The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-15
VOICE FROM THE PAST.
MASSACHUSETTS, SCHOOL TEACH
Err WHO WAS BANISHED
FROM SOUTH CARO-
LIMA.
An Article Recording His Experiences
I'm Barnwcil. Which Was Written
November Is. 1860. Published for
First Time A Few Days Ago.

The Boston Journal of March 22nd
ult. printed a letter that was written
for publication In that paper more
than fifty years ago. The author,
for some reason. never sent his ar
ticle TO the paper and II lay undis-
turbed I'm his desk for more than a
half century until II was discovered
by the executor OF the writer.
The author of the letter was w. c.
Wood. graduate of Harvard. who
had but the day before returned from
South Carolina under unusual cir
cumstances. The story is best told
In the authors own language. and the
letter Is reproduced In full herewith.
The letter is interesting to South Car
olinans OF the present generation. In
that II throws light upon the con-
ditions existing and the prevailing SEN
timent I'm this State just before South
The author of this letter served in
the Federal army throughout the
war. After the surrender at Apo
mattox. he entered the ministry and
was for nearly fifty years in charge
Of large churches near Boston.
years in charge OF large churches
near Boston.
The letter follows:
To the Editor OF The Boston Journal
noticed In your paper OF last
evening an article on my return home
from South Carolina. One or two
inaccuracies 1 might notice.
should pereer however. IL one csae
out OF many Is sufficiently interesting
TO your readers. to give them a more
detailed account of the treatment /
received. I shall thus answer aues-
tions which will be asked me a thous-
and times once for all and more cor
rectly than rumor would do II.
] arrived at Blackville. ninety
miles from Charleston. at 8 o'clock on
Monday evening. November 8. Step
ping upon the platform 1 was almost
Immediately surrounded by a group
Of young men. Finding that they
were vigilance committee. answer
cd their questions until they asked !:
What are your political opinions Z?
Are you In favor of Mr.. Lincoln's
election?" My answer was: Il beg
your pardon. gentlemen; I have moth
ing to say to you on political mat
ters."
They asked me to stop. examined
my trunk and a chest containing my
library until late Monday night and
for an hour or two Tuesday morning.
The examination was conducted with
politeness and delicacy. They found
little against me--nothing. as they
told me-which materially changed
their impression. However. as 1 was
a Northern man-that was sufficient.
Would Send Me Safe Home.
The chief Of the vigilance commit
teo told me privately that such was
the feeling that. were 1t not for sew
eral circumstances, 'I would not
have been let go with a whole skin"
However. they would send me home
safe. pay my passage and keep my
books until the money was refund
ed.
This feeling. SD strong then. grad
ually changed. A feeling sprang up
aLd gathered ground that 1 should be
sent on to my employer. The meet
ing broke up without being able 20
agree. was informed OF this by
one OF the members. who advised me
to proceed. told him mo; I'm not
going to run away. was stopped
officially. and / must have Official no.
tice that / may leave"
This II presently received. Thus
this storm. I thought. had passed
away.
At Barnwell. ten miles distant. I
enjoyed the hospitality OF the Baptist
minister. In tho afternoon my en-
plOyer tfrom neighborlng town.
called. While conversipg with him
i was Unexpectedly waited upon by
gentlemen who wished my attend
ance La the village. We proceeded
20 the Court House. shall not be
likely To forget the occasion: many
circumstances invested it with inter-
est.
II was Barnwcll Court House.
from which years ago under mem
Orable circumstances. they sent
away tho venerable Judge Hoar. II
was an assembly composed of the