The Ohio star. [volume], March 30, 1853, Image 1

About The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854

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liMMLilliiMl-iL"111 "'ITIfi fl
THE OHIO STA..BLI
Published at Ravenna, Portage JCo..Olti6.
sjc.'V TRRJis $1,50 per annum.- i ' tvs V-,. I f.
V Rdte o Advertising".' i
i 3.u' (or Urn) oae week,' - w i - i 10 50
s i0" Jre, two weekirrw SJt -. , - - r 7
One Square, (lire weeks, '- - - - 1 00
Ege(, tBbequent insertion, - - - -'- - - f 25
CV r.A Liberal duunat made lo those 'who advertise by
;tT NoVp Vliicowinoed ontil srrosrages are paid, ,
,eeapl at the epitori eths PuMUhert tffr '
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.'
3-
V 'Ki :. Dr.)af.vCr.',WiIIi,' S
5. j Physician and 8arfeoo-!-Slreetaboro,Pliio.er
h; Pratt, Itl. D.1
PHYSICIAN AND" SURGEON n
- Office in F. W.: Seymour's bufldingr- on the public
j square, nearly opposite the Court House,' t
U Joo. Doane-AVellinan, in. !. ; t
PHYSICIAN AND SDRGEOjNcli':
7. QJice onilaiaMtrttt.No.VX9.. . .
. 9 ' : . , . . i, f i" i
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, ' ' '
- RTIH5, PoRTSSE X'OOKTT, 'OBIO.-;'',
fCT Office at the old stand of Streator It Wait.
Uavenna, March 6, 1850. . ' " '..'"
"' Dr. B. T. Spellman, j
T)en list Ravenna Ohio. - lOffice in Seymour's Clock,
over the Post Office. . .
xi-H.Birchard&a. W. Tyler; 1
. , ATryS4tCO0N8KLLOB8AT LAW, jsj
Have agreed to become jointly interested in tbelr
rfesslonal business in Portage, county. They may
consulted' at -Bavenna daring the terms of court
r at their offices in vacation.
s ' Address- hi vacation Birchard'St ButlifT, "Warren,
tO or Birchard Tyler, Franklin Mills, O.
L. . aiSBCB. ' ' JEFFBIES.
i " ' 5 Bierce & Jeflries.' '
Attorneys at Law. Office over Swift's. Drug Store, oppo
site the Court House.
; F. W. TAPPAN, , . .
'AttOrkit & Counsellor at Law, 4s So-
ii .- i ljcitor in Chancery.
.Office nearly opposite the Prentiss House, Ravenna, O.
O. P. Bbowe
Slrawder ' &' Brown.
Attorneys at Law Bavenna, " Ohio
:, 4. a ' Court House.
-Office at-the
II. 11. V HIard. . y
A TTORNE YAND COUNSELOR A TLAW,
, . . - AlCB 80L1CITOR IN CHANCERY '. ;
Palmyra, - Portage County, Ohio.
August 21, 1849. 1 ? . ? ' . " '3a
y Jtt. W. Conn, .. . " ' ;
Attorney of Law and Solicitor in Chancery, Office over
Campbell's Shop, public square, Ravenna, Ohio;
. L. RAXSET.,
C. B. TAYLOR
v 4 Ranney & Taylor : : I
ATTORNEYS & Counsellors at Law and Solicitors
- in Chancery, Ravenna, Ohio. -
CJ Office over Seymour's store, j, -..-..- v-
". - ;f Barius JLyinan.
ii T fO R NEY-A T. L A , K L
" Ravehna, Portage Co., Ohio.- v H
' rj ofBc8 n Hood's Building, over S.A.Sc R.' A.
lillett's store. t - - . , .. .. .
.Ravenna, June 1,1849. - - - tf-9P
- - R,--p; spatdin?:
Attorney at ' Law Cleveland, Cbfa Office In Par
- sons' Block Superior Street. ' ; :
" ; : " S..Raw8on.
. " ' (successor to m. hulbkbrt.) r:l
Bras Founder, Coppersmith, Tin and Sheet Iron 'Work-
i raw doors soutn of the Court House, Kavenna, O.
D. IN. SOMERVILLE,
- 'TAItOB.
HAS removed his shop a few doors west of the post
office Ravenna, Ohio.
BATS, CAPS and STRAW GOODS.-
, JTAKXES TWITT, . rv.
Dealer in Hats, Caps and Straw Goods," Ravenna,
Ohio. ; ;v ... f;, . .- :
Z-.--- ' F W Seymour v
"Dealer In Dry Gooda, 'Ready Hade' ClothinglJ
Groceries, Hardware, Iron, Nails, Crockery,-.
Boots, Shoes &c, north side pudlic square, - 7
Kavenna, Ohio.r . i--''-..v;
" . ' -1 ' Rowel I & Brother,'
- Dealers to -Dry- Goods,- Groceries, Hardware,"
Crockery, &c. Arason's Block, Main street,
,trss-. ",..-,-'---? Bavenna,- Ohio, i.s ?'f:
A- ;:-H IT& R Dav "
Dealers in Fancy Dry Goods, Bonnets, Hats
Caps, Boots and Shoes, Beady Made Clothing-, ''
Carpeting-&c.;'at their New Store, Main sU, '
- ' - east of the Public Square.
Kent. CJrenell &Co , ' u
Dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Iron, Nails "
Hardware, Glass &c., Franklin, Ohio.. -
C & J C Prentiss
Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Sloves, Hard
,ware, Iron, Nails, Glass, &c, Brick Block, -
west side public square, B avenna , Ohio.
. 1 . A. V Horiv ,y :
Dealer In Dry Goods, Groceries, &c.. ail kinds of
A -Produce, and almost every article that persons -.
rt., cjtijer wig, to buy or sell, Slialers111e,0. '..'
'V- E. -T, Richardson,, 7
Dealer- in English and American Hardware, Sad
dle, Harness and Caariage Trimmings, Iron,. ,?
