The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-04-05
Tri- STANDARD.
RALEIGH, n. @.

We copy the following interesting
narrative from The Southern Friend"
of February Is, 1865, publishedin RICH
mond, Va, by John B. Clenshaw.
|. We stated, in recent issue, that the
members of the Society Of Friends in this
State were subjected to great and unusual
prosecutions during the rebellion; and we
gave some instances ofthe cruelties infiic-
ted upon those Friends who were consci-
entiously opposed to bearing arms. This
narrative presents one of many cases in
which the meek sufferer was I" faithful
unto DEATH" under the unfeeling hand
of arbitrary power. Seth w. Laughlin
had served the State as far as he con-
scientiously could, in the salt works,
and, returning home in feeble health, he
was seized by the conscript officers, and
hurried off to Virginia, where he was
subjected to indignities and torture, and
at last threatened with death, to make
him bear arms. He steadily refused, with
a faith and firmness which should
have excited the respect, instead of the
vengeance of the authorities At last,
worn down by his sufferings, he died
amongst strangers, far from his home,
no kind friend being near to soothe him,
or to comfort, or to hear his last words"
An infinitely merciful God took him to
Himself The weary heart ceased to
| IL III e Il
Prince of Peace went to sleep, and
opened his eyes in better world.
One act like this, deliberately perpe-
trated, was enough to call down on the
Confederate government the maledic-
ton of Almighty God. There were
| thousands of such acts. And yet Min
listers of the Holy Gospel were not want
ing to justify such acts, and to ask God
to bless and uphold those who perform
ed them!
Let the reader bear in mind that the
following narrative of the prosecutions,
suf1erings, and death OF Seth W. Laugh
in is an official document put forth by
he Society of Friends of Randolph
County:
\ MEMORIAL CONCERNING SETH w. LAUGHLIN,
A MEMBER MARLBORO MONTHLY MEETING
OF FRIENDS IN RANDOLPH COUNTY NORTH
+! CAROLINA.
: Among those who have met with premature
; death since the commencement of the late rebel
lion in the United States, may be reckoned Seth
i W. Laughlin, who died in Winder Hospitnl, Va,
Twelfth Month Sth, 1864, aged about forty years,
and who had been member of the Society of
Friends only few months before he arrested
and taken to military camp Petersburg,
Va Now, as there has been much said respect
| ing this class of orr members the So
ciety for re-eivIng then. and imputng improper
motives to those who have DS"n received, it may
be proper to mention some of tn. circumstances
connected with his reception. He, H. many of
his neghbors, preferred going into some f the
Government works, rather than into the mi tary
camp: accordingly, he went to the State Salt
Works, near Wilmington, N c., having preyio Is
ly requested to become member of the SOCIETY
of Friends. The committee having the car, of
his request correspondent with him, and recei, ed
several very satisfactory letters from him. plai IL
evincing the candor and sincerity of the mot cs
which induced him to become a member, nd
that his request was made the basis of ue
confinement. The following is all extract Z ON |
one of his letters &c My motive for wishr, to
join the society of Friends is that believe they
are religious people; and being placed dnder
their care, and receiving the benefit q their |
counsel and religious instruction, shall 1e better
able to work out my souls salvation with fear |
and trembling before God" Surel- none can |
doubt the sincerity of such langr ge coming |
from who was never known tC act the hypo- |
critic practice discrimination. The object of
this memorial is not to eulogize individual to
whom it relates, but merely to p sserve his mem
DRY, that others, seeing his good works, may glo
rify Father which is in heav.
After remaining at the State ALT Works for |
some time his health being fe' b e, he returned
home to his family, where he lded to remain |
and risk the consequences. Al enjoying the |
privilege of remaining at home ! some time he |
reported to the enrolling T aer of conscrip- |
ton, who sent him to the militia camp, where he |
was required to do the duties of older or suffer
the penalties for refusing to do He promptly |
refused to perform military SCI ce; doubtless |
remembering the passage in p, = Writ =" Be |
thou faithful unto death, and J W | give thee a |
crown of life.''
Most of the informatio-. we have . his suffering
in the army is derive. from lette received by |
his family and friends and we are T.. ormed by an |
eye witness-a Friend who sufferci. with him /
that upon their arrival in camp nea. Petersburg |
Va, he ordered to take up arms and upon |
his refusal to do so, debarred from sleep for
thirty-six hours, punishment; but still main
tanning his integrity, he was 'sbucked" down |
daily for considerable time, and then suspended |
by the thumbs for hour and half, for the |
space of about one week, when they were separat-
ed; and, finally, he was court martialed and or