The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-02-11
THE SECRo UPRISING


| The summer u 1861. VIII ever :
Southern man o. woman who saw i for
! get it's scenes? 4 group of oath bound
srcret societies. The onion League, The
| Heroes Of America. and The Red StrinE@
dominating society. and maraQdlng tandS
OF negroes armed 10 the teeth terrorizing
ithe country. stealing. burning and muir
dcrius.
II widest passions held rot at
Washington. The Congress OF the United
States as q deliberatiye body under con-
| stitutional forms Of government no lon
| ger existed. The Speaker o. ne House
| SHOOK His fist at the President and
threatened openly to hang hin The
| powers OF The Supreme Court. the most
aU<ust judicial tribunal OF the world.
| were actually suspended by Congress,
And the President Of the United states
arraignel for impeachment for daring 10
exercise the constitutional functions Of
his Office in vetoiug their bills!
Congress became TO the desolate south
what Attiia. "Scourge Of God, was 10
civilized Europe.
The abolitionists OF the North who's
conscience Was the fire that kindled the
Civil War, rose in solemn protest against
this insanity. Horace Greeley ana Gerrit
Smith were among the giants now whc
Numbered their protest in the name Of
GOD, ard Justice and the Union for which
the brave had died! Their protest was
drowned in the rear o. multitudes mad
dCned by demagogues VINO were rrepar-
ing FOR a political campaign.
These plain-spoken abolitionists said
things out OF school that Were not nice,
and caused the judicious TO grieve.
They said. This Congress is composed
Of adventurers, bogus generals. contrac-
tors ana jobbers. raving fanatics. peanut
politicians and weak-minded fools"
But the people were Urea Of realities
and loved the fools. Inc great generals
Who fought the war stood BY in silent
sorrow.
:-ate in August Hambright and Camp
bel county Were thrilled With horror al
the report OF a terrible crime. 4 whole
white family had been murdered IN their
home, the father, mother and three chi
Gren, III one night. and no clue 10 the
nurderers could be ound.
Two day later the rumor spread over
tho country that Il horde OF negroes
heavily armed, were approaching Ham
bright. burning, pillaging and numbering.
All day terrified women, some walking
with babes in their arms. some riding in
ola wa CONS and carrying what household
goods they could load on them, were
hturying with blanched faces into the
town.
By might FIVE hundred silent. determined
White men had answered an alarm bell
and assembled i'll The court house. Every
negro save u few faithful servants had
disappeared. a strange stiffness like the
hush OF death fell over the village.
Mrs. CASTOR sat in her house without a
Light, looking a~nXiously out OF the win
dow. overwhelmed with the sense OF ut
ter helplessness. Charlie, frightened by
the wild stories he had heard. was trying
in spite of his fears 10 comfort her.
Don't cry. anna
IL, not crying because I'm afraid,
darling. I'm only crying because your
father is not here tonight! / can't get
used to living without having him TO
protect US"
IN take care OF YOU. mama-Nel5e
and me-
Where is Nelse?"
Hes cleaning up the shot gun
Tell him to come here"
When Nelse approached his mistress
asked:
"Nelse, DO you really think this tale is
true2'
NO, missy, l doan believe nary word
uf ii. Same time Use gettin' ready fer
EN-. IL er Niger coine foolin' roun' dis
house ter night. he'll t'ink he's run ergin
Ell whole regiment! l hain't been ter
Wah fur nuttin'."
"Nelse. you have always been faithful.
| trust you implicitly"
De Lawd, missy, dat you dat kin do,
! fight fur you en- dat boy till l drap dead
in my tracks,"
Il believe you would"
"Yessum, cose | would. En- wants
dat swo'de er Mars Charles tonight mis-
sy, en- Charlie ter help me shapen i'm
on de CRIME stone
She took the sword from its place and
handed it to Nelse. Was there just a
shade of doubt in her heart as she saw
his black hand close over its hilt as ne
drew it from the scabbard and felt its
edges II SO she gave 40 sign.
Charlie turned the grindstone while
Nelse proceeded to violate the laws of
nations by putting q keen edge on the
blade.
'Nebber seed no sense in desc duh
swo'des nOhow"
Why amt they sharp, Neise?'
"Doan know. honey. Marse Charles
tell me de law doan low it. but dey sho'
hain't no Law -ow'"
Wen sharpen it, won't we Nelse ?"
whispered the boy as he turned faster.
Dat US will, honey. En- den you des
watch ms NOW myers if dey come er
%prowlin' roun' dis house"
Did you kill many Yankees in the
war. Nelse?"
"Doan know, honey. spec l did"
Are you going 10 take the gun or the
sword?'
"Bofe un EN- chile. Use gwine ter
shoot er pair er niggers fust, en- den
charge de whole gang wild dis sWo'de.
Hain't muffin er nigger's feard Ut lax er
keen aidge. Wish ter God | had a racer
long eS dis swode. I'd des walk clean
froo or who'll army er niggers wild guns!
Man, hit I'D des ratchelly be or sight.
Dey'd slam dem guns down Ell bust dem
selves open gittin' Outen my way"
When the sun rose next morning the
bodies of ten negroes lay dead and
wounded In the road about a mile out
side OF town. Tho nickel thrown on in