Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-28
THE TOLEDO WAR.

Among the "reminiscences of the past which the
old settlers delight to rccitc to the rising genera
ton, tho most pleasing of them all is tho history OF
the TolodoWar. Probably no contest 50 bloodlcss in
its results has ever secured for State such impor-
tant advantages rs did that violent war of words.
and yet, by most tho recollection of it is gone,
though only a few years since the ghost of the
Bailey war horse made his last appearance in our
legislative halls. Tho history, too, of the old war
horse, is not without some items of interest, MS the
claim incident upon his being founderod and sub
scqucnt death, formed for years after q sufficient
subject to prolong tho session to ninety days, whom
every other pretcxt was used up.
Along the southern boundary Of our State was a
strip Of land, some ten miles wide, noted for its
b~lack-ash swamps and magnificent bull-frogs. In
this strip was included, we believe, the present
town Of Toledo, and the deserted city of clapboards
and shingles, ON the Maumcc below, (namc forgot
ten at present. This territory was also somewhat
celebrated in song for VIC find it reported in the
poetry Of that country, that
"Thc potatoes they grow small in Maumoc.n
And also, tho somewhat inconsistent assertion
that
"Thc girls are fat as hogs in Maumec."
Over this interesting domain Michigan claimed
dominion, and, claiming, prepared to exercise it.
Ohio as earnestly resisted, and then came tho tue
of war. From the valley of tho Kalamazoo and
the Grand River. the hardy pioneers fastened to
join their brethren in the eastern part of the State,
to rcpel the Buckeye invader from the soil, or por-
ish in the attempt. And a most Formidable array
soon stretched along the southern boundary. So
near did the opposing forces como, that they actu-
ally crossed b%ayonets, and drank each others
health in good old Ohio, from the Same Jug.
Watermelon patches and hcn-roosts suffered be-
You'd all precedent, and a faithful chronicle of the
times assures us that at an unlucky game of poker
one night, q Major.Genoral of Ohio militia was
skinned by o fourth Corporal Of Michigan volun-
tecrs.
of course such civil, or perhaps VIC should say
uncicH commodities, could not long escape the at
%tcntion of the General Government, and accord.
ingly the attention of Congress was carly called to
the unhappy relations existing upon the north-wcs
frontier, and all their power was at once put forth
to stay the tide of destruction where it was. They
succeeded in clfccting q sediment of difficulties
something after this wise: Michigan was to releasC
her hold upon thostcn- milo strip, which was to re
vert to Ohio, frogs, swamps, Manhattan, Toledo
and all and in turn she was to have that vas
tract of territory commonly called the Upper Pc
ninsula. No adequate idea, indeed no conception
was at that time had of tho vast mineral resources
which have placed Michigan among the first States
OF the world Tor ineXhaustiblo mines Of mineral
wealth. Indeed the mammoth boulder Of the On
tonagon had long been known to the trappcr and
voyager, and an indian tradition told of hidden
treasures; but like the pictures on her rocks, Su-
pcrior's treasures were considered more of the fancy
than the reality. The country was then under the
government Of the American Fur Company, and
the Ohioans' thought u "gallus trade" they
got when they retained the frogs and we took the
natives and unexplored wilds Of the North.
"But now, what unexpected vision dawns.'n
American energy has tunnclod tho mountain
side, and the specific taxes paid on the capital o
mining companies alone almost support the STATE
Government. Mountain upon mountain of iror
piled up, only awaits the labor of man and invest
mcnt of capital to yield richer return than Cali!or
MIA or GolcOnda's mines.
No longer do the barriers of nature in.orpos,
their obstacles to trade, for human industry ha
overcome them all, and now far away on that in
land sea the white wings Of commerce are every
where seen and on its remotcst shore q city i
springing up which in business and Importance
must vie with its sister City of the Straits. Such
Pensioners Of the Toledo War, are some of tn,
fruits of your labor; such the results Of the peril
and dangers you have undergone.