Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-08-14
BENJAMIN Lay.

DOiJdlliH Lay.
Anon. 90. earliest advocates Of cmancipa-
lion in this country was this eccentric mem-
Der Of the Society Of Friends. The follow
ing iucliunt7 illustrate the manner in which
he bore his testimony against slavery.
During the session OF an annual meeting
held at Burlington, in New Jersey, Lay pro-
ceedrd to that city. Having previously pre-
pared a sufficient quantity of the juice Of the
Pokr-berry, LPhytolacca decanGal TO fill a
bladder. he cOntrivod to conceal II within the
cover of a large folio volume, the leaves of
which were removed. He then put on a
military coat, and belt,d a sinall-sword by his
side over the whole of this dress he threw
his great coat, which was made In the most
simple manner, and secured it upon himself
with a single button. Thus equipped, he
entered the house. and deliberately walked
up to the platform for the ministers, which
Is raised three or four steps above the hoor,
aud seated himself upon the steps, between
the men and women, ilcing the congregation.
Ihc meeting were sitting IN silence. In j
short time he arose and addressed them thus.
"Oh, all you negro masters, who are con
tentedly holding your fellow creatures in a
state Of slavery during life, well knowing
the cruel suffering those innocent creatures nm
dergo in their state of bondage, both in these
North American colonies and in the West
India Islands, You must know they are not
made slaves by any direct law. bun are held
by an arbitrary and self-interpsted custom,
in which you participate. And especially
you. who profess to do unto all men as We
would that they should do unto you-and
yet, IN direct opposition 10 every principle of
reason, humanity, and religion, you are forci-
bly, retaining your fellow men. from one
generation to another, in a state of uncondi-
tlonal servltude, you might as well throw
oil the plain coat as | do ''--(here he loospd
the button, and his great coat falling behind
him, his warlike appearance was exhibited
to his astonished audience,) and proceeded.
=" 1t would be as justifable in the sight Of
the Almighty, who beholds and respects all
nations and cOlors of men with an equal re-
gard, If you should thrust a sword through
their hearts, as ! do this" He drew his
sword, and pierced the bladder, sprinklinG
lis contents over those who sat neal him and
then fell down. The people, supposinr it
to be blood, thought he had killed himself ;
and several Of the women tainted. The de-
ception was soon discovered, and Benjamin
was carried out and laid on the doorstep.
Here he remained till the meeting broke up,
and the congregation had stepped over him.
When they all departed, he rose up and
went his way also.
60 another occasion, when a deep snow
was on the ground, he stationed himself at q
, gateway opening 10 one of their meeting.
5 houses, having his right leg and foot eniireI,
uncovered as the people went in, several o
them reasoned with him Tor thus exposin!
? himself, and cautioned him against the dan
ger of contracting disease by such conduct
An said Lay. you pretend compassion fU
me, but you do not feel .Jor tie poor shlres IN
your .feds, ,chO 60 all toihier hay-chd.' FoI
the purpose of enforcing upon the mind Of a
neighbor Of his, with whom he had often re-
monstrated, a conviction of his outlines in
keeping a slave, he adopted a plan which
evinccd his knowledge of human nature
This man had an interesting child, a boy of
six years old, whom Lay sometimes met at a
distance from the dwelling of his parents /;
on one OF those occasions, he succeeded in
decoying him TO his own, about one mile dis
tant-within which, by means Of some amuse-
ment, he. contrived to keep him concealed
from view. As the evening came on, Law
observed the father and mother running to-
ward his dwelling. As they drew near, dis
covering their distress, he advanced and met
them, inquiring in a feeling manner, VIVA
is the matter?' The afflicted parents, ap.
prehensive that they should never recover
their child, replied with anguish, 'Oh, Ben
jamin, Benjamin our child is gone-he has
been missing all day. Lay paused and said
Your child is safe in my house-and yor
may now conceive of the sorrow you inhic
upon the parents of the negro girl you hole
q in slavery, for she uOas torn from them b.
n a%varice.'