books, papers, and private
memoranda, and hearing his defence, found him guilty--1st. "Of being a
member of an Anti-Slavery Society in Ohio." 2d. "Of having in his
possession periodicals published by the American Anti-Slavery
Society." And 3d. "They BELIEVED he had circulated these periodicals,
and advocated in the community the principles they inculcated." The
Chairman, (says Mr. Dresser,) then pronounced that I was condemned to
receive twenty lashes on my bare back, and ordered to leave the place
in twenty-four hours. This was not an hour previous to the
commencement of the Sabbath. Mr. Dresser gives the following account
of the infliction of the sentence:

"I knelt to receive the punishment, which was inflicted by
Mr. Braughton, the city officer, with a HEAVY COWSKIN. When
the infliction ceased, an involuntary feeling of thanksgiving
to God, for the fortitude with which I had been enabled to
endure it, arose in my soul, to which I began aloud to give
utterance. The death-like silence that prevailed for a
moment, was suddenly broken, with loud exclamations, "G--d
d--m him, stop his praying." I was raised to my feet by Mr.
Braughton, and conducted by him to my lodging, where it was
thought safe for me to remain but for a few moments.

"Among my triers, there was a great portion of the
respectability of Nashville. Nearly half the whole number,
professors of Christianity, the reputed stay of the church,
supporters of the cause of benevolence in the form of tract
and missionary societies and Sabbath schools, several members
and most of the elders of the Presbyterian church, from whose
hands, but a few days before, I had received the emblems of
the broken body, and shed blood of our blessed Saviour."
(!!!!)

Mr. Breckinridge has twice referred to the appearance of a runaway
slave at my lectures in London, and has accused me of carrying him
about with me, to enact interludes during my meeting. I can assure Mr.
Breckinridge that I never had any thing to do with the attendance of
Moses Roper at my meetings, or with the speeches he delivered. On
neither of the occasions mentioned had I any knowledge of his being in
the chapel until I found him among the rest of my auditors. As for
denying the facts stated by him, knowing as I do the brutalizing
effects of slavery, and the state of society in the slave States of
America, it is out of the question.