Letter From Rev. C. T. Torrey

Beforo I lcft Annopolis, I asccrtaincd that letters concerrring m were reccived fromsome evil minded persons in Washington, iho very day I got ihcre. And I was an object of suspicion and pointing at wilh the finger, and whispered remark, Uom the first. Even my private remarles at the table of my boarding house wcre . sent down to Annapolis, by a certain crew, . one of whom I had exposed, by a sort of j accident, as a swindler. I expected to { mcet somc oíd friends (slavehulders) at the Convention, who would introducé tne. - r J3ut 1 saw only onc, and he was not a ) ber. Anotlicr, a college mate, was enrol j led, but not present. Thöügh uware that rffany eyes were upon me, I deemed it my , duty to continue my pursuit?, giving bó { occasion of oftence to uny ono, by word or deed, and ihercRue continued to note the proceedings unquestioned. While I was hesitaling whether to retire or sit still, as . other reporters did, Cousin moved that no reporters be admittud to thc jíoor of the _ IIousc. unless he was vouchedfor by somej ' raember of the Conveniion. It wus no lime to louk up some one to; introduce me. And hen Coiisin sent the door-keeper to request me to retire to the lobby, 1 determined I would go into the gallery, and rnake my notes ihere, till thc eeseion closed and, then niukc urrangements to get a 6oat on the floor, This was conformingstriclly to the vote; which was Jiko the rule in the ilouse öï Represeutativesin Congress. A epy, howcver, was sent up to watch tne, nnd wheli I bogan to noto the heads oí' the report, he moüoncd to Qousin, who, as he says, eent the door-kccpcr to request me not to take notes, iíej however, orderct! me, in an angry tone, to follow him out, saying that I had violaiud he rules of the Cöüyention. When he reached the floor hc scizcd me by the collar, and attempted lo forcé ne into the coramittëe room, to wait as he said, the order oí the Convention. I denied hts or thcir ïight to control me, nny more than any other yoluntary ineeimg. And when ho found il no vcry easy matter to force me in, he urgcd me lo go in, suying they would pro'oably udmil me to the fljor. 1 yielded and went in. lío spakè to Cousin, who brought the áuliject bcfaro tlii bidy. The deliate wus long and [oud, histing till at'ii-r I was thrust jntQprisori. Some of the bctter sort were tor adniiti.ing mo ut once to the iloor, 'No matter if 1 wns a reporter for Garrisoti's p;er." But as íhe debate waxed warm, the mobocralic part of ihe Convention and spectators, headed bv one Jumes Kent, of Arme Arundel Co., crowded the Committee room,and began first to'qucstton, and then to abuse imï threaten me. Kent, as he iificrwards ewore before Judge'.Brewer, several limes ihroittened tocut my ihfoat, and some othcr thingá that hts passiorftwas loo hot to leave him strength to perform. Obers Ciirsed the impudence of a ubolilionist coming there totake notes."' Some friends of good order, citizens of Annapolis, urged me to retire, fearing a reeort Co personal violonce; and after much urging from hem I consented. This was imprudent. I should havo remained. I went quickly to the tavern, and took some borrowed books to return them to their owner. But before I had gone ten rods, the mob. headed by Kent, were howling behind me. They seizod me, forced me back to the tavern, Kent telling me that "he would suck my hean's blood with as good) a relish as he ever cata breakfat whenj he was hungry,1' and gnashing his teoth with rage, forced me to pay my bill ; Uien took me to my chamber,seized my privajempera, read them, including a few old ir rate family and business letters, sornc on tli iholilion and some on other euhjocts; and 'tL inally bcéan to dispute as to wliat should jtli )C done with me. Oihers were fortnrj'l md feathers, or even hanging. But they ¦ 1' ,vere overruled by