Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-03

The Philadelphia inquirer puDllsnes an
interesting letter from lady in Charleston
s. O., to friend in Philsdelphis, giving a
graphic picture of the condition of that city
and its surroundings. We make a few exc
tracts, touching the negro question:
RDisguise the truth as we may, all thinking
men here feel their position peculiarly un-
safe; and those who are surrounded by fe-
male relatives, have their anxiety increased
a thousand fold. We do not fear for the
clash of contending armies, though that is
sufficiently terrible to excite much apprehen-
sion; but even amid the carnage of war, the
yeriest boor within the armies would respect
women; though traitors try to teach US that
the Northern war cry is "Beauty and
Booty" but we do dread lest at midnight
the fearful sounds of serYile insurrectiOn shall
salute our ears. You know the negroes sfe
far superior in numbers to the whites, and
now that 80 many are absent in the army,
their majority is greatly increased. If they
rise we are in their power. DO you know
what that means2 Remember the history of
all servile instructions, and recall the hOr-
rors enacted by the race whom oppression
has helped to brutaliEe. Of course the mas
ters would fight desperately; but how could
the small number Of male whites defend their
helpless wives snd daughters against a ten
fold force Of msddsned slaves, whose strength
and ferocity are well known2
Much as miss your society, and keenly
as feel our long separation, l had rather
know you shared the humblest cottage in the
North in safety, than see you mistress of q
palace with such danger threatening you.
Do not think our apprehension Is express
ed. When the difficulties began we looked
daily for some uprising among the slaves
No general insurrectiOn has taken place,
though several revolts have been attempted !;
two quite recently, and in these cases whole
families we're murdered before the slaves
were subdued. Then came retaliation of the
most fearful character. At any time where SER
wants Rssail or murder white persons, speedy
and severe punishment is administered; but
now they do not wait for the action of the law;
lynch law now prevails. In these revolts
which occurred in the interior of the State,
most of the servants who participated were
either shot In the conflict or as soon as
captured, and two of them were burned to
DEATH
To say they were burned to death seems a
simple sentence, devoid of any special hor-
ror, but the scene, as described to me by g
witness, was too dreadful for mortal eyes
Imagine the poor Wretcheg, red with the
blood of their masters, covering in the hands
of those from whom they need not look tor
pity, not even time to repent of deeds which
exclude them from hope hereafter. They are
dogged and defiant towards their captors
until their doom Is pronounced-B fate OF
which they have special horror. Dragged
to the place of execution, within sight OF
their own houses, surrounded by their fellow
servants, who ere compelled to witness the
sight, they are bound TO strong trees, with
great heap Of pine knots piled close around
their persons. Directly the torch is applied,
and the in6smable pine bursts into vivid
fame.
When the blazs reaches the bodies, and
the sensitive flesh peels and crackles, their
cries are too fearful to be heard by human
ears. Nor Is the torment soon over. The
flames scorch the upper part of the bodies,
producing exquisite agony, but slowly burn
into the Vitals, until the wrstched sufferers
90 to Judgment with all their crimes upon
their heads.
Do you wonder am shocked? Suppose
it had been Nelly, or Andrew, or Hiram, to
whom we are 80 strongly attached? Yet
these tortured criminals were favorite house
hold servants of unusual intelligence. 1
ought not to tell you of those terrible things,
but they haunt my memory so cannot re-
frain. Thank Heaven, you are safe
l undertook to say the apprehension of
servile insurrection lost its power when, as
time passed, all seemed peaceful; so we easily
fell back into dreams Of security until these
events aroused Us to Watchfulness. This nsVs
is suppressed as far ds possible and Kept en-.
hrely from the papers, for the negroes hear
what is published If they do not resd 1t, and
such examples might produce disastrous con-
sequences.
Poor F. Is dead before the fall of
Sumter he exerted all his influence, using
both pen and voice against rebellion, until be
was thrown into prison. At first he was
treated as an ordinary criminal awaiting
trial; but after the battle of Manassas the
Confederates seemed drunk with triumph at
their victory, and mad with rage over the
vast number of victims who fell In their
ranks. I wrote you with what pomp this
city mourned her dead; amid 1t ali, when
the Confederate host seemed like to win, F.
was offered freedom and promotion If he
would espouse the Confederate cause. His
military and scientific attainments were con-
siderable, which made them anxious for his
services.
az have sworn allegiance to the Union,
said he, "and am not one to break my
pledge" When tempted with promotion if
be could be prevailed upon to enlist beneath
their banner, he said: "you cannot buy my
loyalty. love Carolina, and the South; but
l love my country bstter." Finding him
faithful to the flag he loved, be was made to
feel the power of his enemies. BE was cast
into a miserable, damp, ill-ventilated cell,
and fed on coarse fare; half the time neg
lected by his drunken keeper. His property