-..Nails!"Steel, sVc.. Acs at the old stand -
'j-.Cof Mason Sr Brainerd, Bavenna Ohio, - ' - f!i "-
QaaiQCBijpoall!! &a&0 asiOtsacp9a '
THE be8tand largest assortment of Pathphlet
Literature, entertaining and unexceptionable in tone
aad influence, embracing works from the pen of T. S.
Arthur, Mrei Grey, Miss Pickering. Mrs. Gore, Mis.
Mowat, Charles Lever and other distinguished writers,
ever offered in this market, may be found at
Oct. 27. s; j v a i. . HALt's JJooK Stork. :
-IRON AND 'miLSl 7'
iHAT X'0W PEIOES.rj - .
LARGE stock for sale in a Jorge or Small
way v at wholesale prices for Itcadii Pay.
KENT, GBENELL & Co;
Franklin, June 8, 1852. 'J -' .-"-. ; -
X
E A The best in the county you will find at ' '
".-.-.: .'-., :,;..,'. ,; ,;- VsxonR's,
Second Arrival.
'hHls subscribers are now receiving their second stock
J"vof Fall and Winter Goods, and have the pleasure of
rt"g to tliew customers one of the largest stocks of
Coeds ever brought to Old Portage." The day for sel
ling; .goods at large profits has nassed. and now to sell a
b,S Pue , and" " mall r.rof.U,'' is the motto. We would
merely say ire, iavt th. Good., and let those who may favor
us with a call, testify as to prices.
noTWia; is,. ... .- C J C PRKNTISS.
,7. iEV GOODS
at campbellsport ' ; '
A GAIT we call the attention of the people to the ar
rival of an enure new stock of Fall am! Winter
Goods...Our business has io much increased that it has
warranted as in purchasing a very large onsorirnent
It is generally admitted a. so, that our selections in re
gard to Jtyte and quality, are superior to any brought to
this section Of (he country; The Ladies are already
convinced of-lhe fact, and if they will call, we will n.
deavor to show them goods that wilt in every way suit
their wants and taste. . - .- . , .
A finelotbf - " -' ' "'
READY-MADE CLOTHINO.
particularly Over Coats Oh how comfnriahle s good
thick Over Coat is in a eold irlo'my day: biit, how much
more comfortable not to empiy your pockets ontirely.to
llav irllilni' . ' . ' . '. -
i BOOTS AND ShOES.
't((f, v We have doable the number that we aver liud before,
: """equently a great variety, and all warranted to be
"? f "."V thrnptr than laity tart--. ., -
' T, , dle Gaiters and Overshoes can be purchased much
ch;P than last Fall. - . - .
" All thoo who want handsome Crockery, don't forget
V; to eollsndejnrnineoor fine Tea Ware. No hotter sly lea
'' J! lIKs side of the mountains.
ItT he highest prices paid for all kinds of Produee.
CampbelrspottOet. 86. -
-
:a 'h--
VOLUME XXI V-ynmber 17.
,3-" t '-'l-j For the Ohio Star ,
, The iKaine Law. . ;
'v - - BY JAMES at. DE5SIS.' ';" -
tH 1i '.'. tr'-t -i - .- j
,- A Jrtht slar-arxe..i'-? ; - ; , ' ' f -For-a.wfiile
men wandered, gazed entranced,
The star increased in size and radiance ; -'!
an looked in admiration for Us clear
Efruiget light, was Heaven born, r : vx:;Ji :r t
Cloarec than the noon-day sun fairer" ' .
Tiuin.lbs.mooB, more beaatifol than the-star
Spangled horon than the panaply . .
Of heaverv., And w'ab its rise there rose ; ' '
A hope jn mw bejfelt ihe time had come s
When ii mjghfc.lke and be n man, his heart i
Beat with a quieker throb, blood danced as it a i:
Coarser along his veins', joy possession '
Of his stricken heart, while he gazed bright - ..- '
Dreams and images flitted round bis brain, ; , '
And those bright visions presaged heavim.
tiiil while thus wrapt in ecstacy and bliss, .
A. piercing agonizing wail of woe "
Broke the enchanting spell. He turned and lo ! '
The light of that bright star revealed .
To mortal eyes, the traffic and its hell
Born origin. Terrific sight; for like
The seething cauldron, there mingled in that
Wail of helpless orphans and heart broken
Wretched widowhood the mingled cries and
Curses, of drunken fathers, in the heat .
Of Midnight revels; the deep toned venom
Of fiends' incarnate. Devils hissed defiance ...
So deep and deadly was their venom'd rage , , -All
other utterance failed them then.
Fire like the vivid lightning flush'd from their
Glaring Socketts. . ... " ,
'. Then a roar louder than the sev'n thunders
Shook Pandemonium to the very core -.
The Devil cheated of his prey ? Robb'd of ,.,
His best means to vex mankind and people . .
Hell T ,'Twould never do. The secret conclave
Then to .their most dismal den retired and
There resolved, that star should never shine, ' .
And working with a zeal as devils can,
Their missions were sent forth upon the earth,.. a
To say to man, that star was out of place.
Mushroon prodigies sprung up, and echoed ... .
Back the theme with joy to all that met in . -Sataos
cabal. This star, they said although .
It did out-shine them all and with its "'
Soft and mellow light bid waning hope in .
Man revive ; did still cut off the light of, , ,1.
Other stars, to which, by natures laws they .
Had a right and their sweet place was no more .
Known on earth. ' This bright intruder without
Name or date (save of th' place from whence it rose)
Phosphrescent, frail, would soon die out, ,
And leave the heav'ns blank and man in midnight
Gross. ' That all the stars by God ordained had .
Shone a thousand years.' Therefore, return it , ;
Must or shine bo dim. Their rights should all..:
AH remain. But the secret of their love
Ofrights was this; that star showed forth their deeds
And origin. That he who run might see. .
