Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-07-11
From the Independent
H0RRID FATE OF DR.. ROSS SLAVE,


/ We published last week tho scheme of emanci-
/ patton which Dr. Ross devised in 1885 for tho
slaves then under his control. 1t ought to be
known, however, as comment upon the system
OF slavery, that this apparently wise and humane
provision Of DIR. Ross, which seemed to be guarded
at every point, was frustrated with regard to
some of his slaves by the subsequent embar-
-assment of his .pecuniary affairs. The failure of
Dr. Ross, occasioned by the miSfortunes or the
lmprudenco of others with whom he was connect
ed, compelled sale of his goods aud chattels
under the sheriHs execution and thus some of
the slaves o." r"apprentices" whose freedom he had
planned to secure were sold as chaHels to the
highest bidder.
This cruel disappointment of the hopes of both
master and slave was a legitimate frui. of tho
system OF chattel-sllvery. The slave is not o
pers on, but thing; and is therefore liable to be
sold for the debts of his MASTER or for the reader
settlement of his estate after his decease. This
dreadful possibility is before every slave. No
matter how kind his present master, no matter how
good the intentions or how solemn the pledges Of
that master as to his freedom, change in that
masters circumstances may throw that slave
within the cruel grasp of the slave trader.
are every day made ac.ual-but in the abolition
Of the system.
We have before us the authentic history OF one
OF DR.. Ross slaves, sold under execution by the
sheriff. We have carefully inquired into the
facts of the case our informant is perfectly re-
liable, and we hold ourselves responsible for TIE
narrative we are about to give.
The slave passed into the hands of member Of
the New School Presbyterian Church, within the
bounds OF the Presbytery of Holston, in Eestsrn
Tennessee. In that mountainous region slavery
has been supposed to exist in more lenient form
than IN the rice, cotton and sugar plan tations of
more southern States. 1t was of this region that
DR.. Ross wrote twenty years ago in the following
terms: "ln Kentucky you are in advance of US in
preparation for measures of emancipation. But.
If we were not joined politically to west Tennessee
we OF cast Tennessee would be moving even be-
fore you of Kentucky on this subject Our sound
est politicians would at have their delibera-
uons drawn to incipient me asures were they are
not restrained by our con nection with tie other
part of the State"
Here, then, it might be expected that slayery
would exist in Its mi ldest form-a sort of house
hold, patri archa serVitude-and that the slave Of
DR.. Ross wouldbe treated as man by one who
was member of the same Church with that di.
vine. 1t nigh have been presumed that the good
intentions of DR.. Ross toward his slave which
had been frus trated by adversely would be taken
into consideration by his Christian brother who
nau purchased the unfortunate, and would secure
for him kind and Christian treatment. But aboot
a year ago this Church member sold the slave
whom Dr. Ross had destined for freedom to a ira.
der whose avowed intention was to take him TO
Mississippi for field hand. The man had tarni.
~, dear to him as was the family of DR. Ross tn
has heart, whose touching lament over daugb.
ter's grave so moved the Assembly at Cleveland
Like his old MASTER Dr. Ross, he loved with thar
passionate fondness which is characteristic of
their race. lie saw himself about to be torn from
the bosom OF his family, and to be carried down
the river"--that destiny of unknown miseriea
which Is the terror ot the house and farm servants
OF Tennessee and Kentucky. He fled from his
DOOM and, like Harry, became the companion of
bred in the wilderness. For whole wear no ain!
ded deteeuoa and enjoyed wild precarous free.
dom. But within a month past he was caught
ana brought into the power of his master
That master-still member of the PRESBYTERIAN
Church--caused him to be tied to four saplipps
stripped naked, and teaten by two bruteson
drunken sheriff and reckless trader-till his
qu'vering flesh was gashed with three hundred aud
n"ty tdShes; he was then ironed and sent down
the river" The fOgging was inflicted by order
of that Church member upon his oys premises
and the wretehed victim of his revenge, mangled
carcase, was torn away forever from his family
and the home of his youth.
We ask DR.. Ross to ponder this fate &c ona
whom he once purposed to set free and answer
whether he would now constitute Church in
which all inquiry into such crimes shall be forbid
den! lie need not 60 farther than Hoston Pres
| bytery to lind materials for such q Church. The
pastor of the Church wbose mem Der had Commit
ted this outrage brought the case before the session
as an Offence" calling for their notice Eyeru
feature OF the case the selling for gain the forcible
sundering OF family ties, the cruel soourging, each
and every act was i'll violation of every deeree ~
the leral Assembly upon slavery frcm ISlS ~
1896. The pastor felt that one SO covered With
I9e piood OF Grother-whose only crime was that
OF loving his talmy too well to 90 willingly awav
from them-must be washed of those guilty snots
before he could partake of the Lords Supper; that
ms CORY hands must not stain the cup oi blessing
from the Son of God. '1'''''1's
What said the session. Their answer is piyen
N the fact that to-day Mat pastor is an eriie from,
Tennessee seeking home in a free STATE Issnch
tae Cnuich that Dr, Ross would consolidate owe,
all the souths-a Church in which such crime,
shall DO open but all discussion of them shall h
Fesehewed'" Was the action Of the Assembly a,