“The unfortunate child was brought on deck, and we all left the cabin to look at him.  I stood some time in the companion-way before I could gain strength to move forward.  As soon as he discovered me, a bright gleam passed over his countenance, and he instantly held out to me that famished hand.  My feelings could no longer be controlled.  There stood before me a child, not more than eleven or twelve years of age, of yellow complexion, and a sad countenance.  He was nearly naked; his back was seared with scars, and his flesh was wasted to the bone.  I burst into tears, and the jeers of others were for a moment changed into sympathies.  It began, however, to be suspected that I had brought the boy away; and in that case, the vessel must put back, in order to give me up also.  But I related the circumstances, and all seemed satisfied with the truth of my statement.

“I asked to be allowed to feed the boy, and the request was granted.  He ate voraciously, and, as I stood beside him, he looked into my face at every mouthful.  There was something confiding in his look.  When he had finished his meal, as I took the plate, he rubbed his fingers softly on my hand, and leaned his head toward me, like a weary child.  O that I could have offered him a place of rest! that I could have comforted and protected him! a helpless child! a feeble, emaciated, suffering, innocent child, reserved for bondage and torture!

“The captain informed us that the vessel had been forbidden to enter the port with a fugitive slave on board.  He must discharge her cargo where she lay, and return, with all possible dispatch, to Norfolk.  Accordingly, we came to anchor below the city, and the passengers were sent up in a boat, I said to the captain, ’There is a great ado about a poor helpless child.’  He replied, ’The laws must be obeyed.’  I could not help exclaiming, ’Is this the land of boasted freedom?’ Here was an innocent child treated like a felon; manacled, and sent back to slavery and the lash; deprived of the fostering care which even the brute is allowed to exercise toward its young.  The slender boy was seeking the protection of a father.  Did humanity aid him?  No.  Humanity was prevented by the law, which consigns one portion of the people to the control and brutality of the other.  Humanity can only look on and weep.  ’The laws must be obeyed.’”

Legislators of Massachusetts! suppose for one moment that poor abused boy was your own little Johnny or Charley, what would you say of the law then?  Truly, if we have no feeling for the children of others, we deserve to have our own children reserved for such a fate; and I sometimes think it is the only lesson that will teach the North to respect justice and humanity.