Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-04-24

like a vast saloon, was enclosed by majestic
trees, uniting their bows over 1t, in richly fam
tactic resemblance to some Gothic cathedral.
From the points Of the arches hung wild vines
in luxuriant profusion, some in heavy ~festoons,
others lightly and gracefully leaping upward.
The blaze Of pine torches threw some into
bold relief, and cast others into a shadowy
background. And here, in this lone sane
tuary of Natures ~primeval majesty, were as
sembled many hundreds of swart fgures, some
seated in thoughtful attitudes, others scattered
in moving groups eagerly talking together.
AS they glanced about, now sinking into
dense shadow, and now emerging INTO the
red light, they seemed to his excited lmagi-
nation like demons from the pit come TO claim
guilty souls. He had sufficient presence of
mind TO observe that each one, as he entered
Frustrated himself till his forehead touched
the ground, and rising placed his finger on
his mouth. Initiating this signal, he passed
in with the throng, seated himself behind the
glare Of the torches. For some time he could
make out no connected meaning amid the
confused buzz of voices and halI-suppressed
snatches Of songs. But, at last, a tall man
mounted the stump Of a decayed tree, near
ly in the centre of the ARENA, and requested
silence.
When we had our last meeting" said he,
81 suppose most all Of you know, that we all
concluded it was best for to join the British,
if so be We could get a good chance. But
we did not all agree about our masters.
Some thought we should never be able to
keep our freedom, without we killed our mas
tiers in the first place others didn't like the
thoughts of that; so we agreed to have an
other meeting to talk about it. And now, boys,
if the British land here in Caroliny, what
shall we do with our masters?"
He stepped down, and a tall, sinewy mu-
latto stepped into his place, eyclalming with
fierce gestures, "Ravish wives and daugh-
tiers before their eyes, as they have done TO
US. Hunt them with hounds, as they have
hunted US. Shoot them down with rifles as
they have shot us. Throw their. carcasses TO
the crows, they have fattened on our bones ;
and then let the Devil take them where they
never rake up fire O. nights. VIII talks of
mercy 10 our masters :"
81 do" said an aged black man, who rose
up before the fiery youth, lettering as he lean
ed both hands on an oaken staff. 81 do, be-
cause the blessed Jesus always talked of
mercy. ! know we have been fed like dogs,
and shot at like wild beasts. Myself found
the body Of my likeliest boy under the tree
where buckra rifles reached him. But thanks
to the blessed Jesus, | feel it in my poor old
heart to forgive them. ! have been a mem
Der Of a Methodist church these thirty years;
and Two heard many preachers, white and
black and they all tell me Jesus said, DO
good TO them that do evil to you, and pray for
them that spite you. Now l say, let us love
our enemies; let US pray for them and when
our masters aog us, and sell our pickaninies,
let us break out singing:
"You may beat upon my body,
But you cannot harm my soul
l shall join the forty thousand by and by.
"You may sell my children to Georgy,
But you cannot harm their soul ;
They will join the forty thousand by and by.
"Come slave-trader, come in too;
The Lords got a pardon here for you;
You shall join the forty thousand by and by.
Come, poor niggar, come in too;
The Lords got a pardon here for you;
You shall join the forty thousand by and by.
"My skin is black, but my soul is white;
And when we get to heav'n, well all be alike;
Weshall join the forty thousand by and by.
That's the way to glorify the Lord"
Scarcely had the cracked voice ceased the
tremulous chant in which these words were
uttered, when a loud alteration commenced !;
some crying out vehemently for numbering
the white men, others maintaining that the
old mans doctrine was right. The aged black
remained leaning on his staff, and mildly re-
piled to every outburst of fury, "But Jesus
said, do good for evil" Loud rose the din
of excited voices; and the disguised slave
holder shrank deeper into the shadow.
In the midst of the confusion, an athletic,
neutrality-suspicious. young man sprang
upon the stump, and throwing off his coarse
cotton garment, slowly turned round and
round before the assembled multitude. I'm
msdiatoly all was hushed; for the light of
a dozen torches, eagerly held up by fierce,
revengeful comrades, showed his back and
shoulders, deeply gashed by the whip, and
still oozing with blood. In the midst of that
deep silence, he stopped abruptly, and with
stern brcvity, exclaimed, Boys, shall we not
murder our masters 2"
"Would you murder allf inquired a timid
voice at his right hand. "1hey don't all
cruellize their slaves"
"There g Mr.. Campbell" pleaded another
The never had one of his boys logged in
his life. You wouldn't murder him, would
you :" "Oh, no, no." shouted many voices;
"we wouldn't murder Mr.. Campbell. He's
always good to colored folks"
"And | wouldn't murder my MASTER" said
one Of Mr.. Duncan's slaves "and I'd fight
anybody that set out to murder him. amt
a going to work for him for nothing any long
err, if can help it; but he shan'i be murder
ed for he's a good master.''
"Call him a good master, if ye like" said
the bleeding youth, with bitter sneer in his
look and tone. 81 curse the word. The