Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Letter from freed slave to former master draws attention

I thought you might like this. An awesome piece of writing. A former slaver owner writes to his former slave, asking him to come back and work for him on a wage to be agreed by both parties. This is the former slave's reply:

"... and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future."

You've got to love this ex-slave, man. Such a smart guy.
ENJOY

1 comment:

  1. Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die.

    ReplyDelete