eilizens of Annapolis. o! FinatHy Judgo Brewer suggested that a ïi; lust o should cummit mo 'o jai!; onda .vnrnint wa ruado out, without any c; laini, or éxamination by tho magistrale, ti Ilegal in form, as well na in fací, counsel li lenicd me wilh oaths and then the Sheriff, ol mdothers, preceded and followed bya mob 'f ftwo or thrce hundred, shouiing, yclling i nul hiasing, like so many crazy men. ;onducled me to thejuil. The jail isanold c )rick building, in a semi-ruinous ir ion; the winüows-crazy,anch?a insano i bit d i jiick-knife would easily libérale one C! viio needed snek a deüverancc. My cell ï vas at firbt very darnp from dtsuse, and a j art of the linie very eoid, even with a fire. it Tho State of Mnrylnnd, "chivalrous, j.L mmane, hospitable," próvidos a fire aud Jt :oarso food, bul no bed - nol even a búnch Cl f elravv, for a prisoner condemned, or u ommitted füc éxamination nierely. My al noney, and the kindness of Dr. Holmes, u he juilor, furnisiicd me a goud bed and ' bod. I tried the piank floor, Umvever,lwo ïights, for cxpoifmérii's suke, that I might " 'ully sympaihizo svith some of God's a !rcn who had u few rngs und old c' y for n couch. 'l'here ¦ wis ono person e n jail chargcd wiih some petty crime, Ol tnü 13 ef Gud'á poor, who had been lt irnitted by their luto masier, John D. 3l en, in lilb time. ilo dicd insolvent, and ll he creditors seized them as u part of the ( jstatc. The cause was tried before tho "¦' ;ounly court, und decided in ihetr favor, y ind freo papers given. These werc goten fróni them by fulse prelences, and they " vere taken before the court ofnppeals, ll ,víiere their master was provcd lo havo ' jeen solvent vvhén he died, and they wero )nce more declared freo. The l} or subsoquently reversed the decisión, as l) hey and their friends alledge, without ': Lice to them; bul this is dispuled. EÜ'irts b are Btill niuking to get them a ncw trial. - x The grouj) consists of two brothers, their '" wives and clnldren. I could not helji c wceping as 1 Icoked at the two little " fants about a year old, in liieir mother''ö D firms, smiling in sweet unconsciousness of " the bitter duörn their purents were ] pating, a sale io the tradcr. Aftcr ] ing to their sad hidtory, you will not ihink " it strangc that 1 sut down and wrote, and on my knecs tbok the p'.cdge 1 venture to annex; i renew it nuw, in the cahnnces ' and sultlude of my quiet chamber. ANNAruLi?, Maryland, in Jail, } c Jan. 14th, 1842. l Guilticssof any oifence agaiust the luws of man, though humbly ecknowledging my l imperfections in the siIit of the öearchcr of ilcaits, 1 win confincd in this place of felons, because, and only bccause I hate t that blavery under which millions my ' countrymen ure groaning, my bitter und blood-thirsiy accusers havitig nocvil that they can charge ngainst me; confined in ' the eame prison bic thirtcen colored ' sons, freed by v.ill, twice ffeed by the courts of law, bul ngni eeizcd by those ] who seek, without right to eti6lavo them. I cali my lleavenly Futhcr to witnesi, that ' not from malicc, but from the dictates of patriotism and beuevolcnct, aud from a j' sense of duty to him, 1 have made wur ( ugainst slitvery ; und 1 cali him to witness, ' tlTat henceforth, seeking his wisdom to ' guide, and his grace to strengthen me, 1 wili not ceuse lo talk, writc, preach, proy and vote ogainst elavery, (N tliere is iiö elaveholdcr in any church, or any 6Íave in our land. And whatever their errors may be, I will lionor and love all who so j hibór in this cause. When death comes, und theti only, will I cease. Chakles T. Torrey. 