The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-01-26


riots, as mauger the mean power of ignorance and
prejudice will decree him monumental inscrip-
ton in the sepulchres Of our kings"
The following is from the pen of one of the
most promising literary writers in the United
States. 1t exhibits, in an admirable manner, the
Justice humanity, and decency of the American
Lynch Code.
From the Pittsburgh Vser.
The Victim of Lynch Law.
BY EPPEs SARGENT, ESQ.
On my last escape from JAIL where | was con-
fined for unknowingly passing counterfeit bill,
which had been given me- by an old gentleman
whom had saved from drowning, determined
to try my fortune farther South. Seeing one dav
in the Richmond Enquirer an advertisement Of
fering one hundred dollars for a runaway slave,
and being pressingly in want of money, deter
mined to go in search of the individual described
With this view, rambled through the country,
keeping watch in out-of-the-way places, and look
ing very hard at all of the negroes who passed.
On the second day of my search ! reached lit
tie village, which will call Featherville had
given up all hopes of attaining my object, and was
sitting on rock, with my chin resting on both
hands, and my elbows resting ON my knees, hun
CRY and disconsolate, when a rough grippe was laid
on each of my shoulders and on attempting to
rise, was roughly prevented. On looking round
saw that Judge Lynch with his whole posse
comitatus, had pounced upon me. With skill
full celebrity they tied my hands behind me, and
then, amid shouts and execrations, drove me to-
ward the village square,
"My good friends" exclaimed |, "you are mis-
taken in the person; whom do you take me for +?
Let me en-tr-tr-"
My expostulations were abruptly broken off, by
one of the foremost of my captors, whom took to
be his honor, gaggng me with handful of shay
ings Finding it quite difficult to talk after being
supplied with this mouthfu, submissivev held
my peace. My amiable conductors dragged me
toward an old poplar tree, and tied me to the
trunk.
"Now my lads" exclaimed his honor, with a
horrd grin, rubbing his hands-"now nv lads
we'll show you biped with feathers. 1t can't be
said now, that the devils TO pay, and no pitch hot
Hand along the tar-ketle, Mike, my lad-and
Jenny Dicken, toss along the bag of feathers"
With horrible aacrity these orders were o.
beyed. tried to speal-to move-Oh, the das-
tards | was bound fast, | could not. looked
unutterable things. Dust was flung in nv ewes.
What could do? ground my teeth in agony, in
wrath, and in scorn. There is but one step from
the farcical to the tragical. Like imps of pande-
monium, the good people of Featherville focked
round me, and beheld unmoved such tortures in
ficted, as uncivilized Arab would weep to wit
ness. The tar and the feathers were bestowed
with liberal hand. There was no lack of gene
rosiy in these articles. believe they are both
the natural productions of the state.
AS soon as there was a cessation in the tender
mercies of Messieurs, the mob | unclogged nv
right eye from the tar that surrounded it, and look
ed forth. On the slope of the opposite hill, | no.
ticed horseman riding at full speed, and making
vehement gestures toward the crowd. They were
arrested in their valiant doings, by these panto.
mimcal appeals. In few minutes the rider ar
rived on the spot, and dismounting drew the Judge
aside, and communicated TO him the intelligence
with which he was charged. The result was,
that his honor approached me, relieved my mouth
of the shavings which he had thrust into it, and
unyng my arms told me "that might go; that
he believed there was some mistake but that it
was better that fifty innocent ones should suffer,
than that one guilty person should escape-and
that he took me for an abolitionist." The Jury
shouted acquiescence in the decision Of the Judge
attempted to speak, but could not-not that
my heart was too full of gratitude for utterance-I
but because my lips were glued with tar.
AT the tavern at which had casually stopped
that morning, had given my name as Andrew
jackson Smith 1t seems that trunk with that
name upon it was received after my departure,
and as it was tied with red tape, sealed with wax,
the landlord remarked, shat it was very mvster-
GUS"
Every, indeed" echoed the editor of the Feath-
erville Banner of Liberty as he threw his tobacco
guild away, and swallowed mint iulap.
Upon my word, it's very odd," said the post
master, trying the lock. "Landlord," continued
he, "bring me hammer and chisel, and I'll take
the responsibility, as the old ginral says. Amos
will bear me out in it."
The hammer and chisel were brought--the trunk
was forcibly opened-and in the dressing case,
carefully concealed under some soap and razors
was found torn page of murderous print, pub
llshed in New York, called the Emancipator.
"Treaon " shouted the postmaster, holding the
scrap up to view.
Bloody treason !" echoed the landlord. "What
is it 2"
Lynch him." said the editor, lighting cigar.
"Call the judge-cal the Judge" said the post
master.
"Aye, ave." rejoined the editor; who by the
way, was pig-eyed gentleman, rather slim, and
snugly dressed, with light eyebrows and hair
"a blackguard in print, and vulgarian out of
print.