better right to the page: 454-455[View Page 454-455] 454 JW.. LOGUEN. old mare, as you call her, than MANASSETH LOGUE had to me? Is it a greater sin for me to steal his horse, than it was for him to rob my mother's cradle and steal me? If he and you infer that I forfeit all my rights to you, shall not I infer that you for- feit all your rights to me? Have you got to learn -that human rights are mutual and reciprocal, and if you take my liberty and life, you forfeit me your own liberty and life? Before God and High Heaven, is there a law for one man which is not law for every other man? If you or any other speculator on my body and rights, wish to know how I regard my rights, they need but come here and lay their hands on me to enslave me. Did you think to terrify me by presenting the alternative to give my money to you, or give my body to Slavery? Then let me say to you, that I meet the proposition with unutterable scorn and contempt. The proposition is an outrage and an insult. I will not budge one hair's breadth. I will not breathe a shorter breath, even to save me from your persecutions. I stand among a free people, who, I thank God, sympathize with my rights, and the rights of man- kind; and if your emissaries and venders come here to re- enslave me, and escape the unshrinking vigor of my own right arm, I trust my strong and brave friends, in this City and State, will be my rescuers and avengers. Yours, &c.,
