The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-10-09

and friendship to the Europeans. AND
1t WAS not till after repeated acts Of injus
tlce and cruelty this generosi y and kind.
ness was Withdrawn. If the Puritans
had been less INSCRIPTIONS in driving a
bargain with the red man, and less pr.va
ricating and disingenuous in meeting con
tracts; if they had been less selfish, over.
reaching the unjust IN their pecuniary in,
tercourse with the various Tribes, they
would have experienced less Opposition.
They may properly attribute those serious
lnconvenences to which they were sub
jected, to their disregard for that Golden
Rule, which is a cardinal feature in tha
religion they profess.
But they were not only overbearing
and intolerant towards the Indians, but
the same spirit was practiced toward their
own couutrymer who exhibited any re,
luctance to yield 10 :beir arbitrary author!
ity. 1t is remarkably strange, but strict,
ly true, those very individuals, who fed
from Europe, because they were not al
lowed to enjoy the right OF religious free
dom. denied that same right to their
brethren, who were conscienciously com
PEELED to dissent from some Of their the
illogical dogmas. Yes they were scarce,
y seated in their new home before they
practiced towards Roger Williams and
the Baptists, the same unjust and intole.
rant spirit from which they had fed in
the old continent.
You doubtless remember in your school
boy days, (for iu section where the pro.
geny Of Ham are so greatly 5elor ed you
| would certainly be sent to SCHOOL, read
ing the cruel and unchris,ian conduct Of
this people toward Roger Williams
Simply because he did not think it pro.
per to couform to the Puritan ritual in
all things. and preferred to worship God
according to bis views Of Bible truth, lie
was banished from the self-rigbteous city
of Boston and compelled to hazard bis
safety in al unprotected condition, among
the wolves, savages and unexplored for
ests of Rhode Island.
You cannot have forgotten that the
barbarous treatment Of Roger Williams
did not satisfy the intolerant spirit Of
these Pharisaic demagogues. Fer not
long after this three Baptist ministers
we're scized on Sabbath morning where
they had assembled with their congre.a.
tion to worship, and we're taken to a
Congregational Church. and because they
refused to worship in a way contrary to
their conscience, they were arraigned be
fore the civil Court fortnight after. One
was fined to pay 800, another $3.50, the
third $25. And that was not all. This
Court organized and conducted under
Puritan auspices, also decreed, if the fines
were not paid, the delinquents must be
publicly sohipped. And to the lasting
infamy Of these Pharisaic prosecutors a
number Of cruel lashes ,cas laid upon the
naked back Of one Of these christian men,
This revolving punishment he endured
with great fortitude. And because his
firmness and constancy were commended
by two friends that were present, they
were seized, tried and sentenced to pay a
fine Of 40 shillings or be publicly whip
ped. Sir, with these startling facts be
fore us, it is an easy matter to trace the
origin and conjecture the use of those
10000 handouts captured from the
Grand Army" which took up, with such
wonderful agility, the line Of run from
the ensanguined plains of Mannassa.
But their thirst for Bap,st blood was
surpassed by the virulence and unmitiga
ted cruelty with which they prosecuted
the Quakers. Two unprotected Ladies
arrived in Boston, bringing with them
books, in which, the faith they professed
was inculsated. These ladies were arrest
ed, their books burned by the common
hangman and themselves cast into du.
rance vile. HeIe they were kept in close
confinement for weeks, not being permit
ted to speak to any person, even tn rough
window. They were subsequently ban.
ished, the jaiIor with true yankee avarice
confscating their beds and Bible.
Shortly after this, egh, other Quakers
landed in Boston. They also were in
carcerated for a greater length Of time,
and were eventually driven from the coun
try. Very stringent laws were passed
against these peopIe-expeling them
from the country and forever forbidding
their return. -Four unfortunately veniur.
ing back were arrested, tried and suffered
the extreme penalty Of tba. Dracovian
code Of these self righteous Phar;sees, who
like certain ones Of old, supposed they
were the people and wisdom would die
with them.
And as il to crown their history with
foolishness and ignorance, as we'll as in.
tolerance these persons, who seem to be
ever delighted with scenes of blood aud
cruelty, could do no better ir the way OF
enjoying their peculiar pleasure, turned
their band upon the bitches. They seem
to have been ne fierce and intolerant to.
ward the old women, as the Bap,ists and
Qaake:s. Persecution was so congeniai
to their nature, they Gid not discriminate
between real and i.nagicary Objects
Now, although this was extremely foolish
and absurd, and exhibited very cnlpa'
bic degree Of ignorance. yet it will not
appear strange and incredible. wbes we
consider the character and design of that
war, tbsse same people are now waging
against US. II they would read their
.f.n .l