Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-05-23
Abolitionists and Abolitionism.


MEssRs. EDITORS In a late number of
your paper, noticed a short article signed,
"a Benton Demociat, y in which the writer
very briefly refers to the Abolition Raid
that was made upon the Democrats of Ben
ton township and that vicinity, about the
last of August 1864. l was not 1nolested in
that wicked work of. the Disunionists, and
can therefore look impartially at the whole
affair. =
From this stand point, ] win write you an
article or two ON the subject. / am,well CON
viinced the Raid was brought on BY a few un-
principled Political tricksters In Danville,
Bloomsbury and Wilkes Barre, and was un-
derstood and expected by many of their
sneaks in Luzerne, Columbia and Montour
and other counties, who aided and encour-
aged the dirty work
The object was to persccute Democrats, to
prevent them from voting at the then-ap-
preaching fall elections, and to injure them
IN person, property and reputation. The
vile wretches who instigated this unjust pro-
ceeding, and who claim to be responsible for
the soldiers coming, employed all such
polluted miscreants as ssLucky John, the
man of watch and gun stealing memory,
and that embodyment of villainy, very fond
of hooking fish from other Peoples nets,
&C., commonly known hereabouts, as
Professor, celebrated for Lecturing on
Fleas to sneak around and guide the sol
diers to the place where such Democrats liv-
ed as were particular objects of malice, envy
and bitter hatred and have them arrested,
contrary to law, without warrant or even
ssprobable cause, and taken to a distant
Military Bastile, in which they suffered
more than can ever be made known to the
public, and where some of them died, leav-
ing destitute families This was perSec1ction
to the bitter end. i
But the prisoners being unrighteously de-
tanned for many. months from their homes
and business, suffered very much in the loss
Of property. "A And besides were illegally
kept from the polls and thus by tyrants and
corrupt scoundreIs prevented from exercis-
ing a, ,freeman's right to vote his honestsen-
tfnents.
And because of these arbitrary arrests and
cruel imprisonment, some of the minions,
Who secretly encouraged the whole outrage,
now say, it VIII be areproach TO the pris7
'oi1ers, their families and friends, and as
certain persons are stigmatised because
some of their anncestors were shot,
for their "Loyal Tory proclivities in
The days of the Revolution, SO they viii
have this cast up to them in future. This
viii not NECESSARILY follow, and no one but
4ong-faced hypocrite who always votes and
acts with them and their Tory crew
would think Or talk IN this way. Those ar
rested men suffered innocently, while the
Tories, their defendants and their adherents
were and are guilty. This does, and thought
to make great difference. That orii. neigh
bors were innocent, were punished contrary
to law, were persecuted IN the most disgrace
ful and unjust manner and that the militia
y had no jurisdiction IN the premises is
abundantly proven by the late decision Of
the Supreme Court, IN the case Of Mr.. Mil
lican. and others in Indiana, VINO had been
arrested and mistreated in the same way By
Abolitionists
/ ana very glad the Court has made that