The Weekly Anglo-African. (New York [N.Y.]), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 21, 1860 Page: 2 of 4
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consistiu>; of his wife and several married
children, with their wives and husbands,
and quite a number of slavos or servant*,
migrated from Carolina, bound for the
country now comprised in Western Ten-
nessee. It appears that the party took
the Tennessee river Homo distance above
what is known as the "Cumberland Shoals.'*
While descending, their boats grounded in
passing over the shoals, and they were at-
tacked by a party of the Indians at that
time infesting the neighborhood. All the
whites of the company were killed, and
those of the blacks who did not share the
same fate were borne off by tho Indians.
Among those in the latter class were Gran-
ny Wilson and her boy Buck. Their cap-
tivity was of such length that the boy
grew to tho full stature of manhood. They
were traded from tribe to tribe, and appear
to have reached a point many hundred
miles west of the Mississippi.
The woman's heart was never at rest;
continually she longed to return to the re-
gions of the whites. As the boy grew up
she filled his mind with accounts of her
former life, which appeared very desi-
rable to her as compared with Indian ser-
vitude, gradually preparing him for the
day which she firmly believed must com*.
And come it did. lie had been of man's
stature for somo years, when she learned
that they were then living about forty
miles from the Mississippi, in a direction
nearly west of the present site of Memphis.
There was then a French fort on the west-
ern side of the river, on the eastern side, a
few miles below, an American station,
which had been recently established. Buck
had need of but littlo urging to attempt to
escape from the Indians. With his mother,
at night, he. started. They struck the river
a short distance below the French garri-
son, when the old woman hid herself near
the bank, and Buck made a circuit round
so as to reach the river above the
fort. This he did unobserved, lie took
to the water, floated down close along by
the shore, and succeeded in cutting loose,
from almost under the eyes of the sentinels
patrolling up and down, a canoe. He
drew this "JO or 100 yards before ho was
discovered. Being fired at,ho sprung into
it and pulled for dear life, steering for the
eastern bank at a point about a mile above
the station of the American garrison, lie
was vigorously pursued, but succeeded in
leaching the shore some distance ahead of
his pursues. Leaping out, he sank tho ca-
noe, and hid himself. They searched tor
some time, but rowed back. When they
were all off, he raised the canoe, and pro-
ceeded down to the American fort. To
this he gained admission, and from it he
went for his mother, and was successful in
bringing her over. They were now again
with the whites. Shortly afterwards a
treaty was formed with tho Indians, in ac-
cordance with the provisions of which the
old woman and her boy wore sold. For a
period of twenty-five or thirty years suc-
ceeding, her life appears to have been that
of the generality of slave women in old
age—her master's home being in Memphis.
Hack, " the hoy,'' seems to have been
employed considerably as a river hand,
lie was in service on a boat, which was ly-
ing at New Orleans about the time of the
famous battle at that city in the last war
with (Ireat Britain, and was sent by his
master or owner to servo on that eventful
occasion,and yet bears marks of the wounds
lie received in tho conflict. Later, he was
in demand in Memphis and other places as
an interpreter—having acquired knowledge
of many dialects during his life with the
Indians., lie also often had occasion to act
as guide to parties exploring or hunting in
the country west of the Mississippi. He
gained his freedom about the year 1830 or
18'11. Having built a cabin on the Ar-
kansas side of tho river, nearly opposite
Memphis, tho owner of his mother gave
her to him, and he took her home. She
was then something over ninety years of
age, and he had also become what might
bo called an old man. Uncle Buck was,
at this time, as he had been for some years,
quite an important personage in and around
Memphis. His personal presence was such
as to command respect and even awe from
all the younger blacks, and his services as
guide and interpreter, combined with his
well known spirit, gave liim a standing
with the whites not usually accorded to
persons of his race. Granny Wilson was
almost universally known, and was an es-
pecial favorite with the rivor men. Dur-
ing theyearsof her residence with her44 boy"
on the Arkansas side, it was her custom to
he often taken across the river, that she
might sit on the wharf and receive the no-
tice and small charities of the steamboat
captains and others. Uncle Buck's cabin
was not far from a lake much resorted to
for fishing purposes; and many were the
people who called to pay their respects to
the old woman, then reputed to bo about
a hundred years old. In 1831) this homo
was left, and Uncle Buck came to this city.
In the latter part of 1840 or early in 18-11,
old Granny followed.
