The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-04

In scrap-book that lies open before us,
we see extracts from various papers, giving
accounts Of rallies and mass meetings in
Berkshire county, where, in conjunction
with j. p. Hale and Ward Beecher, Mr..
Underwood labored for the cause. Mean
while an amusing incident showed the state
of feeling in his county. His little son,
unknown to his mother, had rndely pre-
pared and painted Fremont flag, and one
day, in her absence, had raised it on pole
with boys delight.
On her return she called him and said,
my son, don't you know that is danger
GUS thing to do?' "Why, mother, he
replied, "all the. other boys put up their
flags; why mustn't we put up ours--haven't
we right?" - $780,
''Yes, my son. we have" she replied,
"and there it shall stay; and what's
more, I'll 60 to the store and get some
thing to make you bigger one,p which
she did accordingly. ~ 'sgy-i-
on by committees, who told her the flag
could not be permitted, and requested her
to take it down. She asserted her right to
have any flag she chose on her own pre-
misses. They told her it would be cut
down, and she replied that the first man
that touched 1t should be shot down.
The result showed that Mrs. Under
wood well understood the temper of her
own state. The courage, amounting to
audacity, which she showed, won secret
admiration even from those who were most
offended. AHu 9H8s az 4
IL is to be confessed, moreover, that
handsome, spirited, accomplished woman,
gifted both with ready speech and fluent
pen, and standing on the ground Of high
family connections, has some advantages
of her own in an encounter of this kind.
The final result was that it was agreed
to pass over the matter of the flag as
something belon"ing to women and chill
dren, and unworthy of serious notice, and
so it continued to wave.
That flag is yet preserved as precious
family relic, and John Pierpont afterwards
commemorated it in song.
After the election OF Buchanan had
Gained down the tides Of the great con-
flict, Mr.. Underwood began to think Of re-
turning once more to his home. Despite
his principles, and his fearless manner oil
advocating them, he was personally favor
lite among his neighbors, and many of them
desired to see him back, and even wrote
friendly letters begging him to return. But
the more violent faction, to leave no doubt
OF their intentions and sentiments. called
another committee meeting, and, aftef Mr.
Underwood's return to keep Christmas un
der his rooftree, he was greeted with thu
following Christmas carol:
| Mr.. j. G. Underwood, Sir-You are
aware that there was a meeting held OF
Piermont last July, for the purpose O
expressing Indignation at the course yor
had pursued in relation to their right.
while you claim to be citizen of thi.
state. At meeting above referred to
was appointed chairman of committed
of twelve to wait upon you on your arrival
and inform you of their feelings in re
gard to this course. In pursuance o
my duty | hereby inform you that
you have come among us as a visitor
or to settle up your business preparatory
to leaving the state finally, the committe'
feel 1t their duty to give you their pro
, lection and every facility in. their powel
, while doing so. But should you persis
in renewing your citizenship among us
; we. shall withdraw our protection, ant
leave you to suffer whatever may follow a
f the hands of the community.
Yours, etc.. TURNER AsHBY.
In consequence OF this notice, seconded
by reports oil intended tar and feathers
, and other gentle cxpedients of moral sua
: sion, Mr.. Underwood advertised his pro
t pesty for sale. But the restless spirit O
. mischief could not be satisfied to leave tn,
, family unmolested even for so brief
{ time. af d. afaA sf,s1o5a rla
A letter from Mr.. Underwood, writer
. to friend at the North at this time, is O
; interest giving graphically picture, no
! only of the spirit of the times but Of tn
/ man. He begins by mentioning the cor
! diality with which he was received by tina
portion Of his neighbors who were person
! ally his friends. Mr.. Underwood saws
81 had no conception of the cordialit,
: with which my tenants and most of my
neighbors would greet me. Indeed, sucf
was the rush to my house, and SO anxious
were they to hear and learn all the crcum
stances connected with my long absence
from home, that | found it real hin
: drance in the arrangement of nv neglected
; business" He also states briefly tina,
the slaves, excited by what they had
picked mp here and there as to the contest
going on, had come to him with anxious
! inquiries whether there was any hope fol
them, and in regard to this he says:
Notwithstanding my hatred Of slavery
, yet so great is my horror of all violence
and my hope of anelioration by the diffu.
, sion Of knowledge and of Christian patienc,
and forbearance among men, that spared
no pains in urging those under the yoke to
submit to the power they have no means
; of successfully resisting"
But the excited state of the slave popu
lation in Virginia, in view of the tumultu
GUS discussion of the subject of SLAYER,
, which prefaced the election, was such tina
Mr.. Underwood's friends daily feared tina
any outbreak or imprudence among tn,
negroes would be visited on him and hil
family, and urged their speedy departure
Mr.. Underwood's letter describes wha
followed:
TUESDAY, the 3Oth, was one of the mos
anxious and exciting days of my life. W.
were sad at seeing our household goods
scattered; for though IN form voluntary
sale, it was in fact forced one. Our little
children were grieving over the sale of the
horses, colts, cows and calves. pet lambs
and playthings which they had been accus.
toned to call their own, and to which they
had become attached as farmers children
often are. To increase the gloom and des-
olation of the general break up, Mr.. F.
called late in the afternoon with message