The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-11

We copy the following interesting
narrative from "The Southern Friend"
of February l5, 1866, publishedin Rich
mond, Va, by John B. Crenshaw.
We stated, in recent issue, that the
members of the Society of Friends inthis
State were subjected to great and unusual
prosecutions during the rebellion; and we
gave esomeinstances ofthe crueltiesinfic-
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 " 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 frmness which should
have excited the respect, instead of the
vengeance of the authorities. At last,
worn down by his suferings, 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
beat, and this meek follower of the
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,
sufferings, and death OF Seth W. Laugh
lin is an official document put forth by
the Society of Friends of Randolph
County:
A MEMORIAL CONCERNING SETH W. LAUGHIIN,
MEMBER OF 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
w. Laughlin, who died in Winder. .Hospitnl Va,
Twelfth Month Sth, 1854, aged about forty years,
and who had been member of the Society of
Friends only few months before he was arrested
and taken to military camp near Petersburg,
Va. Now, as there has been much said respect
ing this class of our understanding the So
ciety for receiving them, and imputing improper
motives to those who have been received, it maJ
be proper to mention some Of the circumstance
connected with his reception. He, like many o
Aio hciShooio, PiOicIrcu going, lutO souc VI tus
Government works, rather than into the military
camp: accordingly, he went to the State Sal
Works, near Wilmington, N. c., having previous
ly requested to become member of the Societ,
Of Friends The committee having the care o
his request corresponded with him, and received
several very satisfactory letters from him. plainl,
evincing the candor and sincerity of the motives
which induced him to become a member, aut
that his request was made on the basis of tru
confinement. The following is an extract from
one of his letters =" My motive for wishing t,
join the society OF Friends is that believe the,
are religious people; and being placed unde
their care and receiving the benefit of thei
counsel and religious instruction, shall be bette
able to work out my souls salvation, with fea
and trembling before God" Surely none ca
doubt the sincerity of such language comm
from one who was never known to act the hype
crite or practice dissimulation. The object {
this memorial is not to eulogize the individual
whom It relates, but merely to preserve his men