The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-08-11


fence of attempting to escape from the workhouse !!
and in the a,tempt, striking one of the officers The
following letter gives account Of the character OF
this workhouse and of the benefcent and hamanising
influences OF the slave systemtha "corner stone of
republican Institutions :"
PHILADELPHIA, July Il, 1919.
DEAR Sir IL presume that before this reaches
you, you will have read partial account OF
late instruction in the Charleston Work House,
as published in the papers of that city lit you
have not, see slips enclosed My object at pres
ent is to give candid statement OF facts, which
be relied upon Tor their truthtulness, as well
as to show the doings of the sons of chlvalry in
the sunny South
First, then, it seems necessary that you should
understand what is meant by the Charleston
Work House, Let me say that it is not house
OF industry; neither is it house of confinement
for obstreperous youths, nor place in which va
grants are taken care OF but, alas it is house
OF blood, Of cruelties end murders; an institution
erected and licensed by the city authorities, sole
ly for the Imprisonment and corporal punishment
OF the poor, degraded slaves. The Charleston
Work House" is far more horrible than any Span.
ish Inqusition that you have read of-deeds are
| enacted there which are disgrace, a reproach,
an everlasting stigma upon the dignity of man.
1t is in this abominable place that the tyranni
fish purposes of lust-or the jealous aud ter
magant mistress, for mere dislike, or something
saucy which she perceves in the countenance of
the abused slave, is allowed, at will and pleasure
TO send their slaves, OF either sex, age, and con.
dition, to be corrected And how in what
manner: Before high Heaven, | speak truly :
this is the mode. Iron rings for the feet are fix
ed in the floor, through which the foot passes TO
the instep; the hands are tied together, and by
| md tack 10 dau fha a,d
up TO the ceiling OF the room. During this oper.
alton, the joints OF the victim are often heard to
crack for be it remembered, the victims are in
state OF nudity when thus prepared. The
whipping master-a strong, athletic felow-deals
out twenty lashes with a cowhide three feet long
and about one quarter OF inch in crcuInfer-
ence at the smallest end, each blow upon the
flesh OF the poor stretched slave causing the blood
to flow, for an incision is invariably made upon
the skin. After the whipping, the sUounds are
mashed tcuh salt and tCater to prevent mortifi-
cation, and the slave, sent back to the owner.
This is no fancy sketch, but stern reality For
each slave thus handled, the institution receives
the sum OF fifty cents-twenty five cents turn
key fee, and twenty five cents whipping fee.
Formerly, until within the last ten wears, this
Work House was let out at So 900 per annum ;
but the city fathers having discovered that the
lessee was making fortune by the shedding of
blood, taking in annually upwards of So 900, re.
fused leasing, and hired master or superinten-
dent, at salary of $4,000 per annum, thereby
securing the profits TO the city. 1t was also for
! merly customary to publish the monthly reports
of the income, the number of slaves whipped
: and otherwise nIrnishad q had -~oPy OF said re-
P~-s 0utIr is somehow misplaced, J in the paners
OF the city; but it has been thought prudent
since 1886, to omit the publication lest those inn
pertinent aboitionists would comment upon It.
, ana De II known, that reverend gentlemen also
n from ionf his nrao - -
" Pduon'se lhls mouse OF cruelty, though in COW
. ardly manner. For instance whenever a mas.
ter or mistress wishes a servant Corrected .
constable IS called, who takes his prisoner public
~ 10 the work House, and returns him.or her 10
r the master or mistress, for which he receives a
fee OF one dollar. But not so with the reverend
gentlemen: they take their slaves into their nri-
: Vate coaches early i'll the morning, have them
whipped, aud coolly return to their PRAYERS and
breakfast, as If doing Gcd service. o, what hyp.
ocrisy!
assert this as fact, from twenty wears, nh.
servation, and do not feel backward in stating
mat the Rev. VIM. Capers, now Bishop of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. at Charles.
ton, 5 c., Rev. DR.. Bachman, of the German
7 Lutheran. Rev. Mr.. Forrest of the Presbyteri.
an, Rev. BENZ Gidersleeve, of the Congrega.
uona', rev Mr. Hankel, of the Episcopal, Rev.
Mm. H. barnweil' OF the Episcopal, and Rev.
, John B Campbell, of the Episcopal. have and do
now patronize this house OF blood and that the
last named, Rev. ]. B. Campbell. had a female
! slave most cruelty whipped about two wears apo
for not cleaning his horse properly.
1t was in this abominable house that the brave
Nicholas was confined; it was amid such SCENES
that he lived. No wonder that his manhood W .
: aroused; and to this add the fact that female
relative, dear sister, was also there incarcerat
ed, soon to be sold-in fact the slave trader nam
ed Gilchrlst had already bought her, and had
come to this very house to remove his proDertu
this so aroused Nicholas that he swore venSe.
ance; ne declared that this separation shouId NOT
: take place but by death. His manner so terrified
Giichrist, that he Immediately called the master
OF the Work House, J C. Norris. who threaten.
ed Nicholas, but, seeing that he was determined
and not to be intimdated, sent the express IN the
Mayor OF the city with notice OF this insurrec.
tion
In little time, the whole city was alarmed
The keeper OF the Jal-which Is adjacent 70 49,
Work House-whose name is James McCo,I;n
having heard the noise, girded an his sword. and
with pistols in hand, went to the aid of his val
lent countrymen, Gilchrist and Norris But tho
three pale faces, with sword and pistoIs woro
afraid to approach this reused man. until his Hon.
or, the Mayor, arrived, with his posse wbsn he
ing outnumbered, and hacked BY the sword N;cb
o,as was subdued, with his few followers. Me-.
Collin stated al the trial, that Nicholas exclan,
ed' at the top OF his voice. Set us at liberty and
we VIII show you what we are . which ayn.aa
sione alone, from slave is worthy 80 al