Her life here is well known, and has not
been marked by many incidents. One of
these will bear relating. Some years ago,
the wife of one of our wealthiest citizens,
while on a visit to Kaskaskia, fell in with
a little, old, shrivelled negro man, who, on
learning that she was from this city, made
inquiry if an old negro woman was living
hero. Some conversation ensued, and on
Sfittteklg ^nglo-^frican.
HEW YORK, JANUARY 21,1860.
K7* AJverturm*m/s
tom/iamU-J Ay tkr t—h
for this fPrr musi hr ttt-
|y Ctfits of this pa/tfr . an bt pmnkasi J of Iht
u-a-dt+lert ctrwwlttre
A WORD ABOUT THOSE INSURREC-
TIONS
If there be any two things beyond all
others that men should value and preserve,
they nro life and liberty; and if there be a
question as to which shall be sacrificed, we
unhesitatingly say life, and the civilized
world echoes back the answer, life — sacri-
fice life, and let liberty live. Without
liberty, of what value to the possessor is
life?
Tho Anglo-African insurrections that
have occurred in this country within the
last two hundred years, as raked up and
spread, with so much circumstantial mi-
nuteness on their worst side, before the
public, by the Now York "Herald,"We but
the uprisings of a people keenly sensible
of their oppression, and willing to sacrifice
life in their endeavor to throw it off and
substitute liberty therefor. This satanic
press, to which we are indebted for many
things, (just as we arc to that old individ-
ual having hoofs and horns for a safe dis-
tance from purgatory,) states much that it
may be well to consider. Let us descend
a little more to particulars.
In its insurrection papers, one of the
leading propositions laid down by this sa-
tanic press is, that the negro method of
warfare, as exhibi cd in these outbreaks, is
barbarous, brutal, and bloody. "He sets
fire to his master's house, and uses on his
master's person tho red-hot tongs with
fiendish delight," says this journal, in proof
of its assertion. Now, may not the tongs
or the pinchers mentioned be merely some
old branding-iron formerly used on these
same negroes when they were helpless in
the master's power, and learned from him
tho use of the instrument: and, moreover,
may ho not be inexpert in said operation?
But, be this as it may, did it never occur
to tho "Herald" and those who think with
it that oppressed men resolving to liberate
themselve make use, and are justified in
that use, of tho best means in their power
to that end ?
Warfare as carried on by equally equip-
ped foes is no part of"n chained man's cal-
culation ; but disenthralment from an un-
just yoke and heavy chains is his aim.
Who ever heard of an unarmed man de-
tained by a band of thieves and pirates to
be plundered of his sustenance, who would
not throttle, burn, or sink the whole den of
them when opportunity presented to lib-
crato himself? What regard or concern
would he liavo for their l*ws? Precisely
so the slave lias no arms, no implements ot
warfare of any kind. He is a slave—a
perpetual slave—and yet having resolved
to be free, wisely makes use of the best
means in his power to that end. He re-
sorts, and justifiably resorts, therefore, to
the tinder-box, tho match, and tho torch.
These are tho only weapons of warfare
left him. Be has no choice, no election,
and therefore is not to be blamed. Give
him something better, something more in
keeping with the science of war, and the
art of using it, and he will not be backward
in accepting even such terms. But until
this is done he cannot afford to attend to
niceties of scientific warfare. Tho contest
is too unequal, and tho stake too heavy.
Oppression, with all its accursed concomi-
tants, is on tho ono side, and liberty and
manhood, with all their joys and glories,
on the other.
We wonder what white men would do
under the same circumstances; and yet
we are among those who think that one set
of men who have chained and hoppled an-
other, and debauched their women, and
stole thoir children, are rather bad judges
of what niceties their victims should use in
their endeavors to release themselves from
such a hellish thraldom. Will the satanic
press, to whom we are indebted for so
much, give us its impressions on this
point ?
With regard to tho negro's ferocity and
bloody brutality, so loudly proclaimed by
tho "Herald,* we have only to say that it
is a little too highly colored—the picture
is spoiled by it. Truth prompts us to say
that some of the most remarkable instanc-
es of kindness and generosity to be found
tho lady's return Granny Wilson was ques-iont*»® P«g®« of history are recorded of
A
tinned about the matter. She asked many
questions about tho 44boy," as she called
him, and finally broke out with the earnest
ejaculation that sho must go and sec him—
she couldn't wait—she must go at once
In further convorsittiou it came to light
that 44 the boy" was in reality lier boy so
tar as gift and adoption could make him.
