attacked, of killing and slaying
all within their reach; of setting their own houses on fire, and
then going and burning the town. It was the old spirit which
animated the Russians at Moscow, and the blacks of Hayti. At
this point my self-interest mingled with my sense of humanity,
and I felt that I occupied a more responsible position than I
shall ever attain to again. I, therefore, determined to make the
most of it. I exhorted them to peace and patience under their
present difficulties, and for their own sakes as well as the
innocent sufferers, besought them to leave as early as they
could. If I had advocated a different course I could have caused
the burning of the town. The result of our meeting produced a
calm, that lasted only for a few days, when it was announced,
one evening, that the claimants of a Methodist preacher, by the
name of Dorsey, were in the borough, and that it was expected
that they would attempt to take him that night.

It was about nine o'clock in the evening when I went to his
house, but was refused admittance, until those inside
ascertained who I was. There were several men in the house all
armed with deadly weapons, awaiting the approach of the
intruders. Had they come the whole party would have been
massacred. I advised Dorsey to leave, but he very pointedly
refused, saying he had been taken up once before alive, but
never would be again. The men told him to stand his ground, and
they would stand by him and defend him, they had lived together,
and would die together. I told them that they knew the strength
of the pro-slavery feeling that surrounded them, and that they
would be overpowered, and perhaps many lives lost, which might
be saved by his changing his place of residence. He said, he had
no money, and would rather die with his family, than be killed
on the road. I said, how much money do you want to start with,
and we will send you more if you need it. Here is one hundred
dollars in gold. "That is not enough." "Will two hundred dollars
do?" "Yes." I shall bring it to you to-morrow. I got the money
the next morning, and when I came with it, he said, he could not
leave unless his family was taken care of. I told him I would
furnish his family with provisions for the next six months. Then
he said he had two small houses, worth four hundred an