As soon as they saw them, her pursuers called out, "Stop her!" True to their Virginian instincts, they came to the rescue of their brother kidnappers, across the bridge.

The poor girl now saw that there was no chance for her.
It was a trying time.

She knew if she went back, she must be a slave forever--she must be dragged down to the scenes of pollution which the slaveholders continually provide for most of the poor, sinking, wretched young women, whom they call their property.

She formed her resolution; and just as those who were about to take her, were going to put hands upon her, to drag her back, she leaped over the balustrades of the bridge, and down she went to rise no more.

She chose death, rather than to go back into the hands of those christian slaveholders from whom she had escaped.
Can it be possible that such things as these exist in the United States ?{323} Are not these the exceptions?
Are any such scenes as this general?
Are not such deeds condemned by the law and denounced by public opinion?
Let me read to you a few of the laws of the slaveholding states of America.