Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-03-15
From the Free Presbyterian.
A BRACE OF PILLARS OF THE OLD
SCHOOL ZION

The Cincinnati Gazette thus describes Gaines,
the savo.huhtet who has just succeeded in drag!
ging the heroic sla"e woman, Mary Garner, and
her remaining children, back to slavery: 70
"Mr. Gaines is a member of the Old School Pres.
byterian Church. is regarded as very orthodox, and
is the chief supporter Of the Church clergyman Of
that denomination in his ncighborhood.' - '"''"
Judge Leayitt by whose decision The fugitives
were finally given over to their pursu ors, is an e.
der of high standing in this same Old School Pres.
byterian Church lie has been more than once
delegate to the General Assembly, in which body
he figured largely He has a son who is Missioni
airy Of the Presbyterian BocrGi sad he, like his
brother Gaines, "is one OF tie chief supporterS Qf
the clergyman of his denomination in his neigh.
borhood" His residence is Stubenvile, Ohio .
The standing Of theso men in thei: sect ID thus
above suspicion. Let US now look at their conduct
in this case, in the light of Christian principle: =
In the first place. this Gaines is guilty Of hold
ing as his property immortal beings, created in
the image Of God, and redeemed from sii, mot
with corruptiblc things as silver and gold but with
the precious blood of Christ" This is the essential
wckedness, for il it be right to hold slaves !. !s
right to hunt and catch them. lie writes 81 his
ledger along with his horse and oxen, as chattel
personal, the name of a woman who has shown u
soul capable Of the otiest heroism and the names
of her husband and babes. She is his 1dman
his poly and soul; her virtue and her Immortality
are his property. She is his by brute force; BY
theft and piracy; and nothing less. Her bondage
in his hands, however, becomes too insupporthbi.
to be borne and she escapes to Ohio. She II pGr-
sued with hot haste by her Qristt9R G. muster
Rather than have her children fall again into his
hands, she Kills one and seeks to kill them all
and then to plunge the knife to her own heart. She
is oyerpowered, seized, and carried before q ten
| dollar Commissioner, who as {. matter of course
gives her up. But the criminal laws Of Qhil, in
this instance at le2st the ministers Of mercy arres.
her charge Of murder. Judge Leavitt &c ap.
piled to, and in violation of the laws CT Ohio Of
the Constitution of the United States end IF .E5
law Of God, commands her to be given UP, sid she
is forced away. This act of these two p9eh, Elder
and member of the O. S. Presbyterita 'Ghcrch
though they be, vaults at single leap 70 The eli.
max of human guilt There is no deeper or higher
crime against God and humanity that they cal,
commit. They take their place along side of Judas
Iscariot and Pontias Pilats. ~ .N''s
Is this language foo sifopg9 Place yourself
dear reader, in the place of these poor victims.
and see. Suppose Southern wolf ia 6heep's
clothing gn!er your house, lay bis fo, hands ot
you, your wife and children, and DRAG you aha
them into slavery. You bear your chains undN
the hands of your ,orthodox" tyrars, till they be-
come more dreadful than death: Gathering your
babes in your arms and your pife' TO yoar side:
you fee for land of freedom. You are pursued
and oyertaken. The wife OF your heart and this
mother of your children. in the frenzy of mater
nal love, ppnges the knife to the heart of that
lovely child who has so often smiled N your face.
ana twined her tiny arms around your neck in the
sweet iondness of childhood But this sacrifice.
costly as tits, does not satisfy the human hyena
who is prowlng your track. lie ssises you and
your remaining treasures. But while his hand is
on their throat the laws Of Ohio irterpose. A
Presbyterian brother Of your captor, sitting On tho
judicial bench, is invoked 90 his aid. rs prompt
ly responds. To enable your kidnappsr 70 hhff
you back to the chains you hsvs broken "a, hS