| Staunton Spectator, "A Sensible Negro," September 25, 1860 Summary
Whig editors in the South liked to portray slavery as so benevolent and appealing to blacks that they would enslave themselves
if given the opportunity. The Whig editor in Staunton reported this story from the neighboring county, Rockbridge.
EXCERPT:
"Mary Elizabeth, a free woman of color, twenty-two years of age, who was emancipated by the will of Wm. Miller, sr., dec'd,
voluntarily enslaved herself at the present session of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge, under the Act of Assembly of February,
1856, which authorizes the voluntary enslavement of free negroes. -- Lex. Gazette."
Full-text web version of newspaper  Points of Analysis to this Data:
 "White people in Augusta rarely discussed slavery openly and for the most part only did so under provocation when they hoped
to defend their institution."
"Staunton newspapers bore visual and textual markings of slavery, as they regularly contained ads for runaway slaves, slave
agents, and slave sales."
Citation: Key = E044
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