- Ifsuch a thing as joy in hell is known , '
Then is there glee, when men contend against
This law on plea of tight.
Ravenna, March 21.
! ..v . : . For the Ohio Star.
Angeliqne, The Quadroon Girl,
. . V? . OR, ' " - -- '- '' : '
v Bondage Without Chains.
,' t BY MRS. H. L. BOSTWICK.. . .. .
.- . - - v' chapter v. J ? " '
-.-!. . -.: - i The Desparado. ' '' "' -' '' '
; 5..; Chain'd in the" market-place le stood, ' '
-t -A man of giant frame;' ' 5 . - -r
s. s Amid the gathering multitude- . . -. ;
. That shrunk to hear his name. -.
" All stem of look and strong of limb,
. "t ' His dark eye on tlie ground
r- ? And silently they looked on him ' .
, " - ' As on a lion bound 1 - ' "'- Cowper.
- Among Mr. Herbert's field hands was one jJis
tingnished not less for extraordinary strength and
intelligence, than for an ' ungovernable will and
temper, who went by the name of Wild Ned.
He was of unmixed African descent, tall and pow
erfully but not heavily built, with an eye of pierc
ing brigbtnes8,and a brow upon which God through
nature had set the indelible seal of manhood.
Woe to them who - marred aad defaced the im
sge !----.. i . "
. He came into the planters possession by mere
accidenW Being absent from home in a neighbor
ing State upon a business tour, he happened to
arrive at a public sale just as this boy he was
then about twenty-five was placed upon the stand.
The auctioneer remarked that "as it was .well
known in the neighborhood that this nigger was
sold for repeatedly runoing away, and other devil
tries, there was no use in cry in' him up as a fust
rate article ; though for thera that's used to break
in' in. this kind of refractory, niggers, , it's well
enough to examine. . Step op, gentlemen you
can all see he's a cation strong chap; look thar
now, there's a pair of brawny arms f.r you ! Only
knock the Old Nick out on him, and m ike him use
'em, that's all !' -
The suhject of this flattering sketch, during its
delivery had stood erect upon the stand, regarding
with sullen hautiness the assemblage gathered
"about-htm, but at the " last allusion, a gleam like
forked lightning shot from beneath his heavy brows
and a nervous twitching of the 'brawny arms'
showed in what manner he would willingly use
them. " Mr. Herbert stepped forward with others
for -a nearer' view. That strong fiame which
seemed it on-bound in its massiveness, those supple,
sinewey limbs, appeared to BUggest in tbe minds
of . that, crowded circle, wonderfully practical idens
of corn hoeing tpr cane-boiling or cotton-picking
machinery and se.veial.low bids were made.
Mr. Herbert recollected that the 'breaking in'
capacities of bis present overseer ' had been thor
bughly tested and resolved to make the some
what doubtful purchase.
The fellow will go for a low price,' he thought;
and if rightly maiiRged as I bellieve he can be.
may prove a most valuable hand.' - ; " .
He accordingly made a bid just as a man in the
crowd whispered to him, 'If that chnp gets
knocked off to youi you'll have the devil and nil
to hold, I can tell you ! I know him, and he's
fierce as a tiger and strong os a ginnt. Why sir,
he fiiirly raised an insurrection amongst the nig
gers where he was owned last, and his mnster had
to-sell off over a dozen of his best hands. This
feller here got 'em to thinking they was all abused
and trod upon; and tried to put 'em up to a gineral
massacre of white folks. I tell you sir no whip
ping nor starving can tame him, and more'n lhBt
sir, he's dantferout! Right in my own neighbor
hood he knocked down and n' most killed two
overseers. '" .
Mr. Heibert bowed coolly, merely romarking
H I l-u.'
A Family Sewipnper,
that his hands were not in the habit of knocking
dowo overseers, and the next moment the despar
ado was declared his property. ' -
-" After seeing him heavily ironed and all due pre
cautioos taken, the planter with his new chattel
proceeded homeward. Ned's sullenoess contin
ued, but he made no demonstrations rf ferocity
and his new master upon arriving at home rather
congratulated himself upon a fortunate accession
to bis gang jtrst as the busy season was approach
ing. ' He confided to bis overseer the reputed
character of the - new-comer, and cautioned him
Lto be on his guard. - 5 v :- '. l-
Nixon shrugged and chuckled, and shifted the
quid from one cheek to the o'.her, with the onmis-
takeable air of a man exceedingly well versed in
his duty. 1 Hem ! been in the habit o' runnin
away, has he t Been acquainted with some sicb
in my time. Git that notion but on him mighty
quick, I reckon." And the savage grin which
followed, challenged full belief of lbs words. " ;
This individual had a peculiar and original meth
od of curing runaway slaves, a delicate little inven
tion of his own, he used to say, which perhaps
merits a notice in this place." When a nigger
came under bis sway accused of a some time at
tempt to steal himself, or when he suspected any
of his gang were indulging secret dreams of
"The cold barren shores where Niagara roars,
it was bis amiable practice to appear entirely off his
guard to wear an air of easy negligence among
them, and even to throw favorable opportunities in
their way, yet all the time secretly preserving a
most vigilant watch; until at last the pcor tempted
creature, believing a.l this assumed carelessness
to be real, would 'make the desired attempt to
escape. "Then came ' the recapture, the bitter
trunts and gibes,' the cutting up ' with the lash
which the wolfish creature declared ' alters drove
the idea of Canada out of their heads 'for seven
years.'
Such was the course be commenced with Ned,
but the sharp-witted slave was not to be hoodwinkr
ed as others had been. He read the tyrnnical
character of the man from the first, and observed
the feigned part he acted with contemptuous in
difference while Nixon, enraged at the ill success
of his stratagem took every opportunity to annoy
and insult him, in the hope of encouraging him to
a contest which should result in such a 'flogging
as never nigger had ! "".''" '
But for a time Ned seemed to belie the charges
which had been made against him. He was in
dustrious and faithful and proved indeed a most
efficient 1 hand ; "though this did not prevent
frequent blows and abuse from the brutal overseer.
