St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-12
The Spirit of Slavery.
A LETTER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA

inst, DR.. E. Cooke and myself were on
business in Columbia, S. c., connected
with the college at this place. We
took passage for our return on the night
train over the S. G.. Railroad, which
leaves Columbia at z o'clock, and ar
rives here about midnight. We noticed
that the cars were more crowded than
usual, but took our seats in the first
class car, designed for the use of gen.
tlemen and ladies, and both classes were
as usual occupying the car.
We had just left the city when man
came abruptly to my seat and gruf1y
asked who was, what was my name,
and how long had been in South Car
olinaq On my quietly informing him
that l lived in Orangeburg, and had
been a resident of the State for eleven
years, he seemed partially satisfied that
l was not the man he was looking for,
and then went for Dr.. Cooke, who was
seated in seat back of me. He put
the Doctor through set of interrOga-
tions as though he had been appointed
by the Hampton Legislature inquisitOr-
general for the State. The Doctor made
the best of his unpleasant position, re-
plying mildly. But it soon appeared
that he came to South Carolina from
the State of Massachusetts, and had been
but short time, comparatively, in
South Carolina. This was enough to
make it certain that the Doctor was the
man they were anxious to find. The
insults and abuse that followed cannot
be described. He was called ID
son of a b." and all the vulgar and
insulting epithets that can be raked
from the slang phrases of these low,
grOg-shOp politicians. AS all the pas
sengers in the Car seemingly approved
of this attack upon us, | thought it a
matter of prudence for me to escape
from the car and left, going into the
secOnd-class car just forward of the one
we had been occupying. But 1 was
soon followed and beset by these men,
who wanted to know if had not son
who had edited radical paper, and
where he was at that time? As he
came to the cars with me, they probably
thought he might be upon the train.
They used language too foul and hOrrid
to be repeated. They threatened to
put me off the cars. On my saying that
| would appeal to the conductor for
protection, they said, "they did not care
a d for the conductor that they
ran this shebang." l was finally told
that they would give me twenty days
to leave the State, and if | did not go
in that time, they would come and give
me h.
AS the cars stopped at station, and
a favorable opportunity presented,
slipped from the car to the platform
and went back and got into the sleeping
car. / had been here but a short time
when three men came in from the Other
car, and commenced conversation. They
said it was too bad to have an old man
abused so. One said he was constrain-
ed to take his part for he feared for the
personal safety of the old man. He
said if it had been young man he
should not have cared but he had re-
spect for age. | then ventured to speak
and said to them, that such abuse on
{ quiet traveller was a burning shame
that knew the old gentleman to be {
very fine man in every respect anC
that had been told that he voted TO
Hampton. This last remark seemed t,
have a very softening effect. One o
them replied, 81 dare say he did" The,
then had the word sent to the Doctor
assaiants, that he voted for Hampton
The Doctor has since informed me tina
this seemed to have quieting influence
, and he was told that was right, but h.
must get out of that Cd nigge
school" (referring to the university, o
they would come and give him h.
| then tried my best to get the DOcto
out of his unpleasant and perilous con
, dition. | told the colOred man in charg
of the sleeping car, to get near enougl
, to the Doctor, if possible, to whispe
= my name i'll his ear, and tell him
: wanted to see him in the sleeping cal
He entered the car some three times t,
do his errand, as so many were pressin:
, around the Doctor he could not get a
him but he finally reached him, ant
the Doctor found lull in the storm ant
got safely into the rear car.
These Charleston gentlemen claimed
, to sympathiZe with him. For nearl,
, three hours the Doctor had endure,
: this lntiictiOn of taunts and insults
I These IOwdies were armed, and thei
= revolvers could be seen in their belts
r or sticking from their pockets. The,
: took from the Doctor his hat, putin;
$ on an old slOuched one in its place
They demanded his coat, but he had il
q it several hundred dollars, that he ha,
f just drawn at Columbia from the treas
? urer of the Clafin trustees, for the pur
' pose of paying the contractors on tn
new building. He felt reluctant to Civ
up that, and therefore held on to hi
$ coat and money. They tried to com
n pei him to take tobacco and whiskey
n and apparently used every pOssibl
o means to insult and irritate him.
Il. Tho raaHar ha rnaHx tn osE
; where was the conductor? He wa
0 careful to keep away, apparently! w
q asked the Charleston gentlemen VIII
the conductor would allow such wor
e ON the car And they said in reply
that his life would not be worth fiv
G cents if he should undertake to inter
+ fere with these men. The man wh
: had been one of the leaders in thi
Y abuse, came to us, before we left tn
. car, and apologized for his couduc
saying he should not have done as b
did but others in the car set him ol
:. and urged him to do it. 1t turns ou
s that some of those who claimed to b
d respectable people of this place, an
a who knew DR.. Cooke and myself, ha
IS a hand in the affair; and among thes
# a merchant of Orangeburg, who claim
a to be respectable, aided and abetted j
It this disgraceful affair.
) DIR. Cooke says he does not regar
IS his life safe, in travelling in this State
i: and he shall not ride any more, at leas
K on night trains. To attend my quar-
:. terly meetings am obliged to ride o
G night and day trains, and propose t
: continue my work while l can kee
n soul and body together, unless relieve
It by the authorities of the Church tha
d took the responsibility of putting m