He was one of the negro bovs who foil in-
to the hands of the Indians during her cap-
tivity, and wounded in the arm. Because
of this they determined to kill liim. Ho
fled to her for protection. Sho taunted
his captors with their cruelty; and under-
standing them so well, by reason of her
residence with them, succeeded in turniug
their purpose, so that they finally told her
she might have him if she would take care
of him. This she did, till she lo>t sight of
him oil her escape.
Since coming here the old negress has
lived with Uncle Buck and lu-« family, and
has received no small degree of considera-
tion at tho hands of a number of our citi-
zens. Sho was baptized and united with
tho African Church of this city, somo fif-
teen or sixloen years ago. She has never
known much sickness; and died at length
of old ago—goiug out to the unknown land
as quietly as the day fades away into night.
these deeply injured and long outraged
men towards many of the whites during
these outbreaks, and no amount ot histori-
cal perversion and newspaper lying can
make out to the contrary. The fact is,
what is so laboriously put forth by the sa-
tanic press to show the brutality of the
blacks in these instances of uprising, are
bnt the full Fettlements with the white
fiends who had treated these poor unfor-
tunates throughout their whole former life
with tho most shocking crnelties and hor-
rid brutalities, which were not forgotten
on these days of reckoning. It was the
Bennetts, and tho O'Conors, and the Bu-
chanans, and the Irish Mitchells of St. l>o>
mingo, and those who used or ordered the
use of the bloody lash and thumb-screw
and vice in those days, who fell at last
victims to their own wretched crnelties;
while, on the other hand, the Garrisons,
the Sumners, the Phillipses, the Cheevers,
the Rewards, and the Greeleys of that day
were spared, and kindly and generously
treated.
▲ VBW WAT TO PAT OLD DEBTS.
Let no one suppose from the caption of
this article that we are about to write a
criticism upon that old and, to many, fa-
vorite play. On the contrary, we intend
merely to call attention to a new play—a
play modern in invention and novel in
plot.
The scene is laid in the "Sunny South,"
and may be described in a few words. An
Irishman, fresh from the <(ould counthry,"
and big with the spirit of servility for
which the Celt is noted, goes South, where
he seeks and finds employment suited to
his tastes. He plies himself to his task,
and for a time all goes on merrily enough,
and if not loudly and continually hurrah-
ing for oppression for the peculiar institu-
tion, as is the wont of his race, certain it is
no word, breath, or suspicion of opposition
ever passed his lips, and the patriarchal
institution, for all the young Celt, might
have remained in perfect security to the
end of time.
Thare came a period, however, when our
young Celtic friend and his Southern em-
ployers were compelled to have a reckon-
ing, and the South-side being found in ar-
rears, refused to pay up. Why should
they ? Why should those who never pay
their black laborers pay their white ones ?
Now the play enlivens. The Celt talks of
law. South-side laughs in his face. Celt
rages and flies indignantly to the halls of
justice. They half gravely and half mer-
rily look up, and inquire his business there
"My rights !" cries Celt, in a rage, fiercer
titan ever. "You have no rights that
South-side is bound to respect," slowly
sang Halls ot Justice. "1 want my money,'
says Celt. "From whom ?" petulenily en
quires Halls of Justice. '"From South
side** says Celt. "Impossible',' says Halls
of Justice, with a grim frown that causes
Celt to stare.
Celt, however, nothing daunted, perse-
veres. The ministers of Halls of Justice
continually foil him, and the emissaries of
South-side coutinually pursue him; yet,
notwithstanding, he finally succeeds in
getting judgment to the full amount claim-
ed. Celt, delighted with his success and
flushed with victory, grandiloquently steps
over to the domains of South-side to look
after the wherewith to satisfy the demands
of circuitous justice. South-side protests
with great vehemence and indignation,
and vociferously cries out, " Abolitionism
Abo'itionism.'" Celt looks aghast, for
never a drop of that blood had entered his
veins, nor an atom of its substance within
his composition. But no matter for that—
tho cry is out, and poor celt has nothing
other for it than immediate arrest and im-
prisonment, and threatening with hanging,
a narrow escape from the same, and finally
a purchase out of prison by his attorney,
for a sum sufficient to pay the expenses of
arrest, trial, and imprisonment.
Such, in a few brief sentences, is an out-
line of a live play just enacted down South,
the principle stars being Mr. Crangale, an
Irishman, and Messrs. Gray & 'l'urley,
merchants, of Gergia, who, when Mr. Cran-
gle attempted to collect a debt due him for
services, caused tho cry of Abolitionism to
be raised against him, and carried him
through the dramatic scene we have but
faintly described, compelling him to flee to
New York for his life, leaving debts, dan-
gerous Ilalla of Justice, South-side, and
all behind.