Haughty and sullen enough he was ; but guarded
in his conduct, holding his combativeness in firm
control, and giving no reply 'to Nixon's provoca
tions save those lightning glances, which even the.
bully felt required strong nerve to encounter. '
' It is difficult to judge precisely by. what motive
Wild Ned was actuated in thus partially and sud
denly taming himself. Certainly it was not fear;
for he had before endured and even perversely
courted the severest punishment. " Probably he
was prompted chiefly by a desire to lull suspicion
preparatory to runoing away ; as a child in school
planning some deed of mischief is suie to be ama
zingly quiet and studious for a time, in order to
ward off Observation.'
" Yet there is reason to suppose that better influ
ences had a share in the improvement of Ned's
conduct.' Mr. Herbert, too clear-sighted to be
really biased by Nixon's distorted Btories of the
new hand, could not help perceiving in him traits
of character which in a white man would have
called forth his admiration ; and though by no
means admitting the fact to himself, he gradually
conceived for him a sort of respect ; that involun
tary recognition of equality which one strong active
intellect will feel for another, in whatever condi
tion it appears and in whatever garb it is clothed.
This feeling occasionally manifested itself in his
conduct towards the slave. He sometimes con
sulted him upon various maters appertaining to
business, when ingenuity or exact judgment was
required, and never failed to receive beneft from
his opinion. Occasionally, also, when tbe press of
field labor was over, he employed him about the
bouse and yard, and in waiting upon li tle Jamie ;
for which service his great strength and agility pe
culiarly fitted hira. Moreover the child soon beg' n
to cherish a marked attachment for tbe rough and
rugged man, which Ned returned with, an ardor
that showed how much of good yet remained in
that scathed and blasted being, which only a
gentle touch could win forth.
No doubt this treatment in some degree quieted
the fires of discontent and revenge which for years
had burned and raged in his bosom, and here we
must sketch a little of his past history..
: His youth had been passed with an indulgent
master, in whose service he had known little of
the degradation of servitude. The proud, imperi
ous spirit natural to the boy, and which tradition
said, had been banded down to him by a long line
of illustrious African kings, was rather . fostered
than checked by the training he received ; though
the sincere affection he felt fur his master, pre
vented any of those volcanic outbreaks which after
ward became so frequent and frighlful. He hod
many advantages, for bis master, who had no
family, petted and indulged him like a tame
monkey, and bore with his ebullitions of anger
with as litlle sense of responsibility and the same
sort of half amused philosophy, as one usually feels
at the malicious pranks of that ogreeuhle animal.
He learned to read and write, and managed to
pick up a great deul of general information, which
his shrewdness enabled him to turn to goad ac
count. He often overheard his mnster, who was
quite an abolitionist in theory, conversing with his
guests upon the injustice of slavery, and every
word of Mis description was greedily treasured up
by his retentive memory, to be conned over and
studied upan in future. He was brave, truthful
and generous by impulse; but quick-tempered,
impatient of restraint, and inconceivably haughty
to those who unjustly tiea'ed or effected to des
pise him. In short, dear reader, he was much
such a boy as that high-spirited strong-willed son
of yours might become, placed in the care of an
indulgent and irresponsible guardian, without nny
motive in the present, or any interest in tho fu
ture, to cultivate one virtuous inclination, or re
strain one vicious propensity. -
When Ned was about sixteen his mnster sud
denly died, and for a time the poor hoy stnggered
under thew eight of this, his first calamity, without
realizing its extent. All the long day and night
which followed, he sat by the corpse, and tears such
tsars as f nly 'a strong rugged nature smitten sud
denly with a mighty grief can shed, fell freely from
eyes which alas! were never again to know the lux
ury of weepisg.' After the funeral, wheu Ned had
BeToted to Gentrnl Intelligence, Miscellaneous
RAVENNA; WEDNESDAY MARCH 30.
to be separated by furce from the body came the
relatives, tbe lawyers, and finally thesa'e.and Ned
became the property of one who was called a man
But oh, where in such men is the image of God :
we pas3 over tuis pornon oi ms me.. ;l isan
old tale and often told,' of unrestricted passion and
legalized brutality on the part of the master, of
fierce resistance ana worse than useless struggles
on the part of the slave. Such scenes as were en
acted on that remote plantation in the Floridan
cane-brakes have been frequently described and
are too horrible to be here repeated. Let it suf
fice that after making two or three ineffectual at
tempts to run away, for which he was nearly kill
ed by the fiend who owned him, he was sold to
another planter for a trifle.'
The effect of all this upon the man may readily
be imagined. Such a spirit is net easily broken.
It requires along crushing and goading prccess.witb
alternations of hope and despair, ending finally in
the utter going out of the last hope, to subdue such a
spirit. He bad become hardened, reckless, long
ing for freedom, thirsting for vengeance. ' Tbe new
master fed and treated him well, until he was in
good working condition aod then required of him
toil almost inceEsant. He owned a large planta
tion, but thought himself unable to keep as many
hands as were required to work .it properly ; and
as a eonsrquence his slaves were soon worn out.
Ned was strong, and could in a hurrying time do
nearly the work of two ordinary' men, and his mas
ter knew this and apportioned his tasks according
ly. But the stoutest frame will sink under such
unreasonable exactions, and Ned sometimes failed
in his task, in which case he received no mercy.
He grew desperate, and one day in the field
knocked down his overseerand beat him nearly life
less. He was again sold, and again but why fol
low the fortunes of the wretched slave wretched
and blood-thirsty because forsooth, the instinct of
manhood was so strong within him, that the whip
ping and starving hira into a brute must be a mat
ter of unusual difficulty, aod because of all those
who had made him their property not one had
thought of trying the effect of kindness upon him.
