TESTIMONY OF MR. WM. C. GILDERSLEEVE, A NATIVE OF GEORGIA

MR. W.C.  GILDERSLEEVE, a native of Georgia, is an elder of the Presbyterian Church at Wilkesbarre, Pa.

“Acts of cruelty, without number, fell under my observation while I lived in Georgia.  I will mention but one.  A slave of a Mr. Pinkney, on his way with a wagon to Savannah, ‘camped’ for the night by the road side.  That night, the nearest hen-roost was robbed.  On his return, the hen-roost was again visited, and the fowl counted one less in the morning.  The oldest son, with some attendants made search, and came upon the poor fellow, in the act of dressing his spoil.  He was too nimble for them, and made his retreat good into a dense swamp.  When much effort to start him from his hiding place had proved unsuccessful, it was resolved to lay an ambush for him, some distance ahead.  The wagon, meantime, was in charge of a lad, who accompanied the teamster as an assistant.  The little boy lay still till nearly night, (in the hope probably that the teamster would return,) when he started with his wagon.  After travelling some distance, the lost one made his appearance, when the ambush sprang upon him.  The poor fellow was conducted back to the plantation.  He expected little mercy.  He begged for himself, in the most suplicating manner, ’pray massa give me 100 lashes and let me go.’  He was then tied by the hands, to a limb of a large mulberry tree, which grew in the yard, so that his feet were raised a few inches from the ground, while a sharpened stick was driven underneath that he might rest his weight on it, or swing by his hands.  In this condition 100 lashes were laid on his bare body.  I stood by and witnessed the whole, without as I recollect feeling the least compassion.  So hardening is the influence of slavery, that it very much destroys feeling for the slave.”

TESTIMONY OF MR. HIRAM WHITE—­A NATIVE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Mr. WHITE resided thirty-two years in Chatham county, North Carolina, and is now a member of the Baptist Church, at Otter Creek Prairie, Illinois.

About the 20th December 1830, a report was raised that the slaves in Chatham county, North Carolina, were going to rise on Christmas day, in consequence of which a considerable commotion ensued among the inhabitants; orders were given by the Governor to the militia captains, to appoint patrolling captains in each district, and orders were given for every man subject to military duty to patrol as their captains should direct.  I went two nights in succession, and after that refused to patrol at all.  The reason why I refused was this, orders were given to search every negro house for books or prints of any kind, and Bibles and Hymn books were particularly mentioned.  And should we find any, our orders were to inflict punishment by whipping the slave until he informed who gave them to him, or how they came by them.