The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-03-25

nx. LaAvigA aaa Democratic Hob.
1hsLssngh, editor q ! German news
paper publshed Al Baltimore. Maryland
made several speeches in NJ West last
fall, in favor Of Fremon,, NJ Advocated
HE election At home. He 10 ~ i known e.
. talented and pa.riotic Gernan' To- ioi-
lowing letter from him exPlaiss itsetf
NV OaIsAss, Feb a2.sIso7 =
Dx..H..--on sWashington's birthday |
have to inform you Of an event which hap
.e.ed ns in che Aoxth, and which dOab,lsss
will interest you.
On The 18th Of February, I celebrated In
Charleaton, 8. c., my ffty.s'xth birthday,
and on the 18th, had hung over my old Dem.
ocrauc neck, in Savannah. Georgia. not the
sword Of Dlmocles, but the rope OF Mob
oclss." had stopped there At the Pulas-
ii House. where registered. a. usual, my
name which | never yet had any occasion
to conceal or BE- ashamed Of. During din
ner, eat opposite two German merchants,
one from New York. the other from 0svan
nah, with whom became speedily acquaint-
ed. aud who kindly gave me glass 81 their
eampasne. After dinner, one OF these
gentlemen told me con6dsntislly, that .
plot had been concocted against me, and
that had better be cautious.
When intended to continue my calls on
the subscribsrs Of my paper during the af-
| tsrnoon. and left the fstel, an American
sccostsd me, and told me, without exhibit
| ine q warrant, "You are my prisoner; |
have to arrest you." "Well," replied 1,
.Pll follow you." He brought me to the
Court House, where about twenty Amer.
cans had followed u. us this your psperw
asked one oftAem, pointing to my "Torch."
@ corpus deiicti. ayes, il o." "Hsve yon
written this." asked he further pointing to
passage marked with pencil "a Presi-
dent who il for the extension Of slavery
can be no blessing 10. freedom" ! an
swsrsd in the Affirmative. "Is this your
sentiment" .Then you are an abolition I
ist!n exclaimed several voices. IL am none,
| am an old Democrat Of the Jeffersonian
school" .You are no Democrat-you
went for Fremont" $50 did" .He 10
an abolitionist--I wish We had him here"
said another. Among the Anericans was
Z German Jew. from Russian Poland, =
clerk at the Postolnce, was told. He was
asked il he would make an affidavit that the
passage was correctly translated. After
he said he would. the statute OF Georgia
was shown ne, and my attention was called
to the penalty Of death fixed for treason
81 have never committed any treason, and
am net afraid Of this law" was my answer.
Then they read the law fixing one year in
the States Prison, with hard labor, for dis
seminating sbslition documents. replied,
did not fear it, either; and further, that
would gladly submit to jury, aad to the
law.
After several questions and answers, they
gave me in charge Of policeman, who
conducted me to Jail, where my name was
entered with the remark, "that had been
delivered to the police for projection, until
further notice." After about an hour, two
of my acquaintances appeared. who greatly
sympathixed with me, promised to become
bail for me, and one Of whom q dare not
mention their nsmes) said 10 the captain OF
the police, III wish was - good Demo-
crat Is Mr.. Lsdvigh always has been, l
would be proud to take his place here" In
order to interrupt our conversation, I was
taken to another room, and special watch.
man placed to prevent Us talking any fur
ther about political matters. Three hours
elapsed. and no further notice came. After
six o'clock, i've Americans came, and pro.
cess Of modern inquisiton commenced
again. And when repeated once more
that was opposed to slavery extension In
the North West Territories. they said,
athats enough" left the room hastily, and
one of them said 'To-day is Valentines
day; we shall have q nice roiic" under.
stood what these words meant. and believe
had the agreeable choice between q ride
on 4 fence rail, adorned with tar and feath-
ers, and swinging on one Of the neighboring
trees. Ny heart was painfully moved when
thought Of my poor wife and my ave
helpless children; but my mind was quiet,
and, with pride and indignation, I looked
for what would befai me next II became
seven o'clock-a policeman entered and
said: "You are tree you may 60 where
you please, but we advise you TO leave with
the Eve O'Clock train tomorrow morning,
to avoid danger" AT the same moment
two young Germans arrived, who advised
me not to return to the hotel, but to pass
the night al the house Of a friendly German.
After tAkiag leave of the policeman, who
had behaved ,c me with the utmos, kind
ness, went, protected AZ criminal, to the
house in which was to End shelter for the
night. Here some twenty liberal young
Germans soon gathered. to whom made,
at their request, speech, and two Of whom
accompanied me to the depo, in the morn
ing. They were freemen indeed, not in
words only, but in their actions.
Banished from Austria, almost lynchsd
in America, where am 70 find freedom!
Your friend, LUDVIGH