: At last he was' purchased as we have seen, by
Mr. Herbert, and for a time the restless striving
spirit seemed to eleep. With Jamie on his knee,
his slender fingers clasped confidingly about his
neck how coaM he feel himself hopeless, friendless,
altogether forlorn ; At first Mr. Herbert watched
him narrowly, for he had heard dreadful tales of
slaves murdering their master's children; but Ned'a
interest in the winning little fellow could not be
misconstrued. It was a strange attachment tbe
gentle guileless hoy and the fierce dark man !
But this intimacy, so softening and humanizing
in its effects upon the the slave was not to be con
tinned. Nixon, whose hatred hod never for a mo
ment relaxed its intensity, iuformed his master
that so much indulgence made Ned conceited and
idle, and infected the other hands. Mr. Herbert
more than half s uspected that Nixon's ill will was
at the foundation of this complaint : but tbe corner
stone of plantation discipline is to sustain the au
thority of the overseer ; nod as Nixon extracted
decidedly more hibor fiom a given amount of bone
and mutcle thD any of his pvoilccoBsors, the plan
ter oould not be expected to stand upon trifles in
the way of his administrat'on. .
Accordingly Ned was ordered to keep away
from the house ; and because the child would some
times come to him, a command was issued that he
should take no notice of the boy, neither speak to
him nor look at him.
Then the outraged blood boiled in the veins of
the insulted man; - He could have borne the se
verest beating better than this ! The one solace
of his captivity, the one sweet drop in the bitter
cup, the one pleasant thought which consoled him
through long days of labor was denied him. Tbe
tl 1 savageness returned. The lion in his nature
roused himself to new fury. He disobeyed his
orders, refused to work, was repeated 'y c illed to
the lash, and at last, goaded almost to madness he
took the resolution to escape or die.
Ho had accidentally found a knife npon the
ground near the house, which he whetted to its
keenest edge and hid among the logs of his hut.
This trusty friend he intended to take with him in
his flight; and ' Once off' said he ' no more chains
for me. If I am taken this shall free me, so help
me God ! Pshaw ! There's no God fur me to
pray to. Tne white man 's God never made me
I'll never believe that. Yet if I'm of the came
blood as these stupid, strong, black creatures around
me, why am I not like them ? But I don't be
lieve the xace are all dolts and drudges.. I won't
believe it! Who knows but there are minds
among them that only waot a leader and a favo a
ble momeDt to strike and cut a bloody road through
white men's hearts to freedom. Heaven ! If I
could put my spirit into them, if I could arm them
against their oppressor?, how gladly I would die in
the strifo. But it will come ! O ! God of my race,
the time will come if not in my day, when our feet
shall stand on the necks of the haughty race, and
they shall sue to us and not find mer.-.y.' :
Thus chafed the darkened, eagle spirit, as night
after night he returned from joyless thankless toil
to his dismal shed, which NxQ toolt enre should
be the poorest the quarter afforded. By day he
attempted tore-assume his former docility; but in
spite of this, or perhaps because of it, the overseer
Buspectod his design of escaping and watched him
narrowly. He felt no inclination to pursue his old
course of encouragement, for ho had seen enough
of the desperado toknow that be would never be
retaken alive; and he bad no desire to lose the
pleasure of tormenliog hira.
Ho therefore maintained a strict watch, and
even took the trouble upon several occasions to en
ter tho cabin in tho middle of the night, when he
fancied Ned had intentions of taking leave without
a farewell. He proposed to Mr. Hei belt to 'chain
the cussed dog o' nights in h;s but ;' but the latter
thinking he had already yielded sufficiently to the
overseer's spleen, refused to grant this little favor,
remindinghim that the watch dogs were well train- I
ed and savage enough even to intimidate the des- j
perate Ned.
One night a terrible storm arose and before mid
night the skies were shrouded in a pitchy black
ness which no eye could penetrate. At first I tile
rain fell, but the vivid lightnings and quick rattling
thunder seemed by its abscsnce more appalling ;
the winds too were abroad, and tho tallest trees-
creaked and swayed to and fro in the breath of the
fiereo tempest, while occasionally huge limbi like
the arms of mighty giants weary wilh the ccnflia
fell crashing to the earth. - x
'No living thing will be abroad to-nigbt : the dogs
are safe in their coverts now is my time,' said
Ned, as he commenced packing a little bundle of
provisions, which he had been hoarding fir weeks,
to the manifest decrease of his own physical bulk
Beading, and Ihe'Righls of Man.7
1853.
and strength. ' And yet, after all,' he muttered
suddenly checking himself as he thought of Niznn's
suspicions and hyena-cunning crossed his mind
this may be the night of all others when he m ty
watch the closest. ''."'.
He paused a moment in thought, and then has
tily gathered up a pile of straw and distributed it
on his rough couch in the form of a human body,
finishing with an admirably shaped head of refuse
cotton, dyed black with moistened soot from the
chimney. Over this couchnnt figure he threw the
blanket which served him for a covering, and then
taking up his bundle, stepped to the door to listen.
No sound save the rushing and wailing of the tem
pest came to his quickened ears. He turned to
ward the bed and waited for a fl ish vi lightning to
reveal the success of his stratagem. It came und
the aptness of the likeness called a grim smile to
his rigid features.
Goodnight my worthy representative, said
he stepping out into the driving blinding storm.
' they may beat you in the morning to their satis
faction : But I, have felt their blows for the last
time !' arid he"ldid his hand on tho knife securely
placed in his bosom. 'Tis my lust throw and 1
may lose it, but this is a liberator that never fails,
and again he felt the keen sharpened edge wilh a
thrill of triumph at the fate now in his own hands.
At that instant a dog growled near him, he paused
a moment then pursued his way with more
caution, and the sound was not repeated.
He walked rapidly toward the river which at
this time was low ; and being a good swimmer, he
found no difficulty in gaiuing tbe opposite shore.
