Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-08-21
COM MON SENSE.
Correspondence of the Morning Herald.

SOilN'lOAhNANb VI nv Vlil t'ldl
DEAR Sir knowing tina, you feel a deep
interest in the fate of the Randolph Negroes,
| presume abrief statement of their reception,
and treatment in this county will not be
wholly unacceptable. After being driven
from Mercer county by the Dutch and TVhis-
key, led on by the LatUyerS of st. Mary's,
they encalnpod at Piqua, and awaited the
arrival of Judge Leigh, who, when he came,
visited the colored settlement on the Loramie,
in this county, and purchased lands to locate
them. The Judge came to Sidney, our coun-
ty seat, on Saturday the 1lth inst, and no OPP
position was manifested till the following
Thursday, after he had closed his arrange
ments, and returned to Piqua to bring on the
people. When he landed in Sidney on Fri
day morning, he received a veto message
from Rev. w. b. Spencer, Judge Patrick G..
Goode, James Blair, Hugh Thompson, and
from others protesting against their settle
ment in this county. The Judge being UNI
acquainted with the character of our people
concluded instantly to abandon his enterprise,
stating that - it would be useless to attempt
to settle them in a community where the
Judges and Ministers rise up in opposition"
and gave orders to get ready to return to Vir-
ginia. Two hours were consumed in getting
ready, during which time a few friends We're
busy in learning the opinions and feelings of
the people, and found that it was only a small
minority that was In favor of driving the
poor creatures Off. 1t was moi till after they
had re-embarked that the Judge yielded to
the urgent entreaties of DR.. Mason and 9TH
ers, who desired him not to leave without OBJ.
tanning an expression of a public melting
Much praise is due Messrs. Mann, Cummins,
McElroy, Leckey, the Rodgers, the Careys,
and several others for their efforts on behalf
of the colored people. Upon "sOber second
thought" reaction took place so fast that by
night a meeting was deemed Unnecessary
Nlessrs. Goode, Spencer, and Thompson had
relinquished their opposition, and it was then
the general opinion, that their settlement
could he accomplished without serious diff
Guilty, and the next morning nearly half the
negroes were moved out to the lands without
molestation, and spent the Sabbath in relig-
ious exercises. The balance of them were
taken out on Monday. But in the meantime
the opposition had taken a new turn, and
about one hundred men assembled around the
negro camp, and r~iotously commanded the
Judge to take the negroes out of the county.
This inundated him, and fearing that the
property of his people would be destroyed by
their opponents if left in opposition to their
will, he again determined to abandon the en-
%terprise, and returned to Sidney. A public
meeting was called that night at the Court
House which was full, and without a dissent
ing voice, passed resolutions recognizing their
right to settle,-rebuking the exhibition OF
mob spirit, and pledging themselves TO turn
out if called on to sustain the a,US and pro-
tect the negroes. The next day, several Of our
best and wealthy citizens offered TO take
charge of the negroes and settle them, but
Judge Leigh was unwilling to risk the eN-
pertinent, although we believed confidently
that it could be done without any injury be-
ing done to any one. He preferred to take
them back to Virginia, and either ship them
to the Island of Trinidad or to Liberia. But
we were unwilling to have them run so haz-
ardous a risk as either of these alternatives,
and used all honorable means to retain them
along the Miami. Good places were obtain.
ed for about $50, which was all the Judge
was willing to leave here, and the balance
were scattered at Piqua and Troy, with a
few at Dayton.
have aimed at giving you the naked
facts, and will add a few comments. 1t is
generally believed here, that no %effectual op
position would have been arrayed in thi;
county, if the gentlemen who signed thu
" Protest" in the first place had taken a diff
ferent stand, for that class who could unde
any circumstances be induced to engage in
mob, is very small here, and if all the gooC
men among us were to speak out, it woulC
frown them down at once. But when en-
couragod by, or acting in accordance with tn
opinions of Judges and Preachers, a differen
aspect is at once presented. The gentlemen
referred to are all good men and Christians
and undoubtedly were endeavoring TO pro
mote the general good, for they believed tn,
settlement of those blacks here would tend t
corrupt the morals, and depreciate the prop
erty of our county. Upon these points W,
differ in opinion, and besides that | do not be
lieve that we should allow dollars and cent
to influence our action, in cases where mora
and legal Rights are at stake. Mr.. Blai
was the only one among their number VIII
persisted in opposition. He was among tn