Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-06-20
FREDERICK DOUGLASS NARRATIVE
vATrEL.

Has just been issued in Boston. 1t is work ofthriIlinr
interest, and will tell nightly against the horrible system
of American slavery. Frederick Douglass speaks from
terrible experience, having sighed and groaned ia the great
priscn-house Of bondage. His narrative is written in
strains ofstirring %elcquence and power. i will fall upon
the ears ofthis nation like IA mighty bomb-shell, and awake
it from its sleep Of death, ifany thing will. No one can
read it whose heart is not cold as an iceberg, without SYM
pathy for the slave, and not see at the same time the inhu-
nanity and heartlessness of American religion. Below
are a few extracts from the work. Read and reflect:
"In August, 1882, my master attended a Methods,
csmp meeting held in the Bay-sids, Tabs, county,
aud there experienced religion. ] indulged a faint
hope that his conversion would lead hin 10 emencjpa,s
his slaves, and that, if he did not do this, il would at
any rate, make him more kind and humane. | was
disappointed in both these respects. II neither led
him to be humane TO bis slaves, nor to emaDcipate
them. ri it had any effect on his character, il made
bin more cruel and hateful in his ways; for / believe
him TO have been a much worse Uaa after his CONVEX.
sion than before. Prior to his conversion, he rel, ed
upon his own depravity TO shield and sustain him in
his savage barbariiy; but after his conversion. he
found religious sanction and support for bis slavehold.
ing cruelty. lie made the greaieet preiensIcns to pie.
ty. His house was the house OF prayer. lie pra we'd
morning, noon, and night. lie very soon distinguish
ed himself among his brethren, and WINS coon made e
lclass. leaders and exhorter. HIS activity in rsyiysls
was great, and he proved himself an INSTRUMENT in the
hands Of the church in converting many souls. H.
HOUSE. was the preachers home. They used 10 take
great pleasure in coming there 10 put M; for while
he etarved US, he stuffed them. We have had three or
or four preachers ihero at time. The names Of those
who used 10 come most frequently while [ lived there
were mir. SIorks, Mr.. EVERY, Mr.. Humphry, and Mr.
Hickey. | have also seen Mr.. George Goodman al
our house. We slaves loved Mr.. Goodman. We be.
lieved him lob be 4 good man. We thought him ins,ru,
| pnaptol - ..,.-- hN. C--.I II ,
STAKEHOLDER, TO emanciPaie his slavee; and bv sons
means got the Impression that he was laboring TO Of
feet the emancipation of al. The slaves. When he was
at our house, we were sure 10 be called in 10 PRAYERS
When the others were there, we were sometimes cal
led in and sometimes moi. Mr.. Goodman took more
notice Of us than either Of the other ministers. He
could not come among us without ~beiTaying bis sym.
pathy for us, and, stupid as we were. we had the 50
gacity to sec il.
"While | lived with my mustei in 81. Michnl's,
~therewas n white young mau,a tir. ' leon, who propo.
sed to keep n Sabbath school Tor the instruction of ouch
slaves as might be disposed to learn to read the New
Testament. We met but three timee, when Mr.. West
and Mr.. Fairbanks, both class leaders, with many 9th.
ers, came upon US with sticks and other missiles, drove
us of, and forbade us TO meet again. Thus ended our
little Sabbath school in the pious town OF ST. MichpI'e.
81 have said my master found religious sanction for
his cruelty. As nm example, | will'sta,e one of macy
facts going 10 prove the charge. ] have seen him tie
up a lame young woman, and whip her with a heavy
cowskin upon her naked shoulders, causing the warm
red blood TO drip; and in justification of the bloody
deed, he would quote this passage Of scripture--sHe
that knoweth his masters will, and doeth it not, shall
be beaten with many stripes
"Mesier would keep this lncern;od young woman ii.
ed up in this horrid situation four OF five hours at a
time. | have known him 10 tie her up early in the
morning, and whip her before breakfast; leave her, 90
10 his store, return at dinner, and whip her again, cut.
ting her in The places already made raw with his cru.
ell lash. The secret Of masters cruelty toward Hen.
ny is found in the fact of her being almost helpless.
When quite a child, she fell into The fire, and burned
herself horribly. Her hands were so burnt that she
never got Tue use ofthen. She could do very little but
bear heavy burdens. She was to master a bill of ex
IpenSe; and as he was q mean man, she was @ constant
offence TO him.. He seemed DESTROYS of getting the
poor girl out of existence. He gave her away once
10 ms sister; but being a poor gift, she was not dispo.
sed TO keep hsr. Finally, my benevolent master to
use his own words, 'set her adrift to take care of her.
SELF Here was a recently cOnverted man, holding