Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-12-24
Notes f!OM the LCC,uTing Field.
LocK, Licking Co., Dec. c, 1877.

W. A'1N hN''
thence we went to Columbus, having some
business to transact. | for one was glad to
get away again as soon as possible, although
we had excellent quarters at the house Of Mr..
Jarvis. There is so much in county seats,
and Capitols, that looks inhuman, such a
fearful lack Of all that captivates the soul
aiming at the true-so much Of the savage
appliances Of d~espotic power and usurpation
so much of that spirit which dependence
upon others for Office begets, and so much Of
that sneaking, cowardly, time-serving dispo-
sition on the part Of professed reformers,
that my soul loathes them. Henry being
anxious to pass through the great state re-
forming machine-the Penitentiary-we paid
that venerated pile a visit. Under the gui-
dance Of one of the officers we were conduct
ed from ''cells" 10 'kitchen," through ''di-
ming room" to "Bakehouse," amid ''shops,"
''foundries,' and "wards" until we reached
again the 'outer gate" There are near five
hundred men women and children within
the walls of this christian bastile.
will not attempt a description of my feel
ings while passing from one department of
this "institution" to another. All were bu-
silly engaged in their different avocations
while perfect silence, save the noise Of the
machinery, &C., prevailed. Old men whose
hairs had long been gray, men in the vigor
Of manhood, and boys in their 'teens,'' all
mixed together, but not a word is spoken =
They are dumb, yea dead while they live
They are marched from cell TO work, from
work to cell, and nought heard but the dull
monotonous tramp. In every room and
shop, sits or stands a man to watch his fell
lows. While the grating of the massive
door and the echo of the ponderous bolt,
strike cord in the soul which makes the
face turn pale. Here the religion of the state
sends those which the Gospel cannot reach,
that under more powerful influences the soul
may be reclaimed l came out exclai-
ming, Christianity never built or used a PEN
itentiary. You will pardon this introduce
ton of ''eStraneous matter, Messrs. Edi-
tors, and attribute it all to my fanaticism. /
was going TO tell you all about it, but | guess
| wont. However | want 10 say a word
more about this great Evangelical ~"instru-
mentality" There is within the place which
divines defend and eulogize, a very large
proportion of colored persons, about forty or
fifty out of the aforesaid number; and this
is used as an argument against emancipation,
and the repeal of the black laws. | think it
an argument in favor of both. Why is it
that so many people of color are in the PEN
itentiary? There are several reasons, two
of which | will mention. When a coIored
man is apPrehended on a charge, it is next to
impossible 10 get justice done him. Many
Of them are friendless and fundless, others
sure and 'the Niger may go to the DEVIL
Hence many go to the penitentiary, who, il
they were white, would escape.
Besides, society dooms the colored man
to ignorance, the sure precursor of crime
Schools are closed, information withheld, the
avenues to honest industry blocked up thus
N'A'Nh ~ uNopSldtIOh " COlIlllllS CIlult, ant
then, The cause of his guilt, shuts him up in
= prison TO punish him The more | considet
t the cruel and nhuman treatment of our col.
: ored brethren, the more am | impressed will
. the wickedness and hypocrisy of this nation
On Tuesday we started for Orange in Del
! aware Co., and staid all night with an E
, NJ. named Bull, who would have obtained
/ for US the use of the church, but there wa
not time to give notice of a meeting; in thi
: neighborhood we found a Bro. named "Joh.
o Smith," who was rather fanatical. He i
an ex-deacon, | believe, but had left tn
church some time since. He subscribed fc
the Bugle. Next day we took up our liz
q of march through. To give a faint idea
Ie the road, the worst | ever saw, it lay fC
!.e miles through the forest. Near night W
/, came to Orange, the residence of the "Rev.
n jesse Mcbride, and the strong hold of We
lie leyanism in Delaware Co., | shall say bl
u little in reference either to the one or the oil
er. l would cover both with the shroud
ur eternal forgetlulness if / could. We h;
p heard several days before we arrived at Il
above place, that Mr.. Mcbride had told Il
er people that he could not cooperate with m
SO He received us with as much cordiaIity
could be brought to the surface for the tin
on being. We told him our business was
s., plead for the slave, and asked his cooper
nd ton. This he refused on the ground that
IN, would not cooperate with a sceptic, or o
Ell that was sceptical. We labored to show h
to that we were not sceptieaI, and that it W
are priestiy arrogance 10 pronounce a difreren
of opinion infdelity, &c. Also, that pro
in ded we were all he said we were, that "
, a no reason why he should oppose us as the
the vocates Of freedom.