Nor is this all. We are creditably in-
formed that others—Northern Merchants
aud their agents—who shall hereafter at-
tempt to collect dues of honorable South-
ern gentlemen which are uot convenient to
pay, are to share the same fate as Mr.
Crangale. This truly is a new way to pay
old debts. It is relieved from all sham;
it is a reality—an actual fact.
Sincerely do we hope that our Northern
men, especially our Union-saving, cotton-
stuffed, irrepressible merchants, who shall
occasionally be thus compelled to play a
part in this now comedy, will not wince or
make wry faces. What right have they—
what right has the North, to expect honest
dealings from a set of cheats, thieves, and
villains, who have for centuries robbed the
poor oppressed laborers in their midst, and
lived off of the fruits of their toil. The
man who will rob one man when conve-
nience requires it will rob any other man.
It is idle to think otherwise, and those who
have either applauded or winked at the
robbing of the poor, oppressed bondman
may now step up and take their turn, or
cut the company of honorable Southern
gentlemen hereafter. Meanwhile, let the
play be brought on the boards of onr
Northern theatres. It will, if fairly put
on, realize a fortune for some of them. Let
it take the place of the "Octoroon" at the
Winter Garden, but let the proprietor of
that concern by all means admit Anglo-Af-
ricans to witness it.
St. Paul's
Chckch, Brooklyn.—We un-
derstand that there is quite an interesting
state of things in St. Panl's Church, Brook-
lyn,Rev. Geo. W. Leevre, pastor. Rev.
Jacob A. Prime is to preach there Sunday
afternoon, and Rov. Amos G. Beman in
the evening. Friends ot the elevation and
prosperity of the colored people are invited
to attend.
\ ixws at Harper's Ferry.—It gives us
pleasnre to inform our readers that the en-
terprising and talented lecture, Prof. Win.
F. Johnson, will bo prepared to exhibit in
this city and Brooklyn, about the 1st of
February, illustrations of the outbreak in
Virginia. These exhibitions will, no d>ubt,
be witnessed by large audiences.
A DEBATE.
Grenada Hall, Brooklyn, was the seen©
of a lively and interesting time on Thurs-
day evening, the 12th inst., the young men
of that quiet city having chosen to venti-
late their ideas pro bono publico on- the
question, "Which has sustained the most
injustice at the hands of the American
people, the American Indian or the Anglo-
African ?"
The meeting was organized by the ap-
pointment of Prof. Wm. J. Wilson Chair-
man, and Jas. R. W. Leonard Secretary,
The gentlemen combatants having arrayed
themselves on either side, agreed to en-
trust the diadem of victory to the hands of
the President, who opened the debate with
the introduction of Mr. Thos. M. Cardoza.
This gentleman said he was aware that
the audience must be a little prejudiced in
favor of the Anglo-African, but hoped it
might be subdued, in order that an impar-
tial view might be taken of the insufferable
wrongs done the poor Indian. He refer-
red to the massacre of the Indians in the
Southern and New England States, where
men, women, and children were butchered
like chickens—roasted, and subjected to
all manner of tortures too horrrible to con
template. Mr. Cardoza contended that
these and like persecutions had made them
nearly extinct. In looking over the audi-
ence, the speaker thought the absence of
the Indian, the rightful owner of the soil,
and the presence of the numerous gather-
ing of Anglo-Africans, must settle the
question.
Mr. Hunter followed in reply, tak-
ing the ground that the decision of the Su-
preme Court, the slave traffic with its at-
tendant horrors, the reduction ot the An
glo-African to the level of the brute crea-
tion, ware as great wrongs[as could be done
to a people, and to these wrongs, he con-
tended, the Indian had not been subjected,
particularly the genius and spirit of tlio
first, which he said comprised the whole.
On the contrary, this government makes
for the Indian appropriations, and even
now the Dacotahs are knocking at the door
of the Union for admission, representation,
and a voice in the councils of the nation.
The gentleman argued that the persecution
of the Indian was owing to bis resistance
to civilization. From liis wild nature and
habits of living, hunting and warfare, he
was less approachable than the African,
who lived more upon vegetable matter,
which springs up spontaneously around
him, rendering him conseqnently more do-
cile and teachable.