This however was merely a ruse to baffle the
dogs, for after wading in the shallow water on that
side, a little distance, and then walking close to
the edge of the bank for a considerable time in the
same direction, he recrossed the river, only a mile
or two from the mansion.
Some weeks before he had discovered By acci
dent, on returning from an errand across the river,
under a clump of thick overhanging bushes, a sort
of cave or hole in the bank, caused by the under
mining action of the water, which was yet pre
vented from washing away the bank by its peculiar
formation at that place, and by the network of
roots which surrounded it. It was then partially
filled with water, but the thought struck him that
in the dry season, it must prove a safe and undis
turbed retreat. . Tbe curve of the bank m-evented
its being seen on the same side, while tbe form of
the cave and the drooping of the long-leaved trees
effectually barred observation from the opposite
shore.
To this place our refugee directed his steps.
and cautiously throwing himself over the bank and
holding on by the bushes reconnoitered the en
trance with his feet. Ascertaining that it wbs dry
and unobstructed, and large enough to admit him
in a sitting position, he lowered himself carefully
down by the bushes and crept in behind them.
It proved as he expected, n '.most effectual
hiding place in low water, and Ned felt sure that
no person on the place, white or black, was aware
of its existence. . There were many similar clus
ters of small trees and bushes scattered on the
margin of the river, but none except that conceal
ed a 'chamber in the earth.' :
It was his plan to remain here, creeping out nt
night for sustenance provided his slender stock of
food should fail ; until the search was over, when
he knew it would be easy to make his final depar
ture unmo'ested. Leaving him cold, wet and
weary, yet filled with boundless exultation at his
new-born consciousness of freedom, to dispose
himself to rest on the hard damp earth and ma
ture his bold plans for the future, we return to our
old friend the overseer. -: .
- That worthy personage, finding it impossible to
sleep for the storm, arose nn hour after midnight,
and opened the door of his lodging house, which
was a comfortable frame building not far from the
negro quarter, to take a survey of the heavens.
Whether the awful grandeur of the sublime pano
rama, which the lightning revealed proved op
pressive to his somewhat sluggish perceptions, we
know not, but it is certain that he was closing the
door with a creeping shiver among the roots of his
hair, when the distant growl of a dog sounded
faintly in his ear, awakening in an instant all his
apprehensions for Ned's safety. Ferocity con
quered fear, and taking a lantern, whioh however
was soon extinguished, this prudent and praise
worthy official wilh a most cdmmendablo care for
his master's interests ai l those of the great Re
public, took his way with much stumbling and not
a few oaths towards Ned's domicil.
Nixon was a monster of strength, and to credit
owo assertions, a very Hercules for valor and
courage; nevertheless it must be confessed that
these useful qualities seemed at this hour lament
ably absent from tbe body ; and though often af
firming he feared neither God, mnn, nor evil
spirit, it is doubtful whether a man who had actual
ly seen a ghost could have shown more trepida
tion than Nixon, as the lightning's occasional
glare transformed commonest objects into grotes
que and ghastly images. With knees smiting to
gether and casting shy backward glances, he at
Inst reached Ned's door. This ho pushed precip
iately open, determined if Nod was there, of
which he had little doubt after his experience of
the tempest, to give him a good thrashing for
causing him to get up on such a night.
He walked straight to tbe bed, which was re
vealed by a lurid gleam of lightning. 'Asleep!
by all that's infernal ! How in the name of Satan
can you sleep in such a racket as this. Get up I
tell you and dance awhile to the music'
He lifted his stick intending to give the slum
borer wurniug of his presence by a grntle tap on
the head, when lo ! a gust of wind swept through
tho open door, and crashing lound the room, like
a demon conjured by the late imprecnlion, lifted
the supposed head from its resting place, and de
posited it gently and noiselessly in a little pool of
water which had ool'ected on the earth in one
corner of the hot, while at the same instant n
blaze of sheet-lightning followed by a lliun ler crash
heavier than any whioh had preoededir, made the
whole scene appear to Nixon's exoited sense like
an express stroke of diabolism got up for his pecu
liar benefit. .
Punic-struck, stunned and blinded as he was,
however, he retained a distinct consciousness of
preference for the outside of the hut, and uftor a
few moments, managed to convey himself into the
open air, and after many slips and frights lo reach
his own tenement aod full into his own bed in a
deoidedly cooler and quieter state of mind than he
left it. Thrre be lay cogitating as well as his scat
tered intellects would permit, tbe events of the
night, rij 4 before morning some very well-defined
Whole ATnniIier
J213
glimpses of the true state of things began to pene
trate his brain. - i r ' ' ' -' .:
W h the approach of day the storm abated, and
ixm loosing the very impersonation of a growl
presen'ed himself to Mr. Herbert With the brief
intornnumn that - Ned had run1 off in the nieht.' ! :
T 1 . Al . . ' - - - . . .P , - I
au .w to tne planter's hurried inquiries, he
proceeded to give a peculiarly graphic account of
me wet nigni s transactions, not forgetting to state
that he had been struck by lightning and remained
Mr niree hours senseless on the ground from
which he had only just dragged himself to com
municate the startling intelligence ! "' '
Of course all in and about; the house" were in a
stale-of dismay and confusion.- The slaves gath
ered in little knots about the grounds, some proph
esying Ned'a speedy recapture, others vehemetly
asserting that wicked demons whose Wling they
had heard in the night, had carried him off through
i he air! Mr. Herbert to ik instant measures for
the recovery of his lost property. Assistance was
procured from neighboring tilan
dispatched to different villages and points in the
vicinity where it was thought the fugitive might
stop, horses and hounds were called in n.,;c;;n
and every swamp and cover in the neighborhood
thoroughly eearched. . Vain and most unpromis
ing proved rdl their efforts, and after spending two
entire days fur nought the severarbunting-prtrties
returned fatigued and out of spirits; and Mr. Her
bert was obliged to conteut himself with ordering
hand bills and adverlisements to be posted up and
circulated in the neighboring parishes and in towns
to the northward on ihe Mississippi.
