The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 101, March, 1866. Various

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ and Johnson again; for had I called the others, he would have recognized them, for they were his slaves.

      Abraham Johnson said, "Does such a shrivelled up old slaveholder as you own such a nice, genteel young man as I am?"

      At this Gorsuch took offence, and charged me with dictating his language. I then told him there were but five of us, which he denied, and still insisted that I had his property. One of the party then attacked the Abolitionists, affirming that, although they declared there could not be property in man, the Bible was conclusive authority in favor of property in human flesh.

      "Yes," said Gorsuch, "does not the Bible say, 'Servants, obey your masters'?"

      I said that it did, but the same Bible said, "Give unto your servants that which is just and equal."

      At this stage of the proceedings, we went into a mutual Scripture inquiry, and bandied views in the manner of garrulous old wives.

      When I spoke of duty to servants, Gorsuch said, "Do you know that?"

      "Where," I asked, "do you see it in Scripture, that a man should traffic in his brother's blood?"

      "Do you call a nigger my brother?" said Gorsuch.

      "Yes," said I.

      "William," said Samuel Thompson, "he has been a class-leader."

      When Gorsuch heard that, he hung his head, but said nothing. We then all joined in singing,—

      "Leader, what do you say

      About the judgment day?

      I will die on the field of battle,

      Die on the field of battle,

      With glory in my soul."

      Then we all began to shout, singing meantime, and shouted for a long while. Gorsuch, who was standing head bowed, said, "What are you doing now?"

      Samuel Thompson replied, "Preaching a sinner's funeral sermon."

      "You had better give up, and come down."

      I then said to Gorsuch,—"'If a brother see a sword coming, and he warn not his brother, then the brother's blood is required at his hands; but if the brother see the sword coming, and warn his brother, and his brother flee not, then his brother's blood is required at his own hand.' I see the sword coming, and, old man, I warn you to flee; if you flee not, your blood be upon your own hand."

      It was now about seven o'clock.

      "You had better give up," said old Mr. Gorsuch, after another while, "and come down, for I have come a long way this morning, and want my breakfast; for my property I will have, or I'll breakfast in hell. I will go up and get it."

      He then started up stairs, and came far enough to see us all plainly. We were just about to fire upon him, when Dickinson Gorsuch, who was standing on the old oven, before the door, and could see into the up-stairs room through the window, jumped down and caught his father, saying,—"O father, do come down! do come down! They have guns, swords, and all kinds of weapons! They'll kill you! Do come down!"

      The old man turned and left. When down with him, young Gorsuch could scarce draw breath, and the father looked more like a dead than a living man, so frightened were they at their supposed danger. The old man stood some time without saying anything; at last he said, as if soliloquizing, "I want my property, and I will have it."

      Kline broke forth, "If you don't give up by fair means, you will have to by foul."

      I told him we would not surrender on any conditions.

      Young Gorsuch then said,—"Don't ask them to give up,—make them do it. We have money, and can call men to take them. What is it that money won't buy?"

      Then said Kline,—"I am getting tired waiting on you; I see you are not going to give up."

      He then wrote a note and handed it to Joshua Gorsuch, saying at the same time,—"Take it, and bring a hundred men from Lancaster."

      As he started, I said,—"See here! When you go to Lancaster, don't bring a hundred men,—bring five hundred. It will take all the men in Lancaster to change our purpose or take us alive."

      He stopped to confer with Kline, when Pinckney said, "We had better give up."

      "You are getting afraid," said I.

      "Yes," said Kline, "give up like men. The rest would give up if it were not for you."

      "I am not afraid," said Pinckney; "but where is the sense in fighting against so many men, and only five of us?"

      The whites, at this time, were coming from all quarters, and Kline was enrolling them as fast as they came. Their numbers alarmed Pinckney, and I told him to go and sit down; but he said, "No, I will go down stairs."

      I told him, if he attempted it, I should be compelled to blow out his brains. "Don't believe that any living man can take you," I said. "Don't give up to any slaveholder."

      To Abraham Johnson, who was near me, I then turned. He declared he was not afraid. "I will fight till I die," he said.

      At this time, Hannah, Pinckney's wife, had become impatient of our persistent course; and my wife, who brought me her message urging us to surrender, seized a corn-cutter, and declared she would cut off the head of the first one who should attempt to give up.

      Another one of Gorsuch's slaves was coming along the highroad at this time, and I beckoned to him to go around. Pinckney saw him, and soon became more inspirited. Elijah Lewis, a Quaker, also came along about this time; I beckoned to him, likewise; but he came straight on, and was met by Kline, who ordered him to assist him. Lewis asked for his authority, and Kline handed him the warrant. While Lewis was reading, Castner Hanway came up, and Lewis handed the warrant to him. Lewis asked Kline what Parker said.

      Kline replied, "He won't give up."

      Then Lewis and Hanway both said to the Marshal,—"If Parker says they will not give up, you had better let them alone, for he will kill some of you. We are not going to risk our lives";—and they turned to go away.

      While they were talking, I came down and stood in the doorway, my men following behind.

      Old Mr. Gorsuch said, when I appeared, "They'll come out, and get away!" and he came back to the gate.

      I then said to him,—"You said you could and would take us. Now you have the chance."

      They were a cowardly-looking set of men.

      Mr. Gorsuch said, "You can't come out here."

      "Why?" said I. "This is my place, I pay rent for it. I'll let you see if I can't come out."

      "I don't care if you do pay rent for it," said he. "If you come out, I will give you the contents of these";—presenting, at the same time, two revolvers, one in each hand.

      I said, "Old man, if you don't go away, I will break your neck."

      I then walked up to where he stood, his arms resting on the gate, trembling as if afflicted with palsy, and laid my hand on his shoulder, saying, "I have seen pistols before to-day."

      Kline now came running up, and entreated Gorsuch to come away.

      "No," said СКАЧАТЬ