Mr. John 1*. Sampson was glad that the
people were getting interested upon sub-
jects of this character, and could sit, listen,
and, for the time being,"conquer their pre-
judices" sufficiently to enable them to ren-
der an unbiassed decision. He spoke of
the severe Bufferings of the Indians from
1492—before slavery was known in this
country—and declared it impossible to pull
dowu an old bouse or make an excavation
without the earth spewing up the mutilat-
ed bones of the rod man. He held that
their extinction had been the prevailing
object of the whites in their hostilities
against the Indians, pronouncing it a two-
fold wrong—a violation of tlio rights of
man and of the laws of God, who had
placed them here to multiply the earth.
The President next introduced Dr. Wm.
B. Ellis, who spoke with much power and
force, setting forth the advantages which
the Indian has ever enjoyed over the An-
glo-African. From the landing of the Pil-
grims, said he, they have had arms placed
in their hands wherewith to defend them-
selves, and had courted the hostility of
which the opposition complained. Tliey
have retreated voluntarily before the
march of civilization, and are by no means
to bo compared in point of moral and social
susceptibility to tho Anglo-African.
Mr. Samuel Wright, a young gentleman
not "advertised in the programme," receiv-
ing inspiration from the burning eloquence
of the last speaker, sallied out upon the
floor to do battle for his people—tho An
glo-Africans • However, the thermometer
fell from "fever heat" to somewhere below
"moderate" as he faced the expectant au
dience, who breathlessly awaited his com
ing thunder. Mr. Wright warned the au-
dience of a chronic disposition to embar-
rassment, aud hoped he might be indulged
should he exhibit a little on this occasion.
He started out with a very fair prospect,
to show the great difference between man-
stealing and man-fighting, when it became
suddenly evident tlitf Mr. Wright's ideas
were getting "off the track," which he ob-
serving, begged of the audience to be ex-
cused, as he felt embarrassment coming on,
and took his seat amid much merriment, in
which he himself heartily joined.
Mr. Morel, though not having expected
to take part in the debate, made some tell-
ing remarks, reviewing the horrors of the
middle passage, and of American slavei y
He referred to the Supreme Court deci-
sion, which foreigners escaping from al-
leged tyranny in other countries are wield,
ing to the prejudice of the Anglo-African
whose name is written in letters - of blood
on the pages of this country's history.
Mr. Morel alluded to "Pat O'Conor's" re-
diculous speech, and said that he should
not honor that apostate Irishman with
waste of his breath. He would not go
djwn from his manhood to touch the dirty
creature with a ten-foot pole.
At this juncture the indefatigable Wright
again turned up trumps. He came for-
ward to explain the cause of his embar-
rassment. He had, upon taking the floor,
canght the gaze of two lsdies, "than whom
le would have braved the presence of half-
a-dozen reporters and three times the audi-
ence there assembled.
Great merriment followed this gallant
announcement, placing the gentleman in
no mean point in the estimation of at least
one portion of the audience.
Some little cross-firing here occurred
between Messrs. Cardoza, Ellis, Gecrs,
Sampson, and Morel, the latter gentleman
having lectured the contestants pretty se-
verely on parliamentary rules.
Mr. Jones, quite a youthful young gen-
tleman, begged permission to s»y a word,
which was granted. He advised gentle-
men of the opposition and all others who
had any doubts upon the subject to visit
the Dismal Swamp, and then propound the
question under discussion. He thought
the very bones would cry out, "The An-
glo-African." [Great applause.]
This unexpected bomb-shell rather dam-
aged the prospects of the opposition. Time
being up, the President reviewed the points
presented on either side, and decided in
favor of the Anglo-African.
The audience was quito large, and man-
ifested much interest in tho debate.
in the Gospel for the abolition of all such
wickedness.
The occurrence was one that might have
happened in any church where there is a
division of opinion or of feeling on the sub-
ject. It is perhaps matter of congratula-
tion that it has taken place just now in our
chnreh,since it is sure to be widely noticed
on that account, and tho prejudice against
color will itself be rebuked in some quar-
ters for the sake of a reproach against us.
Poor colored men are often seated in our
church, and up to this time I am not aware
that there has ever been any disturbance
on that account. We are glad that now
the folly and wickedness of this prejudice
have been illustrated in- the case, as the de-
scription says, 'of a European gentleman
high in rank and titles, and connected with
the English service.' It being his servant
who was requested to take another seat,
the occurrence will not excite a notice that
would not have been given to the same
event anywhere else, or in connection with
any poor, obscure colored persons. We
are glad the folly has at length come out
in connection with'respectability and stand-
ing.' The treatment of the colored race
in this country is worse than it ever was in
any country on the face of the earth. It
is a cruelty in glaring opposition to God's
word and to all dictates of humanity. We
rejoico in every opportunity of bearing our
testimony in the name and for the sake of
Christ against it."
