The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-01-19
An Irishman Scourged and Tarred and
Feathered.


Feathered
from the N. Y. Tribune. Jan. 2, 1860. |
The Charleston Mercury OF the 10th
ult, has the following paragraph under
its Colu mbia Is. Co. correspondence:
"a workman on the New State House
named Powers, has been utteriDg seditious
sentiments here without conceaiment, and
on more than one occasion, expressing his
entire approval of Browns invasion. He
was apprehended by the Mayor. and sub
jected to examination in the presence OF
the eommi.oner of this circuit. The
proof of his incendiary language and feel
ings was abundant and conclusive, al-
though not of any attempt to tamper with
Stoves. He was, therefore, yesterday or
dered to be escorted from prison to the
outskirt. of the city by the msrshals.-
As threats of rescue had been made BY
other stone masons, he was carried through
the town at II O'Clock A. NJ. and through
the State House yard, where these men
we're at work, a crowd, of course, in at
tendance No attempt at rescue was made,
and at the Charlotte junction of the city,
the Vigilance Committee took bin in hand
stripped him to the waist, inflicted thirty
nine lashes aud a coat of tar and feath-
ers. Hence be vas forwarded BY rail
road to Charleston.
The same journal has this paragraph
under the head of its leading articles:
"THR TARRED STONE CUTTER,-The
tarred stone cutter, alluded to in the
Mercury's Columbia correspondence, duly
arrived in this city, consigned to the Chief
of Poliece. He walked to the guard
house voluntarily in his unique dress
He relates his adventure in the simplest
manner, concluding with the assertion
at he don't care do for the tarring
and featbering. but the nine and thirty
administered to him was little tight"
On Tuesday last there called at the Of
fi,e of the Tribune a very good looking
young man, representing himself to be
James Powers. He had arrived here in
a steamer from Charleston on Monday.
the day before. He showed his scars
and blood marks. He told bis history
in very simple. straightforward way to
this effect. after denying the EDITORS state
N nt that he did not care for the tarring
and feathering.
He was borne in Ireland. He came
to this country and settled in Philadsl-
phia. He learned the trade of stone
cutter. He was working with Mr.. Wa
ters, West Chelnut street Philadelphia
a year since; but dull times, growing out
of the financial revulsion, caused him to
leave there and seek employment else
where He went down to the Ohio and
Mississippi, but could not at any of the
towns find work. He, however. saw
blacks employed. He went to New Or
leans. Mobile, Augusta, and other places,
but was still unsuccessful. Arriving at
Columbia. S. c., be found work on the
State Capitol now building there.
Among the workmen were Irish, Eng
lisb Germans and Americans; but only
one South CarolDian as be recolects.-
at his boardingbouse, accustomed IS ne
had been to speak his mind. he among
bis brother mechanics spoke On more
than one occasion in favor of the employ
ment of white mechanics, and tbought the
black should be confined to the fields and
swamps. He does not recollect ever bav.
ing stated that he thought slavery should
be abolished. He had cast his vote in
Philadelphia for Mr.. Florence. the Dem
ooratic member of Congress, and was
therefore Democrat. He was sober
man; had not drank any spirits for four
mouths, but was one night lately ION
frolie With q brother workman. The
workmen testified against him as an Abo-
litionist, and on hearing that the Vigi-
lance Committee was after him, he at
tempted to escape but was arrested at
railroad station ten miles from Columbia,
and brought back to the place; was
thrown into prison for some days, and
then taken before the Mayor.
Four men on the trial, testified, against
him. One swore that he had stated that
J. G. Fremont made speech at Mobile,
saying that in case he (FremonD were
elected President, be would liberate the
slavesl Towers states that he heard that
that was said Of Fremo QUIT This curious
specimen of bis knowledge of the Repub-
licau candidate and policy, did not save
him. 1t did not appear on trial that be
bad ever said word to the negroes. A
witness (Cheesborougb by name) swore
at when under the influence of liquor
as aforesaid Powers had said he was an
Abolitiouist before he left Philadelphia
and his opinions were strengthened since
be came to the South. Mr. Powers ap-
pears to have been laboring under the
delusion that liberty of speech is moder.
ately allowed in South Carolina; of this
the Mayor, the Hon. A. j. Greene, also
membe Of the Legislature disabused him
by recommittipg him to prison. where he
for six days, up to Saturday
fortnight. He was then taken by "two
marshals" from his cell, and delivered
into the hands OF two negroes. One OF
the msrsbals said as you are SO fond OF
negroes. III give you negro eseort."--
RI Al Al