Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-09-04

BRUTAL OUTRAGE ON SLAVE


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why Minister Len his Church.
BRUTAL OUTRAGE ON SLAVES.
The Rev. Samuel Sawyer, graduate
of the New York Union Theological
Seminary, and for the past nine years
pastor Of the Second Presbyterian
Church. Rodgersville, East Tennessee,
was recently driven from his church in
consequence OF his course in regard to
the beating Of slave named Anthony.
by his master, one Col. Netherlsnd, an
elder in his church.
The Col Nertherland, whose brutal
ity is so disgusiingly shown. has been
elected delegate TO the secession conven-
ton called by DR.. Ross and other pro-
slavery minister, OF the New School
Presbyterian Church. to meet at Rich
mond on the 9th inst. 4rs
1t appears that slave, formerly be-
longing TO the children of DR.. Ross, was
owned by Colonel Netherland and was
sold in 1856, to be sent to Mississippi.
Rather than go down South" the negro
ran off to the woods, and remained con.
cealed for more than a year. until found
and brought back by some hunters. He
was then handed over by Col. n, with
his chains on, TO the trader who brought
him, who took him back Of the church,
in field, and there in the presence OF a
crowd of spectators, beat him with over
three hundred and thirty-blows, laid on
with leather strap nailed TO board,
while the slave was tied down on his
back, naked and hlind.folded. The trs.
der whipped him to make him confess
who had harbored him. and probably
would have "beaten him till Saturday
night il such an excitement had mol
been caused by the first instalmsnt OF
scourging. .isa.ls !.
But this was not the worst. Coz.
Netherland owned an old grey haired
slave, who had nursed him in infancy,
and suspecting that he knew more about
the runaway and who had harbored him
than he chose to tell, be handed him over
10 the same negro trader to be taken to
neighbor;ng county, and there beaten,
at discretion. TO make him confess.
The trader took the old man TO place
called Beans Station, in the next county
{ Grainger) and there, on Sunday morn
ing in stable on the public highway,
stripped and tied him on plank, strap
ped his feet to a post and tied bis head
forward to brace, and then whipped him
by striking him with carpenter hand
saw, Mississippi way, which raises large
blisters and then bursts them, cutting the
hide in peices. He whipped him that
Sunday till the neighbou closed their
doors-whipped him ill the neighbors
put down their windows and closed their
curtains--whipped him till the women.
driven wild by hearing the blows and
the negio's agonizing cries for mercy,
cried out against it'll one man declsr-
ed il he did not stop he would return him
to court-till the landlord Of the tavern,
after hearing in silence the inhction Of
at least three hundred blows with the
saw, went 10 him and told him that he
must put stop to it-that he himself
was liable TO indictement for suffering
such things on bis premises, and that be
was unwilling to bear il any longer
The trader became very angry at THE in
tericrenc and told the landlord that he
had sent boy to get bundle Of whips
to scourge the negro's back when the
flesh should be TO much cut up with the
saw-and. finally finding he could not
20 on, lie tumpled the negro into his
wagon, in disgust at the Bean Station
people, and went TO Rutledge.
The slave had two fits In consequence
of the beating but not withstanding, tho
trader tied him up again in Rutledge Jail.
while the jailor (who would hardly have
allowed Il was away, and bent him with
three sticks from loom, over the raw
flesh. until he was tired. and then told
him he would try Il again the next day.
The jailor would not let the jail be used
for such purposes, and the negro was sent
homo In wcek--no information having
been obtained from him.
Thoreupon great excitement arose nj
and the Church Session mild
y ro ucsted Col. Netherland 10 come
forward and show he was not responsible
FOR the outrage. He refused 10 do this
declared ho bad n right 10 beat his me-
yroee as much m chose, or have II done;
hat churches had nothing 10 do with pol.
tics, and finally wound up by declaring
Iir. Sawyer nm aboltionist.
Mr. Sawyer, thinking that the church
would bo divided II he stayed. and bis
friends being called "abolitionisls" II ,
hoy stood up for him. resigned the charge [
II this church with its most righteous
'lder, and came away.
Nothing has been done with Neither
md or the trader. and they are support
ID by tho pro-slavery strength OF the
ieIghborhood. who stand together on oil ,
Inestiona OF this kind. and who declare ,
bat II y slave owner whips his ehaitel
III no dies, "he Ia his MONEY" and there
he tnattef ends