A STRANGER INSULTED IN A CHRIS-
TIAN CHURCH IN NEW YORK.
On Sunday morning, the 8th inst., a
noble and distinguished stranger, and a re
presentative of an European Court, at-
tempted to worship God in tho Church of
the Puritans, of which the beloved Dr
Cheever is the pastor. His party consist-
ed of his lady, four female servants, and a
colored footman, in a bright livery of blue
and buff. As soon as the party had been
seated, one young man, said to be a beard-
less, and we might add, heartless and brain-
less youth, hastened to the sexton, and or-
dered him to remove the colored man from
the broad aisle to the gallery. The sex-
ton told him he would do no such thing;
if ho wanted it done he must do it himself.
The officious young man then went to an
older member of the church, aud requested
him to cause the sexton to do his bidding.
The elderly gentleman told the sexton to
do his duty; but he would not move in the
matter, whereupon the venerable person-
age took the Law into liis own hands, and
faced the music," by telling the colored
man he must get up and go to the gallery.
The noble stranger, indignant at the treat-
ment of his servant in the house of God,
arose, and asked to be shown the door
through which tin colored people could go
out, and suiting the action to the words, he
lead his company to the street, ascended
his carriage, and returned to liis apartments
at the Metropolitan Hotel, .and with feel-
ings deeply wounded, said that "consisten-
cy was a jewel not so easily found in New
York as he anticipated." In the evening
the nobleman and his suit attended service
at Shiloli Presbyterian Church, of which
Rev. Henry Highland Garnet is pastor. It
is gratifying to know that in colored con-
gregations saints and sinners, black and
white, plebian and upper-tendom, are all
treated alike.
It is unnecessary to say that the whole
affair is disapproved of, and opposed by,
Dr. Cheever and the great majority of his
church. The thing was done solely at the
instigation of a fast young man and a foss-
ilized old oi.e. On last Sunday evening,
the 15th inst., Dr. Cheever spoke as fol-
lows in reference to tho occurrence:
"It is very proper to note this occurrence,
and to rebuke, on such an occasion, the
cruel prejudice against the colored race
everywhere, and in the churches, and their
exclusion, as a caste, on account of their
color, even from the prayer-meetings and
the sanctuaries of God. In the Fulton-
street prayer-meeting, I am informed, the
colored and controverted subject is exclu-
ded by law, and we have had accounts of
the removal of the black man from the
midst of the congregation to a quiet upper
room nearer Heaven. If colored men are
excluded from the cars and omnibuses on
account of their color, the same community
that maintains such an exclusion will also
eject them from their lecture-rooms and
churches. I have preached, and labored,
and prayed, and written against this wick-
edness in every possible way. The pre-
judice against the colored race is one of
bitter fruits of slavery; it is maintained
and increased by slavery. In proportion
as the slaves at the South have multiplied,
and the system of slavery has been
strengthened, till at length it has been en-
throned in the Supreme Tribunal of our
National Government, in that degree the
prejudice against the colored race has
spread and deepened at the North till the
rescript of our National Justice that black
men have no rights that white men are
bound to respect, is defended as an article
of political and social piety.
Now, it is well known that we, as a
church, have sot ourselves against this in-
iquity. We oppose both the slavery and
the prejudice against color that grows out
of it. But in doing this, it is also well
known that we have had enemies and ex-
asperated opponents both within and with-
out. We have had a battle to fight, with
the great disadvantage of opposition among
our own selves. Even yet all do not see
eye to eye. The occurrence that took
place last Sabbath was without the know-
ledge, consent or approliatton of the church.
It took place before the services had com-
menced, and the pastor knew nothing at all
of it. In the name of Christ and of the
Church, we disavow and condemn such a
respect to persons, and affirm the duty of
the churches and the ministry of every de-
nomination to set themselves against the
cruel prejudices that is crushing the color-
ed race among us, and against the slavery
that is the foundation of such cruelty. We
affirm the duty of ministers to prcach
against it, and of the eknrch to apply
against it the exterminating and excom-
municating power given to her from God
CENTENARIANS.