1 should have ttated thal some one, ei ihcr Keutor Bowie,kicked me,asl lurned to leave the commitiet: room. so as to cause pain for two dnys. When 1 lurned round lo see who did ít, ihe poor coward shrunk back out of view in the crowd. Perhaps L may as well add, in this place, an incident óf o'aólKör sort, Ilustrativo of the disregnrd of right so characteristic of a slavcholding communtty. During un interval oí the sessions of the Convenifon, on Thursday I went into the House of Delégales, and found them busy discussing a bilí to authorize the salö out of the State, of the family of a criminal, oónsïstïngof scven or eight persons, who ! wero held for a term ol years only. It was urged that precedente for such a bilí exiated, and a case was quoted where the lc-'islatiae of 1831 authorized J. H. Bayer (AhinkN of Price George's Co., to sell bis negro "Míiry," who was a slavo Cor a term of years only, and was accuscd of some crime, but acquiilcd for want of legal cvideenee. _ Mr. Prcsslman, a fine young mnn trom Ballimore, replied in tonos of indignan! el! oquence,dcnouncing the injusticyarid cru! elty of making the wife and innocent clnldren aufler lor a father and lu.sband's crime. Hif urgency, and that of Mr.er, of Fredcrick, sccurcd amcndments to ti 0 bill, giving all possible grounds lo hopo ii at ihey would be relcascii at the end of k eir term; but these were tuint indeed. he bilí passed by a vote oí' 33 nyeö to '1 1 noes; aboul n fnir test of llio strength v 'the party hostile to blavery, as a sysicm, b i the Lcgislature. a Friday inorn'mg, t 11 o'clock, I was lüed bcfore Judge lire wc r tor f jn. Thomas S. Alexaitdcr, of c s, who ï? generally cousidcred the iieiid thu Moryland btir, and Joseph M. g er oi"Froderiok,un excellent counsellor, Í id member of the House of Delégales, : ere my counsel. 1 can not luo tnucii a nnmoiid thcir kindness, fideliiy, and zcal d i their graluhous services, Cjka. they nobly c jcüricd all compcnsalion) The a Jtiori was connectcd by J. M. S. Cousin, ll hose industry created the cxeilcment 8 jninst me at iirst, and who entered into r with all bis heari, and Thomas l ' i, an amiable young man, whosc bettcr s; clings made him, os 1 thought, avorse to ll ïgaging iti sü base an assault upon an l' noficnding slranger. Ho did not oppcor "ter the iirst day. Couein was ecutc, l :r, diöingcnuous; maïufcsting iho Fjiirit '( : a n)obocrat, appealing dsrectly to the rowd, even when conducling the causo " afore ihe Judge, and pervèrtïnjj both law n nd cvidence wilh a skill that showed him a ipablc ol'bottcr things. Witncóecs were " ïamincd, but no chargo could bc made " it ol their tcslimony. lt was admitted lat 1 was an abolitionisl of the most ultra jj amp; that l had beon an agent of ¦ on Bocieties; ihal I wus a reporter for r jme abolition as well as othej; popers. - r , was shówu that I had made r.otes of the s jings of the Convenlton, and of remarks " had heard made by eevcral persons, l hich 1 put in my pocket, and whieh, as l ley weiü publish'ed iti court, 1 feel no 1 ifiuy abont making known more widely. l delégale, a respectable man in his J eurance, was conversing with a coarse, ' rutul man, who, if 1 am righliy informed, a negro catcher by trado. The l.ilter ( aid ho had "got track of a man" who had ( un away from Annapolis or its vicinity, Uoly, and sent a man after him. Il ho ould gei hún he hopod to find five or six ' iore. Ho spoke of recovering a runnway t Lr.uicuater, Pa., aboiU l'ouv yeurs ag, ' ml pruiiscd the mngiotrato i!erc fioL htilj'ing im lo .'et the sluvo inlo ihe curs.. l'eraps sorne of your Penns) lvania readers now this man-wolf. The other man spoko of the recent loss fa negro, who wasassesscd at 000, tuul dv vvhom he had refuscd $1400, a man learly 7 feut high uamed "J im." And he eclared his intention of compellwig anithcr of his fclaveg, a colored minister, vhom he had allowed to hire h;s own imc,and go whero he pleased, to hire litnsel! lo one man lor u year, and so ston lis preaching. 4He had been too indul;eut to his slavcs," hc said. 