The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-04-30

H
troops, and especial commissioners to
every rebellous district TO establish other,
and one Of these men, invested with un-
limited power, arrived at Mort. He de-
termined 10 use bold measures without
delay; and to intimidate the people aud
crush the revolt, he removed many Of the
unassenting pastors, and fixed price on
| the heads of those whom lie could not
reach. The curate of ST. Agatha could
not escape this prescription, and one even.
ing ii was rumoured that on the morrow
a detachment of volunteers from Mort,
with the representative installed at that
place, were to march for the purpose of
arresting their venerable pastor. The
couIciL kaeir li&1lsscommune instantly
asse mi lied; no question of resistance was
made, fdfsthe curate would have blamed
them; beside that it would have been USE
less; but some means were to be adopted
to preserve the object Of their solicitude
from tue danger which threatened him.
FMS resolution formed, the inhabit ants
invited the pastor to take refuge in res
treat they had chosen for him, and as he
refused, saying that he did not wish to
withdraw from the fate that awaited him,
they obliged him to quit the village for
the place Of safety attended by four men,
armed, as much to prevent him from de-
liyering himself to his enemies as to de
tend him in the case Of discovery. On the
morrow, as expected eighty soldiers with
two pieces OF cannon arrived, under the
command Of the representative. to besiege
a house composed of mud and straw, gar
risoued by an old man Of seventy five, who
would have surrendered instantly, ifwith-
in his dwelling. The troops halted in the
centre of the village, and the commander,
in the name Of the law, desired the nhabl
ttnts to give up their curate. AS no one
offered 10 obey this mandate they ran 10
the Presby ytery, which they searched with.
on, effect They then forced open the
doors of the church, and profaned its
sanctity without finding their victim,
Every house in the village then under
went strict scrutiny, and the summons
: to Surrender being again read, the fugitive
priest wac prescribed, and the reward ol
{ twenty thousand pieces offered to any one
f who should deliver him up. Tue chief o
S this savage expedition then gave orders
to set fire net only to the church, and
f house of the minister, but to every Other
J dwelling in the place, aud after this in
f cepdisiism had been performed ,he march.
ed off to beat of drum, with his eighty sol
e diers, and two pieces of cannon.
5 Towards the close of the day the curate
: informed that the danger was past, bu
r ignorant Of what his dear people had suf
- fered through their attachment TO him
r returned with his companions TO the re
e mains of St. Agatha. 1t would be mpos
!; sibe to portray the grief which seizet
upon his soul when he saw his humble
n friends assembled in the fields, with thei
d could save from the FIRE, looking with dis
d may and stnpor on the still burning re
! mains of their dwellings, furniture, anc
d grain. With tears streaming down hi:
S aged cheeks, he demanded Why they hac
not prevented thedreaiful spectacle which
assa led him, by indicating W here he nigh
, be found to his ruthless pursuers. VA
r his life SO near its close, to be placed il
. comparison with the lives and welfare o
e SO many individuals, of whom the young
e and aged would perish for want OF food
: and shelter. But they replied that he wa
n their father, aud that ii was their duty te
save him at whatever price. They did
not sacrifice, since they had the happiness
to see him in safety. The good old man
! observed that the devotedness of his peo.
I pie had taught him what his duty towards
: them, and short time should suffice tc
: prove whether, or not, he vas worthy ol
e the criice they had made to save hin
from death.
Three days after this, an old man bald
and bent, leaning on astick, with shoes
covered with dust, and clothed in the tat
tered garments of an ecelesiastic, appear
ed before the representative at Mort.
"Citizen representative" said he, "you
offered twenty thousand francs at st.
Agatha, 10 any one who would deliver to
you the curate of that place. l will do
this on receiving that sum-" Although
accustomed to the ant of feeling in men
the official felt surprised thata man on the
threshold of grave should come forward
to destroy fellow creature.
Priest, he replied, 'for one of yo our age
and profession, the offer you make is a
strange one.'
No, SO much so as you may think; do
you accept t!P
sWho are you who could sell brother
\ IN deatLf,