The following is a list of the names of
persoifll of one hundred years and upwards
who have died in the United States during
the year 1850:
Italc. Nun. State. Atfo
Feb. 6. .Phillip ^.. \ a 12'
8. .Ca-sar, (colored) La 188
10. . Aunt Kandiir N. J 103
18. .Zelpliy Sclianek N. .1 119
18.. Nancy (a flave) Ala 100
22 . .Sarah Mallory (colored). Ya 120
22. .Hannah 1'hillipa X.J 118
27.. Thomas Sweeney l'enn 122
Mar. 14. . Mary Shaughnessy ....Mass 112
17. . Klizubeth farter S. C 101
20. . Pliebo Christian (col.)..Ohio 118
April 25. . Polly Boston (col.) Md 125
25. .John DicltRon Ohio 110
June 22 . . Virginia Ford (col.) Witsli.... 120
Julv 14. . Anna Pope Maw 105
10. .Sarah W. Hughe.; Misf . ... 113
Aug. 17..Susanna Ilarvcy R 100
20. .James Keen Penn 105
25. .William Owens Ya 100
Sept. 24 . .William Sims N. Y 102
28.. Elizabeth C» annuel (ia 115
Oct. 12.. John t'ltinger Tenn 104
Nov. 1 . .John Wilson Maine. . . . 10.3
17 .. Phillis (a slave) ..... 100
]>«e. 17..t«eo. \Voodhous«,'(col.).Ya 120
25..Mrs. Croenlv Penn 119
THE ARKANSAS REFUGEES.
A correspondent at Cincinnati writes as
follows in relation to the colored exiles of
Arkansas, who were driven out by the in-
famous laws of that State: "The reception
of the Arkansas exiles was an informal af-
fair. A meeting of the colored people of
our city was in session a few evenings be-
fore their arrival, when it was proposed to
invite public attention to them by a "re-
ception," to the end that those entertaining
friendly sentiments might come forward
and offer them homes and employment.
A committee of ten was then appointed.
We met them in the parlor of the Dnmas
House, where they were assured that they
would find friends and support, if they
were sober and industrious. Our object
was more than accomplished, for in less
than twenty-four hours there were more
homes and chances of employment offered
them by the whites than were required."
Dome Carrtspanbenee.
o
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
Philadelphia, Jan. 10, 1800.
Mk. Editor:—On Monday evening, the
'.Hli inst., the Ilev. J. B. Smith, M. D., of
New Bedford, Mass., according to adver-
tisement, lectured at the Masonic Hall to
.a very slim audience, only twenty-three
persons, all told. Previous to commencing
the Rev. James Underdue made a very
fervent prayer, .after which the lecturer
proceeded to review the Boston Conven-
tion, which assembled on the first of last
August. About one half the evening was
spent in reviewing the proceedings of that
Convention. The lecturer said conventions
are as old as society itself; they may bo
regarded as the people's highest appeal,
and no people need them so much as the
colored people; yet they may be made the
engines of mischief. Th$ Boston Conven-
tion received the fulsome adulations of the
press, but those who convened it did not
carry out the objects for which it was
called (he then read the call.j He spoke
of the fifteen delegates from New Bedford
who boasted, he said, that they would pay
fifteen dollars each toward defraying the
expenses of the convention, but who did
not pay a single dollar. Conventions
should only be called for great purposes—
this Convention made a useless expendi-
ture of money, for it affected no permanent
good. The lecturer spoke of the contro-
versy between George T. Downing, Esq.,
and Ilev. H. H. Garnet, in which he said
the former camc off second best. He re-
gretted to state that the convention did not
draw up a petition to Congress to prevent
the re-opening of the slave-trade or some-
thing equally important; but, instead of
| doing this, the Convention strained at a
gnat and swallowed a great African camel.
Our resolves to stay here and die in this
country look well upon paper, but they
will look better when carried out.
There are more scholars among ui now
than there were a few years ago, but that
only serves to crtate discord among us.
He read a long list of professions, including
among which were lawyers, doctors, prin-
ters, editors, newspapers and magazines;
none of these, ho said, were sustained by
colored people alone, and nothing but
truth could extort from liim such a confes-
sion. Returning to the convention, he said
not one practical measure was submitted
to it; he sought tho good of his race, and
neither man nor devil should fright him
from his purpose. At this juncture the
lecturer discussed tho 6lavo question under
three heads, the last of which was tin*
sources of slavery—this was the cotton ar-
gument. Itconsistcd of statistics of cotton
imported from this country sr 17'.W
down to 185H. lie said King ( 'otton
dreads a rival, and tho explorations of
Africa have not been failures, but the
growing of cotton there will yet bo our de-
liverer, though it has been the enslaver of
our race in this country. Near the clote
of his remarks ho said, " 1 feel to-night as
I am not in the habit of feeling, I am
in the line of my duty, and if God does
not care for fifty millions of people, he does
not car© for any one."