Constance Herbert was absent from home nt
this time, a circumstance for which her father felt
abundantly thankful; for he dreaded the silent re
proaches of her eyes more than he would have
hked to admit. Angelique stood on the balcony
when tbe Herbert party returned fi om tho n.,-.
suit; she heard Mrs. Grace Cartwright inquire if
me lenow was lound, and her master answer
Not yet, madnm ! She bad seen little of Ned,
but he loved liberty, had dared everything for it,
and for .that her warmest sympathies were with
him. She turned away with a feeling of devout
gratitude lor his escape, and pictured him even
tracking his difficult wav. liuhrnrl nnnnr 1. t,
- w-o .v. j
friendly pole-star, toward the land where fetters
fall from limbs guiltless of crime.' ' V C
- ,., ',T " ' - ,
t K on II tr it- 7t7.U nJ..1. 1 3 i. - .
j Ilu e UHa only oeen a wrjtte
man there would seem to be something
quite
Heroic about him !' -, -
Ceitainly my f.iend, if be lndbeen the mnsler
spirit of an European revolution, whether success
ful or otherwise, he would have been a hero and
a patriot; and his praises sounded through the
length and breadth of our land.' '
. ' But a nigger meditating rebellion, insurrection"
murder horrible! And then to brave the rlnn.r
of starvation and drownirg when he might have
naa plenty to eat, and comfortable clothing with
out the slightest responsibility or cafe, if he had
only been content with the sphere to which Na
ture and Scripture assigned hira ! how fooiish ! '.
' Ah yes', truly ! Pictures differ strangely
through variation's of bnloring. Let us go and in
quire the tendency of cotton. '
2d be Continued. ; "
The Hfew School I.
AN ACT to provide for the Reorganization, Su
pervision and Maintenance of Common Schools;
Passed March 14th,. A. D. 1853. - -
Conrluded.) -
Sejp. 13, The township board of education, shall
have the management and control of all the central
and high schools of their proper township which
may be established therein under the authority of
this act, with full power in respect to such schools,
to employ, pay, nnd dismiss teachers, to build, re
pair and furnish the necessary school-bouses, pur
chase or lease sites therefor, or rent suitable
school-rooms, and make all ether necessary pro
visions relative to such schools as they may deem
proper; and it shall also be the duty of said board
of education, to exertue all the powers conferred
on local directors in respect to sub-district schools,
whenever such locul direc'ors shall neglect to dis
charge their duties in any sub district as required
by this act; and it shall u'so be the further duty of
said board to prescribe rules and regulations . for
the government of all the common schools within
their jurisdiction; said board of education may
provide for German schools for the instruction of
such youth as may d. sire to study the German lan
guage, or the Germun and English languages to
gether, and if the hoard shall deem it necessary,
they may appoint one of their number the ccting
manager of schools f ir the township, who shall do
and perform all such duties as the to-ird may
prescribe in relation to the management and sup
ei vision of the different schcols, and the educational
interests of the township, and may. allow him a
reasonable compensation for his ssivices.
Sec. 14. The said board shall prepare, or cause
to be prepared, a man of their townshin. us often
nslhey deem necessary, ou which shall do des'gnat-
ed the sub-di'tricts ni the township, which they
may change or alter at nnr regular cession, and
the number of scholars assigned to each; but no
sub-district shall contain within its limits, less than
sixty resident scholars by enumeraiion, except
in cases where in the opinion of the board, it is
necessary to reduce the number; and it shall be
the duty of the board to establish a school in each
sub-dis'rict of the township of such grade as the
pudlic goid in their opinion may require; and in
location of primary schools, or schcols of higher
grado, tbe board shall have reference to population
and neighborhood, paying due regard to any school
house nheady built, or site piocured, ns well a
to all other onto imstunces proper tode considered"
so as to promote the beat interests of schools.
Sec. 15. The board shall hive power to ns
siin such number of scholars lo the several
primary schools rs they may think best, aud w hen
such assignment hns been made, shall furnish the
teacher a list of the scholars so assigned, and tho
board shall also have full power lo regulate nrd
control the admission of scholars to schools of higer
grade, according to age and attainments, and
may admit scholars over twenty-one years of ago,
nnd may suspend, or authoiize the li cal directors
to suspend from the privileges of either of the
schools, any pupil found guilty tif disorderly cnu
duct, which suspension slinll not extond beyond
I lie current eost-ioti of the school.
Sec. 10. Whenever it shall happen that per
sons are so situated ns to be better accommodated
at the school of un adjoining townshipj or whenev
er it may be desirable to establish a school com
posed of parts of two or more townships it shall
be the duly of tho respective boards of the town
ships in which such persona -rrsidei ot in which
sec school may be situated or of the townships''
or parts of which the' school is to be eomposedr
to transfer such persons - for educational purposes'
to the township, in which such school house is of .
may be located ; : but -the- enumeration oL scholars.
6hall be taken in each township oslf no such trans
fer had been made, and such school when so" com
posed shall be supported from the ethool funds of
the .respective townships from which the Scholarsr
may have been tiansferred ; and the board of that
township in which the school house is situated
shall have the control and management qf.such
school, and the board of the adjoining township' .
or townships so connectedf for schop! purposes4
shall each make the proper estimate of their share
of the expen .es of every kind necessary ta sustain
said Kb, ol, and certify the same, to tb.0 auditor)"
their proper county as part of their anndoUeati
motes. for . school purposes, and draw orders on
their respective township treasurers for such-sum;
aa.wiilbe in, proportion to the enumeration of
scholars, so transferred, in favor of tho boariloF
that township' in which such school is' located.
be appropriated to the payment of teachersriod
for o:her puposes connected with- the establish.
merit or roainU nance of said school-, as fur as ip--
plrcabid.- . . - . .. , t
Sec. 17. The said board shall have nowne '?
determine the , studies to be pursued arid' tne"
scbool books to be used in the several schools under
their control, and shall make and enforce such
rules and regulations relative ta ihans.'.n
servation of tbe school libraries nrt .iM H
they-may think advisable, and shall" appoint,- or
authorize the local directors to appoint a.suitabltf
person to act as librarian and td take charge of tfia -school
.i pparatus, resideut at some convenient;
place in the neighborhood . where the snK.W
kept, and may require such librarian to give bond
for the faithful discharge of his duties, and allow
him such compensation as they may think reason
able, r ...
