The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-09-26

nad seen the representatives or four
millions OF human beings. They posses :
SEQ I'll the elements of manhood. Their
logic would silence the pro-slavery soph-
istry ola Wigfall or Tom bs-.their pure,
heartfelt religion put to shame the Phar-
lsaicaf hypocrisy Of all the slave-holding
professors in Cbristendom. And these all
unite in praying that this war may not
end aH their race is Jreei "When two
or three agree in my name, az touching
ose thing, it shall be granted unto them"
passed another week in the dull rou-
tine of camp life. The little squads of
students passed in review before my mind;
IN my midnight dreamings I heard the
old mans prayer repeated and in my
morning and evening musings / thought
of noble but oppressed hearts that joined
III that prayer. During the week l re-
ceived many evidences Of the anyieldng
loyalty Of this people.
Sabbath morning came again, and set
1eat to TO ffearu another lesson concerning the
much talked of negro.
| directed my steps along some of the
most passable streets eff the city of Mem
phis, frequently stopping to converse with
the passer by. ! talked with the aged
grandfather whose head had been silvered
over by the frosts of eighty winters; !
talked with the middle-aged, the bloom
Of youth, and childhood All told the
story of their suffering The mother
whose checks had been furrowed by age
and the youthful mother, alike spoke Of
some loved son or daughter torn from her
arms in the days of its infancy, when it
had just learned to lisp its fathers name,
and carried by the slave driver to some
distant land from whence it never could
return.
| Thus | ran. bled, sometimes walking
sometimes talking, frequently stopping to
quench my thirst at some pure fountain
Of natures beverage, until tie city bell
spoke the hour of three and found my
self in front Of Asbury Chapel, the place
Of worship for the Southern Methodists
in this city. The people were just be-
ginning to assemble for afternoon services,
and being tired by ramble of nine hours,
concluded with but little deliberation.
to rest an hour at least, in the Sanctuary
Of the Lord.
| aseertaiHed Immediately on entering
the house, that it was occupied at that
hour exclusively by the colored portion
of society. ! seated myself in the most
favorable position available for observing
all that transpired.
| now moved, or rather sat, in differ
ent circle of society from what did one
week ago. / was then among those whom
despotism had driven from the comfort
able homes provided by their masters. /
was among the field laborers of the cot
ton plantations +; am now among those
who enjoy all the pleasures slave can
enjoy. Here arc the servants of the
wealthy and fashionable, christian portion
of the citizens Iof Memphis. Some Of
them came in the fine carriages of their
masters some Of them were richly, most
of them neatly dressed. They met for
worshipin the same church in which their
masters met in the forenoon, and surely
they should be the ueyy model of content
ment. Not so. Every prayer breathed
forth the same desire for the day of their
deliverance, that had heard among the
refugees from the cotton fields.
AS | glanced my eyes over the audi
ence, seemingly, whHe lady attracted
my attention. At FIRST / wondered why
she was there, as she and / were the only
white people present except the minister
After very closely scrutinizing the ap-
pearance of the lady, concluded she Was
some kind, christian-hearted lady. who
felt it a pleasure to meet with the chill
dren OF God, even among those Of low de-
gree. Or twas some kind, ministering
angel on an Grand Of mercy which would
be made known in due time. She was
beautiful. l would describe her, but /
never could describe beautiful woman.
Beautiful form, complexion fair, with a
glow Of health upon her cheeks which
nothing but industry and virtue could
give her eyes speaking love to oil around,
and rich flow of auburn hair, actually