When he had taken his seat the meeting
was organized into . business meeting at
the suggestion of Mr. Alfred M. Green, by
the appointment of Mr. Morris Hall
as Chairman. The Rev. J. P. Campbell
moved " that the African civilization'
movement meets the approval of the color-
ed people." The motion was discussed by
Messrs. Robert M. Turner, Parker T.
Smith and Jeremiah Buck, in the negative,
and the Itevs. Jabez P.Campbell and ,1.
B. Smith, in the affirmative. The oppo.
sition was mainly questions put to the
lecturer, backed up by arguments, to
which the lecturer replied with seeming
good will, but witli much vigor. He con-
tended that " seven-eights of the support of
slavery rests upon cotton exported to
Europe, and if we can supply the demand
by raising cotton in Africa slavery cannot
long exist here." The Rev. J. P. Camp,
bell would like to see feathered birds ily.
ing to Africa, for he was in favor of tin-
movement,but he. was an uufeathered binl.
Mr. II. M. 1 L'urner remarked that there
were but few feathered birds in Philadel-
phia, such as the Rev. Stephen Smith, and
if the African enterprise is to be confined
to them, very tew will go there. The
lecturer would go to Africa although all
others should stay away; for I have been
preaching the gospel for twenty-five years,
and (pointing to the slim audience) this is
the kind of receptions 1 have been in the
habit of meeting. The slim attendance
was caused by a want of circulation to the
notice of the meeting.
On Tuesday evening 51 r. Wm. II.
Johnson lectured before the Philadelphia
Literary Company, at Central Hall, on tho
politics of the country. The lecture was
historical and argumentative, and went t.»
show tlio pro-slavery character of the (' in-
stitution of the United States. When tin-
lecture was concluded Messrs. l.C. Wears,
J. C. Bowers, and D. B. Bowser discussed
the question: "Would the success of the
Republican party in the present, canvass
be advantageous to our cause?" Nothing
new was elicited, but the same arguments
were used as on a previous occasion, when
the same question was discussed.
In the last issue of " The Weekly Anglo-
African" a writer who adopts tins signature
of that prince of fabulists, .Esop, imitates
in a measure his style, without, liowevor
possessing the merit of being as entertain-
ing or having as good a moral for his fable
as did his prototype. There is about as
much trutli in the original as in the Phila-
delphia '' -Esop," and if the latter did not
profess to assert facts, I would let him pass
unnoticed so far as I arn concerned; but
his statements arc not strictly true. It is
not true that the phrase "I can't see it," is
characteristic of the Philadelphia ladies,for
I have never heard a lady here make use
of tho phrase. Itis not true that the police
smuggled tlio hotly of ('apt. Hrown info a
baggage car and hurried it through the
streets at railroad speed. It is not true
that the "good thinking" or "more inteli-
get.'." portion of Philadelphians sympathize
and think with the committee. ^It is not
true that "O. P. Q." was patent to the op-
position which I made to the miserable,
cringing petition of the committee. It i1-
impious to assert that a prayer to a "mean'
man cannot be too humble. A prayer to
the Deity should be all that sincerity and
deep humility could make it, but a simple
petition to a creeping worm calls for no
solemn devotion from me, however much
it may from "..Esop" <Sc Co. Why boast
of unanimity of sentiment among the inon
intelligent portion of the thinking peoph
here,when there is no evidence of the fact
The committee# have never been dis-
charged from their labors, and perhap
never will. If the persons assembled at
the little Wesley Church on the evening
ot the IGtli ult. were not intelligent and
good thinking, why not call them (the
good thinking) together and have the coin
mittee discharged? The committee, when
the foreman wrote the prayer, disagreed
among themselves as to the construction
of the language in it; and when they came
to the meeting they disagreed among them-
selves still. One said, " N\ c did not wish
to cater to the prejudices of Gov. \N isc.
(Mr. A. II Green) another said, "You can
catch more flies with molasses than you
can with vinegar;" (J. B. Campbell) while
a third spoke at random, and said, among
other things, " I never knew before that a
prayer could bo too humble," (J. Asher i
As I understand the English language,
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The Weekly Anglo-African. (New York [N.Y.]), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 21, 1860, newspaper, January 21, 1860; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth596273/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .