Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-01-15
OBSERVER.
MARLBORO, Dec. Goth, 1916.
FricnHs .IOnts

MARLBORO, DEC. SUll, 1910.
Friends Jones:
| give below a statement of facts for the
columns of the Bugle, showing the a%trocity
of the slaveholding laws in their effects upon
colorcd travellers, and also upon their white
companions.
John Stewart, a colored man, residing for
several years past in Lancaster county, Pa,
solicited me, when in the East some weeks
past, to accept him as IA travelling compan-
ion to this state, whittier he wished to come
for the purpose of visiting his father, and
seeking for himself a home if he liked the
country. To his request | readily assented,
at that time | intended coming by the way
of Harrisburg, and thence 10 Pittsburgh by
the canal. Circumstance rendering it nee
essary for me TO take the southern route, BY
way of Baltimore, | suggested to him the
possibility of his becoming a victim Of slave
holding tyranny but his desire TO have COM
pany in whom he could confde, overbalanc-
ed the apparent danger, and he still pressed
his wish to come, even by that route, and |
yielded, as | could not entertain an idea that
laws so atrocious as those which disgrace
the statute books of Maryland could find a
response in the hearts of tie people, or a
hand so vile as TO enforce them.
My mother, John and myself, took tickets
at Wilmington, Delaware, on the Goth Nov.
for a passage in the cars to Baltimore and
there was ne objection made, or questions
asked on account of his color, for this was
the entrance to the trap. We arrived at the
latter place in the evening, where we had to
wait for the Cumberland train till morning.
A short time previous to the hour FOR the de-
partnre of the train, | repaired to the Depot
procure tickets, and was met by a query as
TO the freedom or slavery of the man of COL
orr and on my replying that he was free,
the collector called in a most ~tauntinp and
i~nsolent manner for the evidence of the same.
TO which | replied that | was provided with
no evidence in the case, save my own testi-
mony, which | was free to give if required.
And Oh! reader, couldst thou but have seen
the Slavocralic and Pharisaical air with
which his countenance was distorted, as he
replied, ''such testimony, sir, will be entire
~ insufficient for your purpose - and the
Pompous lnsolence with which he expressed
his conviction that | was endeavoring to en-
tlce slaves from their masters, you would
have witnessed ID scene which can never he
enacted save where some vile influence hath
crushed and darkened all the holier feeliDgs
Of the soul, and made of man a Demon,
was now convinced that all efforts to obtain
for John a passage, would be worse that fl.
tile, as 1t was a waste of time, and a con6r-
nation in their minds of suspicious which
proved in the end to have beenalready stronq-
ly enough excited. therefore purchased
tickets for myself and mother, and FASTENED
TO our lodgings ; not, however, until | was
convinced that movements were there beiDo
set on foot to capture and subject 10 slavery
one who had confded in me as a protector.
even whea he knew that human hyenas wero
thifsting for his blood. | lost no time in in.
-
*The tickets which are given to white
passengers will not secure a seat for a color.
ed man.