358 John Bachman. 



brought to believe his master's version of " de 

 dream," viz, that the frightful vision was the effect 

 of drink. At any rate, we feel assured that Plenty 

 disappointed the expectations of his " majesty with 

 horns." From that day the old negro sacredly 

 kept his promise to God, for he drank henceforth 

 nothing stronger than coffee, or a mild decoction 

 from the sassafras root, sweetened with molasses, a 

 favorite drink in those days, called " sassafras beer." 

 Dr. Bachman's well cultivated vegetable garden 

 gave abundant proof of old Plenty's faithfulness ; 

 and when he died years later, in great peace, due 

 honors were paid to his memory, by " de witefamly" 

 as he called them, and by his own race. 



As early as 1S37, we find Dr. Bachman, justly 

 pained by the misrepresentations of a part of the 

 Lutheran Church in the North. 



To REV. J. D. 



I have heard with regret of your remarks before 

 the Hartwick Synod, with regard to your Southern 

 brethren. That part of your Constitution, that ex- 

 cludes the slave-holder from your communion, has 

 been sent to me ; and as you have no slave-holders 

 with you, it would appear that you have travelled 

 out of the way to denounce the acts of your breth- 

 ren that are far removed. 



Having always been an advocate for unrestrained 

 freedom of thought as well as liberty of speech, I 

 felt no disposition to prevent you from expressing 

 your honest convictions. As your charges, even if 

 true, could not operate unfavorably to my useful- 



