Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-05-17

the North, had taken place up the coun.
try-numerous towns had been burned aud
many families murdered.
DwellCrs in the Free States. free from
the vengeance Of servile population, can
form but faint idea of the fear which the
cry of "insurrection" produces.
Excitement became intense. The man
with whom was stopping, advised me to
leave, as was stranger. and liable to
arrest. Returning to Caldwell. l made an
engagement with Crittendcn. His school
vas to commence in four weeks. In the
meantime, in consideration of the state of
excitement and the prejudice against North
ern men, it vas suggested that should 90
out into the country. some fifteen miles,
with q gentleman to whom / had been In
troduced. and clerk in his store--he being
desirous Of nay so doing. One evening af-
ter had remained with him about week,
posse of about dozen men, full of
whiskey and enthusiasm rode up. They
were equipped with the customary orna-
ments of the South--boWie knives and re
volvers. .......
Pretending to be desirous of purchasing
something, they entered the store. Watch
ing their opportunity, they seized me from
behind aud claimed me as their prisoner
swearing at the same time that l was
cursed abolitionist' The merchant and
his brother grasped their revolvers and or
dered my release until matters could be cx-
plained. The leader then said that l was
suspected Of being an Abolitionist and that
the Vigilance Committee at Caldwell had
ordered him to arrest me. Be it under
stood. that at this time, Vigilance Commit.
tees. Regulators &c. had completely usurp-
ed the powers Of the regular courts, and
claimed the right of hanging AbOlitiOnists
as their special prerogative.
They insisted on takiug me several
miles to camp where they had q barrel
Of 20 be joyful intending to "stakc me
OUT Indian captive fashion. and have a
general spree. In the South, a man is
nobody unleSs he drinks whiskey.) To
this my friends would not consent. Final
ly it was agreed that should be locked in
the store, and eight men detailed to guard
NE, which was accordingly done.
The other four hastened to rouse the
Hatives, by despatching couriers to various
parts of the county, announcing that a
real, live aholitionist had been caught, and
was to be hung at the county seat, the
next day. During the night the merchant
sent secret messenger to Crittenden in
forming him Of my arrest.
In the morning twenty-five horsemen
filed around, and escorted me to town.
The place was throDged with people. |
was placed under guard. while the vigil
ance committee proceeded to try me for
the high crime of hating the system OF Ne.
gro Slavery. The privilege of hearing my
own trial, was refused me.
The committee finally adjourned for a
week, in order to send some fifty miles dis,
tant and procure my trunk, the contents
Of which they desired to inspect. The
crowd that had assembled to witness the
changing" were dissatisfied at the adjourn
ment, but consoled themselves with whis-
key and the reflection that "he'd swing
next time" A week passed;-the trunk
was brought-the committee came-thc
crowd multiplied by ten, assembled and
the trial proceeded as before. Nothing
being adduced against me from the trunk,
the committee set me ut liberty. The mob
were furious. Swearing they had come
twice to see me hung. aud wasn't going to
be gulled that way; they declared | should
be hung anyhow, for being born in Ohio,
if for nothing else
Fierce for blood. and maddeued with
liquor, they paraded the streets, and with
horrid groans, yells and imPrecations. came
surging around the building in which
was confined. Bursting open the door.
with yell Of tripwph, they were on the
point of rushing in, when Crittenden, with
a few friends from the country who had
stood by me almoGt constantly during the
trial, stepped forward and said: Gentle
men, the first man tGUt eUterS that doOr,
diesi This Joy shall not be hung tohilc 7
haze life to detsad him." The mob fell
back in surprise sAd fear. They knew
him of yore to be an "ugly customer" and
and that he was in earnest. They jeered
and cursed awhile. and proposed "making
rush" uprn u.s. and it was amusing to
observe how very willing every one was
that somebody else should lead the attack.
Apparently ashamed Of their cOwardice.
they drew of in little knots to liquor and
discuss the matter. Finally, towards
night they mounted their horses and left
for their homes. bestowing upon us many
gratuitous epithets not found in the Chris
tian vocabulary,
My prospects for teaching in Caldwell,
with safety. were blighted. Ii was sugges.