louisa picquet, the octoroon: or inside views of - Negro Artist

Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon 34
out for such a purpose. She knew that many were abroad soliciting money for
such purposes, and feared it would be in vain for her to make the attempt. But
her mother was in bondage, and she resolved to make the attempt at all hazards.
The Press of Cincinnati gave the effort their encouragement The Daily Gazette
of Saturday, March 10, contained the following:
"TO THE BENEVOLENT OF CINCINNATI."
"Louisa Picquet, though to all appearance white, is, nevertheless, a colored
woman. She was born a slave, and has a mother and brother now in slavery in
Texas. She is personally known to me. She is in our midst, appealing for aid to
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buy her mother out of slavery. Let our citizens respond to her appeal. * * *
JAMES POINDEXTER,
"of Zion Baptist Church."
This Mr. Poindexter, it seems, was not then in active service, as pastor of the
church, though still residing there.
The Journal and Messenger of March 16, contained the following editorial
notice:
"Louisa Picquet, formerly a slave, but with a complexion as white almost as that
of any person, is now visiting villages in this State [Ohio], soliciting aid to
purchase her mother, who is a slave in Texas. She is a member of Zion Baptist
Church, in this city, is well recommended; and is, no doubt, worthy of public
sympathy and benevolence."
Mrs. P. accordingly procured a subscription-book, pasted the above notices into
the front of it, and started out in Cincinnati first. A well-known "Friend," in
Cincinnati, recommended her as follows, on a blank leaf:
"The bearer of this, Louisa Picquet, I believe to be a very worthy, pious woman.
Would recommend her to the sympathy of the friends of humanity, in aiding her
to redeem her mother from slavery.
"LEVI COFFIN."Cincinnati, 15th 12th mo., 1860."
24.03.2006