Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-03-19
From the Pruntytown (va) Visitor
IMPORTANT CHURCH TRIAL IN VIR
GINA.
TWO MEMBERS EXCLUDED FOR SELLING
A NEGRO

8 TWO MEMBERS EXCLUDED FOR SELLING
d A NEGRO.
very important trial took place in the Metho.
: dist Z. Church at Knottsville in this county on
Friday, the 18th of January, present month The
country all around is very much excited at the re.
suit Of this tiial, and very much fear it will
yet shake the foundation of the "Old Church" in
Western Virginia to its very centre. The follow
ing are the facts of the case, so far as we have
been enabled to gather them from the lips of the
Iclnsseader, Mr.. John Lewellen, and from James
Wilson, an intelligent member of the Church at
that place, and from less reliable resources
Mr.. z. Shields, of Pruntytown, who was en-
gagged in buying negroes at that time for the South,
ern market, knowing that Willis Rector, an old
gentleman living near Knottsvie, and a worthy
member of the Church there, had a very likely
young negro man, called on Caleb Shroyer. q
young man, who is also member Of the same
Church, to aid him in procuring said negro of Mr..
Rector, his master Mr. Shreyer finally after
consulting with his father who is also q classlead'
er Of one of the classes at knottsve, agreed to
aid Mr.. Shields and was to receive S2j if success
ful. Various representations, it is said, then
made to Mr.. Rector. which induced him to sell the
slave to Mr.. Shields.
! Mr.. Rector, whose conscience was likely some,I
what troubled about the matter and whose sympa,
thies were evidently aroused, refused to surrender
the negro to Mr.. Shields at his house, but appoint.
ed spot on his farm, where he would on a certain
day, send tho negro to work. where Mr.. Shields
and his aids could meet him, and take possession
NJ, H.
ceivng from Shroyer bill Of sale. The day being
unproptious, the plan was changed and the negro
was sent to Bakers Mill. There Mr. Shields in
formed the negro he must go with him. AT first
the boy smiled, supposing it was only jest, AS
Mr.. Shields is fond Of good joke The manner
Of Mr. Shields soon convinced the negro that he
was in earnest, os he took from his pocket rope
and commenced tying him. AT this the boy ex.
claimed, "What have done, Mr.. Shields ?" The
boy knowing Mr. Shields to be an officer supposed
he was arresting him for some supposed offence
This misapprehension soon removed by Mr..
Shields replyng-"You have done nothing, boy
only have bought you". This was the irst init
nation .he boy had that his m master had sold him
and, hearing it, he barst into food of tears, ex
claiming, swell. sir, please dont tie me, aud II
will 90 with you." Caleb Shroyer, who was.pres,
ert, having known the boy from his youth, and be'
ling brother with him il the same Church (for
the negro Methodist), then turned to the
miller, Mr.. Joseph Golf, and remarked, "Well, Il
am sorry for poor Jack after all'' The boy was
member of the same class with his master at the
time he was sold and on the authority of Mr.. |
Lewellen. the cassleader we state that he had a
good standing in the Church.
The entire religious community in and around
Knottsville are cold side" Methodist-and more
than two hundred members belong to the four
classes there. No sooner was the sale made pub
lie than q tremendous and fearful excitement
sprung up--sympathy for the boy and indignation
at the conduct of Rector and Shroyer became gem
eral. The ncighbors determined to have the boy
back, and for this purpose agreed to raise sum
equal to one hundred dollars more than Mr..
Shields gave for him. This proposition James Will
son carried to Mr.. Shields who declined accepting
it, stating his own negroes had run of, and be
would not sell Jack for anything less than the
highest price at public auction.
John Lewellen ihen preferred charges against
Willis Rector, and Caleb Shroyer, and cited them
before the Church for trial. Rev. Thos, Trainer
who has the oversight Of the Circuit, received the
charges and appointed committee and set the
time for trial. The names of the committee were
John Raymond, James Raymond, II. Claggeu,
- Boyd, and another member, whose name we
have forgotten.
The general Rule of the Discipline, under which
they were tried, reads as follows:
"For buying or selling men, acomen or children,
,cHh The Intention 10 enslare them"
After full and patient trial. the committee
were of the opinion that both of the accused were
guilty. one as principal and the other as ac'
cessory and accordingly gave unanimous vote
to that effect
The question now raised bN the friends of the
accused are these: Docs the Rule cover the case
Does the selling of slave already slave consti-
tute an offence against the Rule? The rule we
learn, was adopted in $780, one hundred and twenty
years ago, and was originally intended, say intel
ligent men. in and out of the Church, to apply |
solely to the slave trade AT that time the public
min in the country was turned against the slave
trade and as the practice regarded at the
time az q monstrous sin by the Puritan fathers Of
the new world, and especially by Southern phiIan-
thropsts. it was very natural aud very proper that
urged, also, with law and gospel on their s;de by
those who oppose the action of the committee that
in Virginia slaves are the property of their mas
ers, and that whenever the right to sell is denied,
right of ownership is also questioned. How can a
man be said TO own thing unless he has the right
to sell it? The right to own certainly implies the
right TO sell. If the Church intends to excommu
nicate all who sell their slaves in northwestern
Virginia, she had better go to work at once, and
turn out of her communion all Shareholders. This
will be the shortest way to become obnoxious to
the charge Of abolitiunism.
Again, it is argued, by the friends Of the Church,
that the construction placed upon the Rule by the
Committee is in strict accordance with the prac.
tice Of the Church, in oil similar cases ; and the