Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-29
A Voice from the Jail.
CASFIELD JAIL, Mahoning Co., o.,
Sunday, March 20, 1851.

Nndt " Hlphb ut W Nv AN"'N NN
Your readers to know what is going on in this
part of the anti-slavcry field, Qowelville) You
may think perhaps that inasmuch as your pa
per is strictly an anti-slavery journal an article
of this kind is out Of place, but ask you TO in
dugc me a little on this occasion, If l should
travel somewhat out of the usual track.
We'll, am here locked up in Jail. On tho 23d
day of February last, being the day commonly
called Sunday, took my axe and chopped an
arm-full of stove wood, my boy who usually
cuts my wood having neglected on Saturday
evening to perform that important duty, and as
he could not do it on Sunday on account OF the
cold, it was absolutely necessary that should
do it. For this offence was returned, war
rant issued for my arrest, dragged before a JUS
tice and ined Not having any money TO spare
in that way, capias was issued commanding
the constable to lodge mo in jail and keep me
there until the fine and costs arc paid. How
long may have to remain here, God only
knows but suppose that some religious pco-
pie would consider the money well spent to
keep me here while life should last
l did not make the plea of necessity on my
trial. but plead liberty of conscience, and that
the law was opposed to natural justice and con-
scqucntly null and void.
But you may be sure that such plea would
avail nothing with man who is intelligent
enough to perform the duties of his office, and
yet is scoundrol enough to take an oath that
lie will catch his own sister and hurl her into
the hell of American Slavery, provided that
some villain can establish, according to law, his
right of property in her.
There lives man in our noighborhood, call
cd McCaskey, who in his day has been retailer
of Campbellsm, or Campbellitc priest. That
church, rotten ard bedevilcd as it is, madc a
heavc offering of him some time since. But
he seems to serve his master with removed Wig
or and zeal since he got to his own hand. He
moved into our village about year since tho
word had como before him that ho was walk
ing library, and some of tho pious slaveholding
rcligionists chuckled and boosted that he would
give the vile Garrisonians Hell but instead of
meeting them like a man, he carefully avoided
all their meetings, and has been sneaking about
gathering up garbeled extracts from anti-slav-
cry publications, mourning all the time that no
one would como to the rescue, and help to pros
ecute these riie traitors and horetics. l am
crcdibly informed that he has not done two
days work in whole year. All that know of
his having done was to boss his boy who drives
a team"
He seems to think that he is called of God to
be revenger to execute wrath upon those who
do not believe in and practice his internal slave
holding, ar-making religion. Well, poor Nc.
Caskey made his lamentation in vsin until
short time since, when q man after his own
heart arrived in tho village. We will call this
man Snooks. He is a member of tho regular |
Baptist Church, am told at least is hover |
of wood and drawer Of water for them. He |
is just the chap that McCaskcy wanted, and is
every way qualified for being "cats paw
This same Mr.. Snools has been quito jealous in |
his calling. lie first undertook to defend his |
religion by lying or retailing false reports upon |
the abolitonists met him one day and civilly |
asked him to take back what he had said This |
he refused to do. then asked him to quit lying |
and take a moro manly way of defending his
religion. He flew in powerful rage, and BAN
tered me out to fight, which 1 of course declin-
ed doing. McCaskey has several times threat
cncd to "slap my jaws" He says he can whip
any three Gsrrisonians in the neighborhood.-
But they could do nothing, and now as last
resort they have applied to the State Of Ohio
for aid to do the DEVILS drudgery. Snooks re-
turned me, and McCaskey pettifoged the case
One of these men was mean enough to arrest |
his own brother for q reward, and thereby had |
him consigned to felon's dungeon in States
prison. The man who acted the seats paw
in this case cares nothing about Sunday. A
short time after they duckcd him "to wash
away his sins" am informed he was out on |
turkoy-hunt with some wild fellows on "the
Lords day." lie has stated that he cared moth
ing about Sunday. if it was not for the civil law.
All this goes to prove that they are malicious,
revengeful hypocrites, who arc doing the devils |
drudgery out of pure spite and malice. Mean
men for mean business always. McCaskey, on
the trial, charged the Gorrisonians in general
and myself in particular with high treason, and
read extracts from anti-slavory papers and from
the history of the Anti-Sabbath Convention to
prove his allegations.
lie argued that those who did not believe the
Bible had no right to liberty of conscience, be-
cause the government was based upon the prin-
oiple that the Bible is an inlGlliblc rule of faith
and practice.
And here am keeping Sunday with ven
geance, locked up in Jail but can think my |
own thoughts in spite of all the powers of
darkness.
But there is one thing that encourages and
bears me up. feel that eternal truth is on our
side and that there is a good time coming."-