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Literary
September 30, 1866
The Daily Phoenix
Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
Satirical dream vision where Parson Brownlow, inspired by Washington's ghost, purges corrupt U.S. rulers, hangs Southern men, displaces families for blacks, and promotes interracial marriage, ending in horror as he awakens.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
MISCELLANY
The Vision of Parson Brownlow.
'Twas the mid-hour of night. The saintly Brownlow reclined upon a bed of down. All of human kind was wrapped in slumber and in silence, while the "voices of the night" formed a medley consisting of the screams of the night-hawk, the chattering of katydids, the chirping of crickets, and the buzz and hum of busy insect life, to which night and darkness brings no rest. And above and hoarser than all was the bass gurgle of the surly, slow-moving Cumberland. Undisturbed by these sounds, the pious Brownlow slept. And as he slept, he dreamed. And this was his vision:
He thought that the settlement of the difficulties of his beloved country was a labor cast upon his shoulders. A voice from the tomb of Washington had broken in upon his holy meditations, and these were the words it spake:
"Take up thy staff, O, mighty man of God. Take up thy staff and turn thy footsteps toward thy country's capital.
"The rulers, and the chief priests, and the council of the sanhedrim, have turned the temple of American liberty into a market, where place-hunters and political bawds most do congregate.
"For acceptance and endorsement of 'My Policy,' policies are issued upon the various offices of the country, even unto enemies of the saints.
"Our Eden is in possession of the snake, even the copperhead, and the shining angels of New England dare not enter therein.
"There is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth in that land, and the voice of their lamentation ascendeth above the mountain tops, and a woe hangs over the valleys like unto a great cloud.
"Go thou up, and with thy staff clear the temple of these unholy men.
"And lift thy voice up, calling all the peoples together.
"And after much prayer and consultation, do thou the work that is set before thee, and thy name shall be called blessed in the land."
And straightway he uprose, and taking his staff in his hand, turned towards the city of the Presidents. And he found the rulers in the high places of the temple, and gathered about them were the enemies of the saints. Those who were worshippers in the temples of idolatry, and bow the knee to the constitution: Those who followed the Southern David to the cave of Adullam: Those who speculated on the misfortunes of the country in the day of war, thereby putting money in their purses: And the true, the good, and the loyal among the people stood afar off, and pitiful was the sound of their weeping.
And he laid about him with his staff, and the false rulers were driven from the places they had desecrated. And he called the true, the good and the loyal of the people about him. And he ordered them to construct gibbets, upon which to hang male-factors by the million. And then he sent his officers out among the people of the South, and had the male people thereof brought to him in chains, and these he hanged. The women and children of those people were then scourged from their homes, and the homes were given to the blacks. And the good people of New England were exceedingly rejoiced thereat. And it became lawful for a man to put away his white wife and take unto himself a wife from the chosen race. And many people did this. Even he who had proved his country's saviour, put away the wife of his bosom, the mother of his children, and took unto himself a woman of Africa. And the woman of Africa was fond of her cups, and was quarrelsome when in the wine. And one day when she had been partaking of the wine, a dispute arose between them, and the new wife seized an implement used in the hewing of wood. And raising it above her head, while many and strange oaths flowed from her mouth, buried the keen blade in his head. With a shriek of horror, hair standing on end, eyes starting from their sockets, and face all ashy pale, the man-loving and God-adoring Brownlow started from his sleep—and lo! 'twas all a dream!
"My love, what is the matter?" exclaimed the startled Mrs. Brownlow.
"I thought hell had broken loose," was the saint's reply.
[Louisville Courier.]
The Vision of Parson Brownlow.
