Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-09-10
Why Minister Left his Church.

| ne iteF. oamueI SdWyer, graduate oil
the New York Union Theological Seminary
for the past nine years pastor of the Second
Presbyterian Church, ROgersville, East Ten
nessee, was recently driven from his church
in consequence of his course in regard to
the beating of a slave named Anthony by
his master. one Col. Netherland, an e.der
in his church. Mr.. Sawyer has published
nothing in regard to the affair until driven
to it by slanderous rep Jrts, prejulcal to his
character as minister, have been circu-
lated and forced him to his own defence
He therefore publishes long statement in
supplement TO tie Knoxville (Tenn.) J
Presbyterian Witness, the truth OF which is
vouched for by Messrs. Jos. Hoffmaster and
J. NJ. Johnson, elders OF the Rogersville
church. The Col. Netnerland, whose bru-
Iality is so Gisgustingly shown. has been
elected a delegate to the secession ccnven-
ton called by the Pros lavery ministers of
The New School Presbyterian Church, to
meet at Richmond on the 9th inst.
1t appears that slave, formerly belong
ing to the children of DIR. Ross, was owned
by Colonel Netherland, and was sold in
1856, TO be sent to Mississippi. Rather
than go "down Souih," the negro ran off to
the woods, and remained concealed for more
than year, until found and brought back
by some hunters. lie was then handed over
by Col. NJ, with his chains on, to the ira
der who bought him, who took him back
of the church, in field, and there, in the
n "a pr0,ub of
with over three hundred and thirty 6iops, laid
on with a leather strap nailed to a board;
while the slave was tied down on his back.
naked and blindfolded. The trader whipped
him to make him confess who had harbored
him, and probably would have ''beat n him
till Saturday night" if such an exciteme Mt
had not been caused by the first instalment
OF scOurging.
But this was not the worst. Col Meth
erland owned an old gray haired slave who
had nursed him IL infancy and suspectng
that he knew mere about the runaway and
who had harbored him than be chose TO tell,
he handed him over to the same negro ira
der, to be taken to a neighboring county
and there beaten at discretion, to make him
confess.
Tine trader took the Old man to a place
called Beams Station, in the next county,
(Grainger,) and there, on Sunday morning,
in stable on the public highway, stripped
and tied him naked Oh plank, strapped his
feet to post, and tied his head forward to
brace, and then whipped him. BY striking
with a carpenters hand-saw, Mississippi
way, which raises large blisters and bursts
them, cuttirg the hide in pieces. He ukip-
ped him that Sund0y till oil the neigh6ors
closed their dOors-~hipped him till the neigh
tors put dorm their UindopcS and clos d the
curtains-whiPped hin till The romen, driven
roihd by bearing the bLolrS and the negro's ago
nizin9 cries for mercy, cried out against it
till one man declared IA he did not stop he |
would return him 10 the court-till the land |
lord of the tavern, after frearing IN silence |
the intictIon of at least three hundred borcs
uith the Saw, went to him and told him that
he must put an end to it--that he himselfl
was lab to indictment for suffering such
things on his premises, and that he was
unwilling TO bear 1t any longer. The tra-
der became very angry at this interference,
and told the landlord that he sent boy 10
gel him hunCie OF whips to scourge the
negro's back when the flesh should be too
much cut up Sy the s1w-and, finally find
ing he could not go on, he tumbled the ne
gro into his wagon, IN DISCUS al the Bean
Station people, and went 10 Rutleige. The
slave had Two II - III consequence of the
b. eating, but Notwithstanding, lhe trader tied
him up again in Rutleoge jai, while the
iailCr (who would hardly have allowed iD
WIS away, and beat h m with three sticks
from loom over the raw flesh until he was
tired, and then told him he would try it
again the next day. The Inspectors, how
ever. refused to let the Jail De used for such
purposes, and the negro vas sent home in
vepk--no Information having been obtain
I'd frop him
Thereupon great excitement arose at
RosersviIe, am the Church Session mildly
Col. NetHrrlaDd q come t.rNaFd
and show he was not responsible tor the
outrage. He refused L. do this; declared
he had a right to beat his neg-ues as much
as he chose, or have it done; that churches
hao nothing to do with politics, and finally
wound up by declaring Mr.. Sawyer an abO-
litionist. and hat he must leave. Mr. Saw
yer, thinking that The church would b. di
vided it he stayed, and his friends being too
much afraid OF being called "abOliGionists'
if they stood up for him, resigned the charge
D, this church with its most righteous elder,
and can away.
Nothing IA, been done with NetherlanG
or the trader, and the are supported by the
Pro-Slvery strength o! the neighborhood,
stand together on all questions OF
this kind, and who declare that Il slave
owner whips his chattel ill he dies, che Is
his MONEY! and there the matter ends. ;