Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-04-25
PALMETTO CHIVALRY.

Our readers will recollect, that few
moths since, Mrs. Bottsford was impris
oned and subjected to the most cruel in
dignities in the city of Charleston, for NJ
other crime than honestly ayowing be
opinions, when asked for them by "thos,
warm hearted children of the SOUTH
Mrs. Bottsford has published an accoun
of the whole affair in the New Yorl
Tribune, from which we make the fol
low extracts, which will be read with ad
ditional interest by our citizens, from the
fact that Mrs. B., is the sister-in-law o
our neighbor Thadeus II. Botsford, ESQ.
of Middlebury.
She had just recovered from severe i'll
ness, when one day, in Sept. last. mem
Der of the vigilance police forced himsel
into her apartment in rufiarly manner
and ordered her 10 accompany him before
the mayor:
Mrs. B., continues her narrative thus =
81 said / would not go and asked him
what right he had to insult aud molest me
whether be had any written authority tc
demand my presence. He said no. Then
followed this conversational beginning il
by asking:
"Wbat does the Mayor want of mel"
81 understand that you are an abolition
ist."
"Yes: and what of tbati
"You mus come with me or l will
take you by force" said he angriIy."
Il considered for moment, and decided
on the whole it was best to go with him
quietly. l thought it probable the May
or had been imposed upon by some idle
reports, and that after hearing what had
to say, he would dismiss me with an apol-
ogy for being the occasion of this unwont-
ed intrusion. | Immediately made myself
ready, and went with the man to the
guard house. l was ushered into The COM
mon Court room, where several idlers had
been assembled, who seemed TO have no
other business than to await my coming,
but the Mayor was not there"
After waiting an hour without seeing
the Mayor, she was taken to cell, separa-
ted by thin board partition from room
in which were gathered the entire vaga-
bondism of that vagabond city, and lock-
ed up for the night, to be kept awake by
the screams, groans, profanity and obscen-
ity Of her neighbors, and stified with the
foul and fetid atmosphere of the prison.
In the morning she was brought before the
Mayor, where proceedings were had rs fol-
lows:
"The Mayor read the charges be had
written down. No witness was called; no
one appeare! against ME. The examina-
tion was rs fellows:
"Mrs. Bo;tslord, you are accused of trea-
sen and sedition?'
81 am not guilty of treason Or sedition. .
II understand you have been tampering
with slaves"
alt is utterly false, sir. l have had no.
thing 10 say TO the slaves"
"You are an abolitionist?'
ayes"
can admirer of John Brown9"
"Yes."
"You have expressed abolition senti-
ments"
Il have on a few occasions when asked !;
can name all | ever conversed with, and
what l said to them l will say here.
have lived here nearly year, attending
closely TO my business; l have not injur-
ed or offended any one, and have been
well treated until now. | cannot see why
should be subjected to this outrage"
"You say that you have been well treat
ed"
ayes, until now."
"Tben think you have been very un-
grateful; you have been well treated, been
proftably employed, and have received
our money, while you hate us!"
II have not hated the people; am no
friend of slavery; l have not seen any
thing in Charleston to give me more ia
vorable impression of il; quite otherwise.
have received what have earned. l
owe you no gratitude"
81 would advise you TO go home"
Il shall certainly do SO as soon as l can
settle my business. l have no desire to
stay moment longer"
"The Mayor then said he had not heard
anything against my character. ''You are
spoken of said he, "as quiet and respect
able. If you can find any one to be your
bail for three hundred dollars, 1 can dis
miss you."
81 told him that l had not been guilty of
any had conduct, and could not get bail.
He then left the room with one or two
more. As 1 afterwards learned be was
persuaded l was an emissary for some
Northern society or publisher. l saw no
more of him. He sent the turnkey in; |
was ordered to the cell again, and locked
up. Some of my friends from the house
l left felt alarmed, and had been there sew
eral times to inquire for me, and were
rudely driven away"
Subsequently Mrs. B., was taken before
another magistrate, who increased her
bends to $4,000. Of her treatment in the
presence of and by the funclionary, she
says:-
"Twenty or thirty citizens were gather
ed there, and among them one whom l
was acquainted with, and had conversed
with about two weeks before. 1 spoke to
him and asked him if he was the complain
ant. He said he was. Indignantly ask
ed him if he was not ashamed of him
self; if it was possible that he could
do anything so contemplate. Without
waiting for his reply the Magistrate answer