'Twas the mid-hour of night. The saintly Brownlow reclined upon a bed of down. All of human kind was wrapped in slumber and in silence, while the "voices of the night" formed a medley consisting of the screams of the night-hawk, the chattering of katydids, the chirping of crickets, and the buzz and hum of busy insect life, to which night and darkness brings no rest. And above and hoarser than all was the bass gurgle of the surly, slow-moving Cumberland. Undisturbed by these sounds, the pious Brownlow slept. And as he slept, he dreamed. And this was his vision:
He thought that the settlement of the difficulties of his beloved country was a labor cast upon his shoulders. A voice from the tomb of Washington had broken in upon his holy meditations, and these were the words it spake:
"Take up thy staff, O, mighty man of God. Take up thy staff and turn thy footsteps toward thy country's capital.
"The rulers, and the chief priests, and the council of the sanhedrim, have turned the temple of American liberty into a market, where place-hunters and political bawds most do congregate.
"For acceptance and endorsement of 'My Policy,' policies are issued upon the various offices of the country, even unto enemies of the saints.
"Our Eden is in possession of the snake, even the copperhead, and the shining angels of New England dare not enter therein.
"There is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth in that land, and the voice of their lamentation ascendeth above the mountain tops, and a woe hangs over the valleys like unto a great cloud.
"Go thou up, and with thy staff clear the temple of these unholy men.
"And lift thy voice up, calling all the peoples together.
"And after much prayer and consultation, do thou the work that is set before thee, and thy name shall be called blessed in the land."
And straightway he uprose, and taking his staff in his hand, turned towards the city of the Presidents. And he found the rulers in the high places of the temple, and gathered about them were the enemies of the saints. Those who were worshippers in the temples of idolatry, and bow the knee to the constitution: Those who followed the Southern David to the cave of Adullam: Those who speculated on the misfortunes of the country in the day of war, thereby putting money in their purses: And the true, the good, and the loyal among the people stood afar off, and pitiful was the sound of their weeping.
And he laid about him with his staff, and the false rulers were driven from the places they had desecrated. And he called the true, the good and the loyal of the people about him. And he ordered them to construct gibbets, upon which to hang male-factors by the million. And then he sent his officers out among the people of the South, and had the male people thereof brought to him in chains, and these he hanged. The women and children of those people were then scourged from their homes, and the homes were given to the blacks. And the good people of New England were exceedingly rejoiced thereat. And it became lawful for a man to put away his white wife and take unto himself a wife from the chosen race. And many people did this. Even he who had proved his country's saviour, put away the wife of his bosom, the mother of his children, and took unto himself a woman of Africa. And the woman of Africa was fond of her cups, and was quarrelsome when in the wine. And one day when she had been partaking of the wine, a dispute arose between them, and the new wife seized an implement used in the hewing of wood. And raising it above her head, while many and strange oaths flowed from her mouth, buried the keen blade in his head. With a shriek of horror, hair standing on end, eyes starting from their sockets, and face all ashy pale, the man-loving and God-adoring Brownlow started from his sleep—and lo! 'twas all a dream!
"My love, what is the matter?" exclaimed the startled Mrs. Brownlow.
"I thought hell had broken loose," was the saint's reply.
[Louisville Courier.]
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Vision Or Dream
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Political
Liberty Freedom
Slavery Abolition
What keywords are associated?
Parson Brownlow
Political Satire
Dream Vision
Reconstruction
Southern Punishment
Interracial Marriage
Washingtons Ghost
Literary Details
Title
The Vision Of Parson Brownlow.
Form / Style
Satirical Dream Narrative In Prose
Key Lines
"Take Up Thy Staff, O, Mighty Man Of God. Take Up Thy Staff And Turn Thy Footsteps Toward Thy Country's Capital."
"The Rulers, And The Chief Priests, And The Council Of The Sanhedrim, Have Turned The Temple Of American Liberty Into A Market, Where Place Hunters And Political Bawds Most Do Congregate."
And He Ordered Them To Construct Gibbets, Upon Which To Hang Male Factors By The Million.
And It Became Lawful For A Man To Put Away His White Wife And Take Unto Himself A Wife From The Chosen Race.
With A Shriek Of Horror, Hair Standing On End, Eyes Starting From Their Sockets, And Face All Ashy Pale, The Man Loving And God Adoring Brownlow Started From His Sleep—And Lo! 'Twas All A Dream!