'Ah! ihitl's hc ruin of them," replied tbc woïf, An)iher delégale said to a fricnd, that il was 'now ornever1' wilh them. lfthey could lut put down tho colored íVeemen and hose who sympathised wilh them, thoy tvould be put down themsclvcs. "In iact, ivo are down now," was the response.- The latter then bcgan to talk of an abuliionist fiDiu 13;iltimore, who was in tuwn or some h - 1 - h puipose, and to curse 'Ti.rn Alexunder" for an ubolitionist, be:nuse ho humancly plead the causes of lbo ce colored pcople, when uujublly assailjj. When 1 was arresled, 1 rememUcred ihese curees, and eent iur Mr. Alexamler ito'nce to delend me; and ihe even! juslified my inl'erencc, that the cursos of a bad man tended to show him to be an upriglu one. I noted also Bomo remarks f Mr. Hughes, ihe able and amiahlu cdilor of tho 'nnnpolis Ilepubücan. He said tluit tho maas of the peeple would nol ucquiesce in violent méttüurea for ihe fémova! of the Iree colorcd pcople. And if the sluvehold.era reeorteü to them, it woulü serve to idenlify uil who opposcd their measüres, ín their view, with the Northern abolnion istp, however they mighl from llio lulter, in their view and measüres. He thought, too, thatcolonization had not been sufficienily iried. He was in favor of depriving the fice colorcd utopie of the right lo own real célate, ihough a verso to Judge Chumbcr'ö scheme of compelling ihem lo bécoinc agricukural laborers. When Mr. ííuhes afked me, as 1 thought, rather impeitinentlVi my residence, 1 evadcd his quéVlion inlenüonally, and he inferred, ihough erroneously, thul I meant lo givc him the idea that I was a delégate from Washington city. Cousin made much of this, in his demagogue speeches ugainst me. "1 had come as a deceiver, a spy, &C." Another man testificd ihat I told him a colored man in Baltimore told n;c that the colored peoplc would die before ihcy would cave the States, (an every day remark unong ihcni, as evcr body in the court knew.) This, with ihe fact thut 1 wrote ior cibulition papers, was all the testimi'ny lágainst me. Cousin us-cd every artífice lo produce excitement, perverting ihemony, hinting a hundred t tg extracis frotn abolilion papers, mid i ing most violent appeula fo lbo passions t F tho cager croivtl who fillcd the room. - I 'he members of tho Lcgislaturo t ention carne, having no quorum ín ciihcr o cxly, and the mob of ihe night bcfore wete i II present, cursing, applnuding Cousin, 1 nd scowling upon me. I believe I r :sled the composure and good humor 1 v irtainly feit. So the papers say. ( As my notes were in brief, nnd I ble to none but tnyself, Cou3n had a rxid chance to Iwist them intoany 6hape. f Le argued ihat I was g-uilty of rhuliny, f nd constructively of eircul.iting ( jury' matter," having "a tendency tu itedisccnlcnt among the colored people; nd therelbre ought to 4)e bound overfor ial. I made a brief statement of fa nd my couucil replied to iho legal [joints 'J :Hsed by the persecutora. Ar.d the Jüdge . romptly decidcd that thore was nolhing, c j far, to warrant delenlion, except thut me oughl to bc aliowcd (o inquire into ie occasion of tho remark made by a col F red man in Blumorc!ll Tiie Judge i icn made out a new commitment, in legal c ;rrn, and remanded mc-lül Mondny. t But ho did not comtnit James Kent,who ad sworo to his own brcach of the peacc, nd his murdorous thrcais ngainst me; or 1 ny of the mol, whom tho Judge mufit i ave known, for he was among ihem the ( iglit before. Sabbalhevcning, David A. iimmons, Esq. of Boston, came from Vuehington at the request of several ol' the ' lussachuscüs delegaiioh in Cungress and Uiers, among whom I would gralefully icntion Messrs. Borden, of Massachueits und Giddmgs of Olwo. And by his ddress, promptness, and ihe represeniaions hc wus authorized lo mr.ke in regard o me, manifesily turncd the current of lUblic leeling in rny favor. 