Refort Required Or Teachers'. : '
Sec. 18. It shall be the dutv of th rV,nAi
teacher to make out and file with thV township
clei k at the expiration of each term of the sr-Yirmf
a full and complete report of the whole number
of scholars admitted to the schoal during such
term, distinguishing between male and female.
the averase ttp.nilann tho t,ni.. .. -j .(. -
. ' UDUU, U1S
branches taught, the number of numls enraoe
the study of each of said branches, and such other
statistics as he may be required to make by the"
township board or local directors, and until sueTi
report shall have been certified and filed by thu
said teacher as aforesaid, it shall not be lawful for"'
said board or local directors to- pay said teacher
tor 111s or tier services . : - . ...
. Statement Required of Directors. '-.-'
Sec. 19... The board of education in onr-V, fnt.
ship shall prepare or cause to be prepared and for-
warded tq the county auditor at the same tinm
wnen tne return ot tbe enumeration of scholars is '
required to be made; a statement exhibiting. the)
w c uiiiuij, a .eiaremBM extiioi ting. the
number of children in the township 6efwef the
ages of five and twenty-one Veto ataw
between male aod female, the nttmbe of'aeTbooX''
I .
specilytnc. tbe . different erades, th .'unmL. k
teachers male and female, the cumber of chiMm 7
male and female who have attended school during
the past year, , the average attendance, the
length of the terms of schools, compensation of
teachers male and female, the Dumber aod eon-"
dition cf the scool houses and furniture and tie 6s--timated
value thereof; the number and condition
of the books in the school libraries; the number'
of libraries; the kind of sohool books uiecl in tho -schools;
the numberand value of school apparatus,,
and a full accbunt of the expenditures for school -purpose,
together with such other statistics and '
information in relation to schools as : the- State
commissioner of school may require.' .-:
- Centrai, or. High ScHoois. 1 r -"" '
Sec. 20. Each township board of education
shall have power, as hereinafter provided, to es
tablish in their respective townships such number
of graded schools, or such modifications Of them
as the public interest may require; and in case.
of tbe ' establishment of such
shall be the duty of the board so to classify the.
children of the townships as to seoure to all as
far as practicable an enuirnhln
1 - i'-.hviliuuuu jii 114 17
advantages thereof, and .tbe board shall designate
the sub-districts by numbering them, and schools ,
of a higher grade thnn primary shall be known by
the appellation of central or high schools. .
bec. 21. w neoever in the opinion of the board
of education, it thall become necessary or desir-
able to prov'.de one or more such central or high "
schools in their respective townsliips, the said
board shall estimate the probable cost thereof, and "
call a special meeting of the qualified voters of the .
township and who are not residents of any of the ''"
territory or districts named in the first section" of
this act, over which the jurisdiction of the town-' '
ship and local directors is excluded, at the usual
place of holding elections, first giving twenty days "
notice of the time and object of holding such meet' ""
ing. by posting the same in some public place in
each of the . several sub districts of the township,' -
in which not ce the amount or rate of tax as esti- '
mated by the board shall be stated, and the elec- '
tors when convened in pursuance of such, notice
shall docido by vole any questions wh:ch may be '
deemed important in relation to the cost and loca-"'
tion of the building of buildings, or other provisions '
necf ssary fer the establishment of any suchschooh
and also the amount of township tax which may '
be levied for the purpose, and the chairman aad
clerk of the board shall be the chairman and clerk
of tbe meetirg, nnd the cleik shall record in the -record
of the board the action of the meeting, and t
the brard shall be governed by the direction and
vote of said rr.t-etini; in relation to the subjects or -.
matters Bi submitted. .
A5NUAL ESTIMATES TO BE CERTIFIED BT TH "
BOARD. -
Sec. 23. It shall be the duty of the board or ed- '
ucation in any orgnnized township of the State,
annually, to determine by estimate as nearly as '
practicable, the entire amount cf money necessary
to be expended in the township for school purpo
ses otu r thnu lor the payment ot teachers, and
also sue h additional amount as tho board may think -necessary,
not exceeding two milts on the dollar
valuation of tbe taxable property of the township,
fur the exclusive purpose of sustaining teachers in
the central or high schools, or for tbe purpose of
prolonging, after the State funds have beeu ex
hausted, tbe terms of the several sub-districts or
primary schools in the tow us hp, or for both pur- .
poses; as the board may adjudge best, which
several amounts of money so estimated, the board
s mil make known by certificate iu writing, on or
befui e tl 0 first Monday in June in eaih year-j in. '
c'uding any tax which may have been voted by &
special meeting of electors as provided in the pre
ceding sr clioo, to the auditor of the proper oouufy,
who shall thereupon assess tbe entire amouut jot '
sjch eitimutes on all the taxable Drone, kv nt th
township not included in any city or incorporated
. 'II ........ . -
Miiage or territory annexed thereto, forming
at,Mf.i,.l . I . .1 ,A I. .- . I .
........ ,v, no cihitou uy saiu aup,,. na'
ute tax duplicate of the county wXollected by
tho county treasurer at the sa.HI0 time and in the
some manner as State and'i'ouiity taxes are col
lected ; aud when cUjcU-d shall be paid over to
the treasurer of lh" proper townshin on the. nrrli
of the county auditor; aud said county treasure i
suati tu enntiea to receive tor collection one per
coot, on ell moneys by hiiu collected for scbutl
purpotes, and no inorei -