The North Star (Rochester)/1848/01/07/Torrey's Monument
TORREY'S MONUMENT.
A monument has just been erected, by means of voluntary contributions, over the grave of Torrey, in Mount Auburn. It occupies a conspicuous position, and is thus described by the Emancipator:
The form is three-sided, with such finishings as give it great beauty of appearance, as it stands, surrounded by three avenues. It is of fine Italian marble, handsomely clouded, resting on a granite base, which is itself elevated on a green mound, making the entire height upwards of ten feet, of which the marble makes eight feet and upwards.
The front or principal side has a beautiful medallion head of Torrey, cast in bronze, inserted in the marble with pleasing effect.
Reverend Charles T. Torrey, born at Scituate, Nov. 21. 1813: graduated at Yale College, Aug., 1833: ordained at Providence, March, 1837: arrested at Baltimore, June 24, 1844: died in the Penitentiary of that city, May 9, 1846.
The friends of the American slave erect this stone to his memory, as a martyr for liberty.
Over the head is the following sublime sentiment written by Torrey, in prison, but three months before his death, when he was already sinking under disease, and when he was apprehensive that his friends might urge him to purchase his release, by some acknowledgements or pledges unworthy of his principles and character:
"It is better to die in prison with the peace of God in our breasts, than to live in freedom, with a polluted conscience."—Torrey's letter, Feb. 7, 1846.
On the second side is a well conceived statue of a kneeling slave, cast in bronze, with these glorious lines of Whittier, Freedom's Poet.
"Where NOW beneath his burthen,
The toiling slave is driven,
Where now a tyrant's mockery
In offered unto Heaven;
THERE shall his praise be spoken,
Redeem'd from Falsehood's ban,
When the fetters shall be broken,
And the slave shall be a MAN."
On the third side is a brief and simple statement of the circumstances of his death, the facts alone, without comment or enhancement:
Charles Turner Torrey was arrested for aiding slaves to regain their liberty. For this act he was indicted as a criminal, and convicted by the Baltimore city court, and sentenced to the penitentiary for six years. While on his death-bed he was refused a pardon by the Governor of Maryland, and died of consumption, after two years confinement, a victim of his sufferings.