Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-11-06

Mercer County, Ohio.

~o ShAOs
o. a visit performed by Two other Friends
ana myself, last week, to the settlement of
colored people in the above named county.
we learned some particulars relative thereto,
which had a powerful tendency 10 deepen in
my mind, feelings of adherence toward that
wicked prejudice, and lawless spirit, recently
manifested oil the part of a portion of the
whlte citizens, In threats, publicly made in
the form OF resolutions, adopted at a public
meeting, to expel the colored people, 0peace-
ably II we can, forcibly if we must" pledp-
Ing themselves TO use every means in their
power to effect their object, not excepting the
bayonet.
In order that the reader may know some
thing of the situation, circumstances and cha
rdcieT, OF these objects of popular hatred and
victims of cruel prejudice, ii may be proper
to give a very brief sketch of the origin and
progress of the settlement, its present condi-
uon, and future prospects.
About eleven years ago, Augustus Wattles,
well known as a friend to the oppressed, and
a devoted phllanthropist, purchased land in
Mercer county, and commenced operations
with a view to the establishment of a manual
labor school, for the benefit of those youths,
who are, by the operation of an unchrisiian
prejudice. and, if possible, a more wicked
Legislation, deprived ofthe opportunity of even
learning to read the Bible in the schools es-
tablished by law for white children, and for
support of which colored people are taxed
He erected . school house in the woods and
gave out an invitation 10 colored Young men
and boys, who wished to obtain an education
and to pay for it in labor, 10 avail themselves
of the opportunity. Numbers did so; and
by studying and laboring alternately, acquir-
ed considerable literary a~ttainmcnts, and at
the same time prepared the land for c~ultiya-
ton. Ihus a centre Of attraction was form
ed, and many industrious, intelligent, and en-
terprlsing colored people 1ocked to it. At
the present llme the settlement consists of
several hundred persons; perhaps nearly one
hundred families (thts is only a guess and
they are nearly all Iaud holders. They hold
a large portion Of their land under patent from
the Government, signed by the President of
the United States and perhaps a larper nor
ton is held by second hand titles. made by
white citizens, recorded in the County Re-
cOrders office, guaranteed by the laws Of the
State, and rendered more sure by the State
Constitution, which expressly secures the
validity of contracts. The idea that these
people can be legally eXpatriated-driven
from their homesteads and hearth-stones-
bought and paid for, and held by the strong
est sanctions both Of the General and Stale
Governments, is ridiculous in the extreme,
None but the most perfect ignoramus can nos
sibly believe it; and if, after what has taken
place in Mercer, the Legislature of Ohio does
not at its next session., repeal lis shameful.
wicked, absurd and unconstitutionaI black,
laws" ihev will deserve the execra;ions of
the whole world and of all posterilv.
But to return to the colored peo6le. They
appear TO be industrious and prosperous. as
a general thing, and | think am warranted
in saving that none of them have ever become
a township or county CHARGE. There was.
therefore. evidently no necessity of renuirinT
them to give bail on this account. Let ms
see how much necessity there was for seeuri,