Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-10-06
A Contrast.

The praise Of the brave young sailor, Je-
rome, who saved the lives OF fifteen persons
from the burning wreck of the Ocean Mo-
march" is now in the mouths of all men,
The press of England and America dispute
for the honor Of his birth Dlace-whether it
belong to Old or New England. Some of the
daily papers Of this city claim him as a New
Yorker, inasmuch as this for several years
has been the home Of his family, and his own
when not at sea and the city government.
not to be outdone in generosity, and in its
appreciation of a noble deed by the people Of
England, who have loaded Jerome with gifts,
have presented him with the freedom of the
city in a box of gold. The freedom of a
good sloop or schooner of his own, or half a
dozen acres Of land, or a start in the world
for his children, would be gladly exchanged
for The box-which is not half so good as a
tin one 10 hold his tobacco, and wesaTe puz-
zIed to know to what other use he can put it
and for the freedom Of the city which now
means absolutely nothing, that we have
ever, heard of. However, the purpose
was a good one, and the city fathers, and all
others who have praised the intrepid sailor,
honor themselves no less than him in recog.
nizing and reverencing his heroic selfdevo-
ton.
Now for the contrast.
Captain Drayton Of the schooner " Pearl 3"
lies now in Jail in Washington, condemned
to Imprisonment for life, for assisting seven
ty men and women in an attempt 10 escape
from a bondage far worse than death. Hus-
bands and wives, brothers and sisters, who
knew that the memorable c~upidity of the
slave-trader, would consign them 10 e~verlast-
ing separation in this world, 10 help supply
the septennial consumption on the sugar plan
tation of Gen. Taylor, or some other equally
pious resident on the banks of the Mississip-
pi, or else to meet the demand for fancy
girls" in the New Orleans shambles, asked
of Drayton a passage in his vessel 10 escape
from so horrible a fate. He, like Jerome,
forgot himself and risked his own life for the
sake Of these unfortunate people, and receives
for reward, not the admiration of his country.
men, but their execrations; not golden iesti.
monials to his heroism, but the insults and
blows of an Infatuated mob not the freed ON
Of the city in a box of gold, but iron chains
and a dungeon, and seventy years imprison.
ment as the judgment of his peers, and OF a
Justice Of a Court of the United States.
Or take another view of the case. Some
years since this same brave Jerome saved the
lives of several persons at the wreck of the
packet ship Henry Clay" on our owl
codsl' Inc idcl is remembered 10 MS nonor
and related in connection with his late con
duct on board the ocean Monarch" We
rejoice that his countrymen have any memo
ry for such noble deeds. But we know ano.
lher sallor-a drawer and a worthier nevel
walked a deck-who some years since at
tempted to aid six men in recovering the liber-
ty of which others had all their lives deprived
them, and which was dearer than their lives.
His reward was a prison, and fetlers that cut
into his very flesh and Jonathan Walker,
poor, and in shattered health, has only to
show the mark of the branding-iro on his
good right hand in proof of the readiness of
his countrymen TO recognize the heroic and
humane element in man. Jerome, for his
own sake-should he ever go there-had bet
ter not test American gratitude South of Ma
son and Dixon's line.-.R. S. Standard.