Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-07-08

49, ANNNSs ~ AL&NNNA " %OOA
the intentions or how solemn the pledges
of that master as TO his freedom, a
change in the masters circumstances
may throw that slave within the cruel
grasp Of the slave trader. There is no
remedy for these possibilities which are
every day made actual-but in the abo
liton of the system.
We have before US the authentic his.
tory of one of DR.. Ross's slaves, sold I'M
der execution by the sheriff. We haze
carefully inquired into the facts of the
case; cur authority is reliable, and hold
ourselves responsible for the narrative we
are about to give.
This slave passed into possession of a
member of the New School Presbyterian
Church, within the bounds of the Pres
bytery of Holston, in Eastern Tennessee.
In that mountainous region slavery has
been supposed to exist in a more %lenienl
form than in the rice, cotton and sugar
plantations of more southern States. 1t
was of this region that DR.. Ross wrote
twentp years ago in the following terms:
SIN Kentucky you are in advance of US
in preparation for measures of enamel
patton. But if we were not joined polit-
ically TO West Tennessee, we of East
Tennessee would be moving ever before
you of Kentucky on this subject. Our
soundest politicians would at once have
their deliberations drawn to incipient
measures, were they not restrained by
our connection with the other part of the
State"
Here, then, it might be expected that
slavery would exist in its mildest form
a sort Of household, patriarchal servitude
and hat the slave of DR.. Ross would
be treated as a man by one who is a
member CT the same church with that
divine. 1t might have been presumed
that the good intentions of DIR. Ross to-
ward his slave, which had been frustra-
ted by adversely, would be taken into
consideration by his christian brother
who had purchased the unfortunate, and
would secure for him kind and Christian
treatment. But about a year ago this
church member sold the slave whom
DR.. Ross had destined for freedom, to a
trader whose ayowed intention was TO
take him to Mississippi for a field hand.
The man had a family dear TO him as
vas the family Of DR.. Ross to his heart,
whose touching lament over a daughters
grave so moved the Assembly at CIeve-
land. Like his old master, DR.. Ross, he
loved with that passionate fondness
which is a characteristic Of III. ir race.
He saw himself about to be torn from
the bosom of his family, and TO be car
ried ''down river"-that destiny of I'M
known miseries which is the terror OF the
house and farm servants of Tennessee
and Kentucky. He fed from his doom,
and ike Harry became the companion
Of bred in the wilderness. For a whole
year he Guided detection and enjoyed 4
wild precarious freedom. But within z
month rasL he was caught and brought
into the power Of his master.
That maSier--still a member Of the
Presby terrain Characterised him 10 be
tied to four saplings; stripped naked. and
beaten by two bIuIes-a drunken sheriff
and & reckless trader-till his quivering
tANSAi was SdS4-Eu WIN thtIEE HUsstIEA QNt I
Midy lashes; he was then ironed and
sent ''down the river" The logging
was inflicted by order of that church
member. upon his own premises; and
the wretched victim of his revenge, a
mangled carcase. was Torn away for
ever from his family and the home of
his youth.
We ask DR.. Ross 10 ponder this fate
Of one whom he once ~purposed to set
free, and answer whether he wonld now
constitute a church in which all inquiry
into such crimes shall be iorbiddenl He
need not go further Than Hols;on Pres
bytery to find materials for such a church.
The pastor Of the church whose member
had committed this outrage brought the
case before the session as An 'otfenSe"
calling for their notice. Every feature
Of the case, the selling for gain, the forci-
bic sundering Of family ties, the cruel
scourgeing, each aud every act was il
violation Of every decree of the General
Assembly upon slavery from 1918 to
1856. The pastor felt hat one so COW
cred with the blood of a brolher-whcse
only crime was hat of loving his fami.
ly too well to 60 willingly aGay from
them-must be washed of those guilty
spots before he could partake of the
Lords Supper; that his CORY hands
must not stain the cup of blessing from
the Son OF God.
What said The session? Their answer
is given in the fact that pastor is an ex
lie from Tennessee, seeking a home in ii
Free State. Is such the church that DR..
Ross would consolidate over all the
church in which such crimes
shall be open, but all discussion of them
shall be ''eschewed." Was the action
of the Assembly at Cleveland, insisting
such crimes should be brought to
discipline, premature, sectional, fanaii-
cal?
But our story is not ended. Six weeks
ago this same pastor wrote to a friend in
this city, There is not one pro-slayery
in Holston Presbytery. We are all
opposed to the system Of Slavery. But !
still We do not like the Interference of the
Home Missionary Society in this matter" :
Now he writes, Il have seen the dark
side Of Slavery. | must leave. Find
a parish in any Free State from Maine
10 Karsas."-T. y. Independent.
Paid Up.
- II