Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-02-06
How the Slaveholding Rebels Were Treated
by the British Government in the South
African Colony.
tBY REV. LEWIS CIRCUIT.

tBY REV. LEWIS CIRCUIT.
When the English took possession of the
Colony, the Beers, Dutch farmers, involved
in slavery, and presently set themselves
about trying TO correct and prevent some of
those abuses to which those in bondage were
subject. One of these farmers, F. Bezuid-
inhout, being charged with having maltreat-
ed Hotentot whom he was holding in
bondage, was summoned to appear before
The circuit court and have his case tried.
He refused and threatened to shoot the
sheriff.
A warrant of personal summons was
then issued, and the sheriff, accompanied
by military force of about twenty men,
went to bring the man. Approaching his
residence, they found him prepared to re-
sist He fired one shot at them, and then
fed TO cavern among the rocks in the
neighborhood refusing to surrender prov
ing vain, a rifle was fired into the cave,
when companion Of the obstinate man
raised cry for mercy. the farmer himself
being mortally wounded.
The friends and neighbors of Bezuiden-
hout having committed his remains TO the
grave, complained that an act of gross out
rage had been committed; and engaged to
avenge themselves by making an attack up
on the nearest military post, and expelling
( the British forces from the district. Circn-
lar letters were now sent out by the rebels,
calling on all the farmers, their friends, in
the adjoining regions, to meet in arms at a
particular spot on the day named, " TO expel
the tyrants from the country" One of th@se
circulars happened 10 all into the hands of
loyal, well-disposed party, in consequence
OF which the Government was enabled to
put their military post in order, and pre-
pare for the expected attack. Nor was it
long before a company of some three or
four hundred men appeared in arms before
the post, and summoned the captain TO give
| it up. Efforts were made to dissuade them
| from the rash undertaking, but all to no
purpose. Indeed, the rebels now formed
themselves into circle, and took solemn
oath that they would remain faithful to each
other, and prosecute their undertaking till
every tyrant, as they called all loyal men,
should be expelled from the district.
The British forces now sailed forth, when
most of the rebels fell back, gave up the
hope of present resistance, and retired to a
neighboring fastness, whence some after
wards escaped. The principal leaders, how
ever, were eventually surrounded and urged
to surrender. But they persisted in reject
ing all terms when, after some skirmish-
ing, the British troops succeeded in taking
them all prisoners and committed them TO
Jail. In due time some thirty-nine Of the
most culpable were put upon trial on charge
of high treason, and sentence passed con-
demning six Of the leaders to capital pun
| ishment,-all the others, after witnessing
the isnominious death of their leaders,--to
undergo various degrees of punishment by
transportation, banishment and fines. ac-
cording to the respective degrees of culpa-
bility. The sentence of one of the six
leaders was afterwards commuted into trans
portation for life.
! Al we're now led TO the pla, of ground