Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-04
Che Antt- 5laucrp Buole.
Salem, Ohio, November A, 1854.
NEGRO BURNING.

The MACON (Alabama) REPUBLICAN among 9th
er comments upon some remarks of ours, has the
following upon the Mount Meigs burning
Whilst we are upon the subject of negroes, we
wish to notice a remark made by the "Anti-Sla-
very Bugle," in relation to the burning at Mount
Meigs. ltsays that the negro there was roasted
dlicc after savage fashion, The simple truth in
that case would not have suited the Bugle's pur-
pose, and hence it concocts n falsehood. The Blu
gle knows perfectly well that the negro referred to
died tle quickest possible of all deaths, except per-
haps that inflicted by the Spanish garoae. Light
wood knots, (Which when rich and split up ignite
almost as insta taneonsly as gun powder, and
makes the hottest fire Of any wood known were
piled up around him these and the clothes he had
on saturated with spirits of turpcntine, and the
whole set fire TO; he was Instant cnvelOped in
the flames, and was strangled to death almost be-
fore he felt the heat Of the fire upon his flesh. If
he hal been hung he would have suffered many
minutes, and SO he would most likely if he had
been shot, or drowned, or his throat cut. And
hence it was positive leniency to burn him.. The
fact is, there is but one question to be mooted in
that case, and that is-did he deserve death? He
had barbarously murdered his master, coolly and
without cause, and if murder could ever be punished
by death, his was certainly a case calling for such
punishment.
The Republican gives US credit for more knowl-
edge than we possessed at the time We wrote the
article to which it refers and now that it has given
en- us the facts in detail, we hasten to give them
to our readers. We assure our Southern CO.
coct falsehoods," in representing the enomities of
Slavery. The outrages and cruelties inseparably
incident to the system, far surpass anything which
our most lively imaginings can paint. As it is
our object to give our readers a proper estimate of
the truly odious character Of Slavery, such facts
as the above answer our purpose far better than
anything we could concoct. As to the 'leniency"
of this method Of murder, our readers can Judge
for themselves. tits suggestive to us Of the Scrip
ture declaration, that, even tie tender meycies, of
tie igicked are cruelty.
There is one other question besides that of the
deserts of the man to be considered in the case.
Had those who burned him alive any right to take
his life however guilty he may have been? The
lars of Alabama concede to them no such right.
In their eyes they are murdcrers as well as their
poor victim, SO "leniently" slain. But Slavery
made them ~iorgetful of this fact, and like tyrants
everywhere, they know no law, regard no rights,
when their claims to mastery were threatened.
"He murdered his master without cause" saws
the Republican. Indeed That he was a slare, that
his victim was a master has been deemed ample
cause for the destruction of life by almost all of
the noblest and bravest of men in the Worlds
History, and if the taking of life however, 'leni-
emily" be ever UNSUITABLE, it is justified by the
exercise of mastery overa chatelized human being.
That offence comprehends all crime, and authorizes
all outrage and wrong. If we take the Republi-
cans principle of settling the question and ask did
the master observe it," we may reply with its
spirit that if crime should ever be punished with
death, slaveholding is certainly a case for its inGic.
ton. Let not the Republican misunderstood US;