Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1856-10-23
The Euraged Planter.
AND HOW He DID NOT CUT THE ROPE


morning tide for Charleston, South Car
DINA, where, in due course of time, he
arrived safely and disposed of his freight
to good advantage to the builders of
that city. He now, for return freight,
took In cargo Of cotton for the Lowell
mills, and with one passenger, a fair
wind, and jolly, fun-loying crew, sail
ed for Boston.
On the third day out, the crew heard
an unearthly, soul-harowing, agonizing
howl or groan, proceed from the hold,
and though somewhat the victims of SUI
perstltlon, as most sailors are, their hui
mainly got the better of their fears, and
they at once opened the hatchway and
brought to light and fresh air, a stall
wart, though halfsuffocated and starry
ed negro, who had there secretly stow
ed himself, hoping thereby to obtain a
free passage to freedom.
AS the negro was brought upon deck,
the single passenger-a wealthy planter,
residing near Charlston--was enjoying
his after-dinner cigar, and recognizing
the AFFECT being before him rs the slave
of an old friend, he exclaimed, in pas
sionate and authoritative tones
"Jake, you Internal rascal! amt you
Joe Browns nigger?''
"Wall, | acaS his niger, massa," re-
piled the trembling colored man; E'but
day afore left Charleston, Massa Brown
sells my wife and chile to de slave ira
der, who takes 'em to de Souf for de SUI
gar fields; and Massa Brown knocks me
down with club and kicks me, kase /
cries so dat | couldn't work SO | ies
hides myself in de Gotten down in de
ship, so | might 90 Norf where I
wouldn't be no more whipped for havin'
a soul"
The slight tone of sarcasm in the
closing sentence aroused the indigna-
ton of the planter, and he attempted to
kick the poor negro for his impu-
dence; but the good hearted, though
ierculean, mate, interfered, with the
suggestion that there never had been
any flOgging on board the ''Polly Ann"
and, without the captains positive or
der, nothing of the kind could for mo-
ment be thought of:
Proceeding at once to the cabin, the
planter thus gave vent to his feelings to
the good-natured and imperturbable cap
tain:
captain g., d-n your eyes! A
runaway Negro has just been discover
ed on board your vessel-and | demand
in the name of the Constitution and
Southern Rights, that you immediately
bout ship and return to Charlston.''
The captain coolly and deliberately
took from his mouth half-smoked Ha-
vana, gazed at his excited passenger
through the gray curling clouds OF
smoke gracefully floating about the cab
in, and replied:
"You are unduly excited, my dear
boy; let us talk this matter over.''
81 acon't talk the matter Overt" ex-
claimed the planter; II only ask for the
rights of the South, and those rights |
acW have"
"But," says the captain, eve are now
three days out at sea; and isn't it best
for us to discuss this subject a little, be-
fore deciding to lose six days sail, a fair
wind, and our own self respect, for the
sake Of gratifying your selfish ambition
to rule and command wherever you are,
and TO return poor unfortunate black
man to a life-bondage Of cruelty and OPP
pression?"
Perfectly thunder-struck at the cap
tain's GOODNESS and audacity to speak of
Southern ''chivalry'' as ''sclfish ambi-
tion," the planter sprang to his feet, seiz-
ed pistol in one hand and bowie-knife
i'll the other, stalked to and fro thro' the
cabin number OF times, and suddenly
stopping in front Of the captain-who
had resumed his NOTWITHSTANDING
in thunder tones
'Sirr'
Did you wish to resume the discus
sion about the Negro?" inquired the
captain, offering his passenger a cigar,
and pointing to the unoccupied chair
This is no discussion, sir!" exclaimed
the planter. 81 came not here to discuss
but to demand Southern Rights; and, by
all the powers of Heaven and Hell, I'll
hare those rights Or I'm done with
you forever"
''Let, us discuss those rights first, re-
piled Captain b.; ''for you are at pres
ent little excited, brother K.''
Don't brother me-" screamed the in
furiated passenger; 81 am brother to
no man who will not give me rights
without discussions; and now give you
fair warning that, unless you bout ship
and start for Charleston within eighteen
hours from this time, you shall be de-
barred from my friendship, co-opera-
ton, and society in this vessel"
Having thus delivered himself of his
overcharged eloquence and spirit, the
planter returned to the quarterback to
devise means for dissolution with the
ankee captain.
The next morning, at the break Of day
on coming upon deck the captain was
not little surprised and amused on no.
ticing that the planter had seated him
self in the yawl at the stern Of the Schoo-
ner, and, by the aid of the tackling rope
had lowered her to the waters edge and
was now being drawn along by the rope
some thirty feet in length-fastened
to the schooner's tiller.
On seeing the captain, the planter
suddenly rose FROM his recumbent posi-
/ ton, SpFdng 10 the DOW VI the totteIlIl9
| little yawl-for the sea was now heavy
and dangerous for smallcratt,-drew from
his bosom his glittering bowie-knife, and
exclaimed
1T wants but one blow of this shi-
ming steel to sever forever the cord that
now binds US. Say that you win accede
to my proposition made yesterday, and
the blow shall not be given; but unless
you at once retract your offensive re-
marks, and promise me under oath that
shall not again be crossed in my de-
sires on board this vessel, the fearful
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