Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-11-27
Ibc Auti- 5Iaurrp Buolr.
sr.. FROM The New Lisbon) Buckeye State
BORDER RUFFfANISM IN FAIRFIELD
TOWNSHIP.

cent anti slavery meeting held in this township,
and ihe trial Of shose engaged in the mob, having
excited considerable feeling in this community,
have concluded to give you. for publication, brieI
account of the whole transaction. Some Of the
citizens Of this township, having heard Miss Wat
kins. colored laly Of Baltimore, lecture in Salem
and being pleased with her lectures. they invited
her to come to Uuionville meeting house. Having
obtained her consent, they advertised the meeting
by handbills. On the evening of the 9th of Oc
tober, there was assembled at the meeting house
very respectable audience. numbering probably
near 200 persons, of whom GO or 20 were ladi -
About the time the people ready to organize
the meeting, there was loud halloong and shout.
Jog heard in several directions from the house,
mostly 10 a soutbernly direction, about a mile off,
The bowling and believing and shouting, contin.
ned to approach nearer and nearer toward the
meeting house. resembling the sound of wolves sur
rounding their prey. until it was evident to those
engaged 10 the meeting that there deter.
mined purpose on the part Of th 1se who then
coming, to create a disturbance. In order tha,
they might be held in check somewhat. some of
the old and respectable citizens of that vicin.
ity stationed themselves the door, but as soon
where the speaking was already in progress, using
profane and obscene language. They took their
seats and continued their swearing, and occasion
ally responded to and interrupted the speaking.-
After remaining in the house for some time, some
of them wert out, making some backguard OK
.pressions as they were going, and after, the
house stoned, windows broken in, aud the
meeting entirely broken up. Some of the citizens
tried 10 preserve order which resulted in a scrim,
mage, in which some of the Border Ruffans were
rather roughly handled. The people of that vi
.cinty. feeling themselves outraged, and after
sultaton, they determined TO endure such outra
ges no longer. and concluded to bring the rufhans
TO justice. Accordingly they instituted legal pro-
.ccedHgs before Elias Holloway, Esq, and on the
.5th inst n trial was to be had. As soon as the
ruff ans found that they about to be punished
for their crimes they appealed to the leader of the
democracy of the county to sustain them. Woods
the self constitute head of these degenerate and
whisky drinking, swearing biackguards Of that To-
cality, who still arroga,e to themselves the name
of demo crats, volunteered his services. and re-
gret to say that Mr.. Wallace. for whom have al.
why entertained the highest respect, should have
80 far forgotten himself to aid in the defence Of
such set Of miserable rufhans.
On the day of the trial. the rufhans and their
friends were all Oh hand lar and near. After ,he
trial commenced. Wuuds claimed that all the wit
uesses should be kept out of the room that they
coeld not hear each other testify. This being
granted, the room cleared of all nearly al
but tn accused rufians and their friends. The
trial progre -sed the witnesses brought in one by
one and examined. Woods, true TO his cause. sig
nalscd himself by Insulting the witnesses. by ask
in them such questions az Are yon Negro Wur
shipper ?" and then hen answered, he would lead
of with his forced hnw. haw, and the whole crew
would follow with yells and laughter.
After the exam alton of the witnesses was closed
Woad-. in his argument. showed that he a bor.
der ruff in by nature as well rs by profession
He raved and stamped frothnd and slobbered
brawlcd and swaggered, gesticulated furiously.
bea,ing the air with his clenched fists and the bor
der rufars assisted his furilus, passionate appeals
with rounds of tremendous aupause. lie charac'
-terized the citizens OF Fairfield township as out
laws, enemies Of their country and its institutions
that they had no right to claim the protection Of
the laws. because they had no right to hold such
meetings, and. of course his democratic friends had
q right to 20 and iisturb them. &C.. &c. His
speech ferocous in the extreme, even more so
than his celebrated Pat Foley effort in the court
house. Mr.. Waace's effort was less bostrous,
and was directed to necessary technical bubbles,
in order to escape the penalty of the law.
Mr.. Smith. on the part OF the plaintiffs, made a
plain vigorous. manly and candid speech. in which
he defended the citizens of Fairfield township and
himself, from the insinuations and aspersions of
W.. .nJ oolI ban ha
trial resulted, as it should have done. in finding
the accused guilty chaiged, and they were
bound over for their appearance at the next term
of court.
Woods. not feeling satisfied with having dis
gorged himself of his at the trial, went home
and gave vent to his feelings by pitching into the
cirizens of that locality by calling them maggoty'
Drained friends of the slave, negro worshpers, ia.
-nstics, &c.
The whole proceeding from beginning to end
was a disgrace and 80 far any disgrace at
tachss to some for whom have heretofore enter.
tanned respect. regret it, am sorry that those
old and respected citizens Of that neighborhood
who still adhere to the so called Democratic party
have SO educated their children that they have be.
come outlaws and disturbers of the peace of the
community. / am pleased to learn that some Of
them have seen their error, and have expressed
their disapprobation of the conduct of those who
were engaged in the disturbance.
Mr.. Woods conduct in the matter is quite nat.
ural. IL has given him the occasion to show out
tho genuine spirit of Lecompton Locofocoism. He
has had opportunity to exhibit in himself 1.-THE now
ssltconstituted head of the party), a true speci.
men Of total depravity and it seems that nature
hasdons much for him by eonferrng upon him
qualities peculiarly adapted to the character he
plays.