The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-17

obeyed the injunction Of the deep. toned bel
Of Old ST. Michacls, which ut half past eigh
in the evening. in its high and venerabl,
tower, opened it's trembling lips and shout
ed. "Get you home Get you home! :" Al
ways that; always Of command; always o
arrogance. superiority and caste never o
love, good will and fellowship. On Sunda,
r morning it said to the white man, Com,
and sit in your old-flshioned, velvet cushion
: ed pews, you rich ones! Go up stairs, you
, niggers :" ...-.
I heard the old bell last night at half.pas
eight A week ago. at nine o'clock, tho
horse patrol dashed through the streets, ant
all negroes abroad without u pass were march.
ed down IN the guard house. Now, freed
men walk the street at all hours of day anC
night, unchallenged even by the dusty sen
tincls pacing their appointed beats, who's,
only duty is to keep watch against su, ,pris,
from those who would bring chains and sa
very once more to the people.
The guard house doors are wide open.
The jailor has lost his occupation. The las,
slave has been incarccrated within It's walls
and st. Michael's curfew shall be sweetest
music hcnceiUrth and forever. Il shall ring
the glad chimes OF ireedom-ireedOm tO
come, to 90, or to tarry by the way-free.
dom from sad partings Of wife and husband,
father and son, mother and child.
The brokers in aesh and blood took good
care to be well buttressed. They set up their
mart in respectable quarter, with st. Mi.
chael's and tho guard house. the Registry OF
Deeds and the Sunday School Depository,
the Court House and the Theological Libra.
ry around them to uphold and sustain them,
and make their calling respectable.
But the "Marsh Angel has ratified all the
glass from the windows Of st. Michaels
splintered the pews and smashed the pulpit.
It's messengers have howled over the grave ol
Calhoun, the apostle Of secession, whose
bones are moldering in the adjoining GENE
terry. The same "Angcl' has made a rec
ord Of its doings in the Registry building
At one stroke il opened the entire front o
the Sunday School Depository to the light OF
heaven. There is mass Of evidence IN the
Court room-several cart loads of brick and
plaster introduced by Gen. Gilmore. which
the advocates OF secession here thought ad'
missable.
| entered the Theological Library building
through window from which Gen. Gill
more had removed the sash. pile Of old
rubbish Law upon the aoor-sermons, tracts,
magazines, books, papers. damp, musty and
Notwithstanding into pulp beneath the rain
drops which came down through the shat
tered roof. ....
Amid these surroundings was the Slave
Mart-a building with u large iron gate in
front. above which in large gilt letters was
the word MART. n. r'I '......r..I -.
The iron gate opened into hall about six.
ty feet long by twenty broad. flanked on one
side by long table running the entire length
OF tho hall, and on the other by benches.
At the further end door, opening through
brick wall. gave entrance to yard. The
door was locked. tried my boot heel hut
it would not Yield. called a freedman to
nv aid. Unitedly we took up great stone
We gave blow. Another, and the door OF
the Bastile went into splinters. Across the
yard is four story brick building, with
grated windows and iron doors-a prison.
The yard is walled by high buildings. He
who entered there left all hope behind. A
snail room adjoining the hall was the place
where women were subjected to the nscivious
gaze of brutal men. There were the steps,
up which thousands Of men, women and
children have walked to their places on the
table, to be knocked of to the highest bid
der. The thought occurred TO me that per-
haps Governor Andrew, or Wendell Phillips,
or VIM. Lloyd Garrison, or Drs Kirk, Stone.
or Rev. Mr.. Manning would like to make
speech frm those steps. determined to 81
cure them While doing 30 colored wo
man came into the hall To see the Yankees.
"l was sold there upon that table two
years ago" said she.
You never will he sold again, you are free
now and forever" replied.
"Thank God O the blessed Jesus he has
heard my PRAYER, am 30 glad. only wish
I could zee INV husband. tie was sold nc the
sams time into the country. and has gone
don't know where"
Thus spake D'nah More.
In front Of the mart was gilt star--l
climbed up the post and wrenchcd IL from its
spike to secure Il as trophy, A freedmen
took down the gilt letters for me. and knocked
of the great lock from tho outer iron gate
and the smaller lock from the inner door.
The steps and locks are on their way TO Bos-
ton The key of the French Bastile hangs
at Mount Vernon the stair case OF the tenn
pie Of Jerusalem, mp which the Saviour
walked, has been transplanted to Rome and
40 as relics OF the American prison house now
and forever being broken up have secured
these relics that all who love freedom. who
have worked and prayed through long and
weary years for the overthrow Of slavery.
who have laid down their sons upon the bat
tle6eld to save the land, may behold them.
These steps have been wet by many tears.
men and women have tottered upon them
with trembling limbs and broken hearts.
Upon them there has been such weeping and
sorrow and signing as slavery alone Of all
things on earth can give-weeping which has
been. but which shall be no more.
wAsniNcroN's BIRTHDAY.
washington's birthday was kept in 70.
ne,nbrancc in this city by thoee who never
have forgotten his teachings The numer-
Gus war vessels in the harbor famed with
bunting from yard arm and topmast. IL was
a gorgeous spectacle. and deeply impressed
the minds of the colorcd population with
the invincibility OF the Yankees.
40 gosh mighty IL is no use for do rsbs
to think Of standing out against dc Yankees
any longer. I'll 90 home and bring Dinah
to zee the sight" was the exclamation OF an
old freedman as he bcheld the magnificent
spectacle. Bright colors are the delight OF
the African race, and grand display OF any
kind has wonderful eject on their imag'n-
alton. i' t.a'N
At noon all Of the gunboats. monitors and