Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-04-24
"WM. HENDERSON, ]. p,
al. D.. HENDERSON,
I'D. A. T
From the Signal Of Liberty.
THE SLAVE OF HENRY CLAY,
AMHERsTpUReH, March I3. IaI5.

AMHERSTBURGH, March IL, 1915.
A public meeting of the citizens of Am.
hers,burg, Canada West, met in Union chan
ell, to hear an address from Lewis Richard
son, a fugitive from Henry Clay Of Ashland
Kentucky. At half past 7 o'clock, p. M
the house was called to order by Mr.. l.. Eos
ter, who acted as chairman of the meeting
and ]. Binga, Secretary. After the object Of
the meeting was explained by III. Bib, Of
Detroit, Mr.. Richardson proceeded as follows:
"Dear Brethren, l am truly happy to meet
with you on British soil, (cheers,) where
am not known by the color of my skin, but
where the Government knows me as a man,
But | am free from American slavery, after
wearing the CALLING chains on my limbs SO
years nine of which it has been nv unhap-
Ply lot to be the slave of Henry Clay. Ithas
been said by some, that Clay's slaves had
rather live with him than be free, but | had
rather this day have a milestone tied to nv
neck, and be sunk TO the bottom of Detroit
river, than to go back to Ashland, and be his
slave for life. AS late as December, 1915,
Henry Clay had ne stripped and tied up, and
ono hundred and fifty lashes given me on my
naked back; the crime for which | was SO
abused was, | failed to return home on a Wis
it to see my wife, on Monday morning be-
fore 8 o'clock. My wife was living on an
other place, 3 miles from Ashland. During
the 9 years living with Mr.. Clay, he has not
given me a hat nor cap to wear, nor a stitch
of bed clothes, except one small coarse blan-
ket. Yet he has said publicly, thathis slaves
were fat and sleek!' But say if they are,
it is net because they are so well used by
him. They have nothing but coarse bread
and meat to eat, and not enough of that
They are allowanced every week. For each
field hand is allowed one peck of coarse corn
meal, and meat in proportion, and no yegeta-
bles of any kind. Such is the treatment that
Henry Clay's slaves receive from him. |
can truly say that | have only one thing to
lament over, and that is my bereft wife, who
is yet in bondage. If l only had her with
me ] should be happy. Yet think not that /
am unhappy. Think not that l regret the
choice | have made. / counted the cost be-
fore | started. Before l took leave of nv
wife, she wept over me, and dressed the
wound on my back, caused by the LASH
! then gave her the parting hand, and started
for Canada. l expected to be pursued as a
felon, as | had been before, and to be hunted
as a fox from mountain TO cave. | well knew
if | continued much longer with Clay, that |
should be killed by such floggings and abuse
by his cruel overseer in my old age. Iwant-
ed to be free before died, and if should be
caught on the way to Canada and taken back,
it could but be death, and might as we'll die
with the collie as the fever. With these con-
siderations | started for Canada.
Such usage as this caused me to flee from
under the American eagle, and take shelter
under the British crown. (Cheers.) Thanks
be to Heaven that | have got here at last on
yonder side Of Detroit river, | was recognized
as property but OH this side / am on free
soil. Hail, Britannia! Shame, America =
(Cheers.) A republican despotism, holding
three millions of our fellow men in slavery
Oh what a contrast between slavery and
liberty! Here | stand erect, without a chain
upon my limbs. (Cheers.) Redeemed,
emancipated by the generosity Of Great Bri,
tain. (Cheers.) l now feel as Independent
as ever Henry Clay felt when he was run
ming for the White House. In fact l fee