1 désife ;ratelully to acknowlcdge his kindness, nd also ihe sympathy ot Rev. Mr. Winsow, funnerly of Medford, Mass., now an Episcopal clergymen, in Annupolis, and f others, both here and there. I passed n [utct Sabbarh in the prison, havitig sweet :uinmunion with that Saviour in whose iarihly temple i was nol permitted to ener. Monday, P. M., at 2 1-2, the case wus irgUed at gl-oat longlh, ná wi(i oV,iI ind eloquence, by my counsel. Cousin icj;licd wilh even more ability and reatít perverseness than befure. In the course jf iiis rcmaiks, he read a part of the Conjtilution of ihe Mussachusetis Abolilion Society. But the Christian and republican spirit of it seemed rather to piense than lo ixcite the audience. Eager to seize upon iny project to injure me, he caught at a rumor that some oíd Jady two miles offhad jriven me off from her plantation, someLime before, for preachitig to her uegroes. But the next morning the old lady and another person tcstificd that I was not ihe man; thcy had nevor eeen me. This following the eflbrts of Mr. Simnions and the j)leas of my counsel, produced a happy effect. The Convcniion having dispersed, the elements of mobocracy were no longcr in town; and some of ihe more reflecting slavcholdcrs began to euspect that ihey had done what Tallcrand ihought worae thun a crime - committed a blunder, in al lowing such an outrage upon my rights, as acilizenof Ihe U. S. A leading man dcclared that it would deslroy all effect ol ihe conveution, ntt more on account oí dio use tluil 1 6hju!d make of il, than because it opencd every body's mouih lo speak oí" iheir doingp, and of tho slavcry they were endeavoring lo protect. The opiniona ot men of the highest cote and inlluence in the State were sirongly expressed ugainsi tho retulis of thecouvenlion before 1 lelt and noone thinks thai the legislalure wil sanction iheir atrocities by passing then into laws. if they do, it will bring abou the very rcsult that Mr. Hughes eupposed Ttie truih is, humanity and republicanism to say nothing of religión, are not vet quite deud in Muryland, and ihe despotism o ihe patria rena is drawing to a close, am they knoxo it. The Judge took from Tues day morning till Wednesday al 3 to consider a case thal a boy 10 years old could hnve decided in fivo minutes, and then gave a decisión, not mercly Ilegal in the opinión of eminent counsel, but which hab been reccived wilh ridicule, wherever it has been made known. He dischnrged me from arrest, because nolhing was found tojustify detainingme, even for fur iher iuvestigiitiou, and then ordered me to give bond8 in $5U0, wilh Buicties, to kee] the peace till Apritl The rioters he did not censure or bine over. Bui aftcr I had been ariested by i mob, my private papers illegally seized by them and examincd, committed tojailon an Ilegal warrant, detained a week on no defiuiie charge, or even tangible ground of suspicion, al a heavy pecuniary loss to me, as a poor man, 1 must givo bonds. "A Daniel ! yea, a Daniel!" Afier protesting againsi the decisión o unjusl uud ïllegul, by the adviee of mj counsel, whogcnerously offorcd tobecom my securities, I subniitlcd to it lili Í couii lake counsel huw to f ip tip the decisión i iie most efïectuul manncr. I rcturned to lis city lbo smo day. I havo uo space ) comment on the gnws violation of the iv9 nnd Consiitution of Marylnnd and of ie United States, in.iny person. I fin raiificd to see that the beller poriion of e pross jf ihe North ppenks out ia mauy Iones, lí'my own name was not conected wiih ii I should rrjoice at the event hich cai!p forth such nrtieles as those in ie Daily Lcdger and New Haven Palidium, e. g. So faros rny ui.'ilities can go, I am condcntelavery will reop nogteat nifvanlago rom her asnult upon my righis. Al lenst, üod beicg my lielper. if slavery Uves tea cars longêr, it ehnll be noftnilt of ininc. Yours fakhuIJy,