Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-12-13
An Incident.

Some five or six years since a gentleman and his
,syife were passing down the Mississippi river, on
their way TO New Orleans. Their fellow passen-
gersswere nearly all shareholders or citizens of
siavehodlng states, and the conversation, in the in
terKals OF card-playlng, was mainly directed
agalnst the northern abOlitioniSts, While they
were sitting on the deck, gazing at the strange and
sl6emy scenery of the Father of Waters,' they
geEe accosted by one of the passengers, is your
name G-?' 1T is said the gentleman. Are
you from -, Ohio?' Il am 'Are you secreta-
y of the anti slavery society in that placer 4
laf6, The interrogation turned away, and soon the
fbogs spread over the boats I'm ,HbOh1on1St on
Ib0ardb They were at once surrounded by an an
Ff and furious crOwd-many of them learfuliy
aHited by liquor. Pistols were fourished and
Eosgie knives drawn Some Of the more cool and
Fdeiiberate proposed that Lynch court should be
heidi and with some difficulty ring was formed,
and IA red faced save-drlver proclaimed Judge. A
committee OF twelve was selected 10 act as jury
men, c. was then questioned. lie avoWed
himself an abolitonst, and requested permission
to explain his principles He was listened to with
manifest impatience; and the committee were or
dored to retire before he had concluded his defence
Il Thew soon returned and pronounced their YER
diet 'Thev found him guilty Of being an abolition
I. isl and recommended that he should have the al
\ tentative of quietly walking overheard or Of sign
1 ing complete recantatlon OF his antlslayery doc
ktrineS In conformity Wltl LnlS HefCluI uS'lo'o vi
"a paper was drawn up and presented for his sigma
Il ture with the threat ofimmedate death IN case o.
III his refusal. r..
IL 1t was trying moment for the abolItlonIst
ATbourhts of home, and its old familiar faces
crowded upon his brain Life is always sweet
sEalid especially is it so to the young and heathtul
sHhappy in their unchilled affections and glad hopes
s ia Young wife was at his side, horror-strken b,
sRtkalt!anger which menaced her husband. Betor
hin were fierce and stern faces and brandishe
\ Feapons; beneath him rolled the black waters O
4 tlaeriver. Sign this and you are sae,' sad tn
Nnkesman of the mob. His human spltt WaVer
\ Ifor an instant as he turned his agonzlng gaz
aF6n his wife. But, his better nature trlumphet
y f Take it back and do your worst he answered
Rsasl cannot make slavery right, even to save IN
&nifep
fEhank God my husband,' exclaimed his wife
II H6lasp ne him in her arms, let us die together
4 3ishwords and manner Of the noble woman Owe
W aSeBd the assassins. One Of the most violent {
BHthem sprang forward, and threatened to blow OF
~ the brains ofhe first who should lay hands on NJ
} lonller husband. The wives and daughters of tt
ls5Isahahoders who had hitherto kept silence, no
dl5nferfered; the Lynch court was dissolved; ant
gngiDg the remainder of the voyage, the two abb
ssgists were treated with marked respect III
Hfs substantially as we have given it, was r
ito friend Of ours by one of the passenger
kIl9bad himself participated in the Lynch Coul
MsadLcSen Standard.