New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-12
PROGRESS OF OPINION IN ILLINOIS.
Of Tho NY. Trlh.na
SPRINGFIELD. Monday MarcS

"1he world does novel, Only few years ago,
the people OF Illinois, and the whole country beside
were shocked with the announcement that limo
cent man, for the expression Of an honest opinion,
through pres that be, himself, owned and e,n-
roiled, was hunted down by mob, and put TO death
Your readers will recolect the scene at Alton when
LovHJoY, the martyr, was sacrificed to the blind and
nsatate fury end ignorance Of the multitude in
hamed by passion a. whisky. for the expression in
respectful and temperate manner Of the great
truths founded deep in the nature Of man, and IN
derlying the whole superstructure Of human society
in this ceuntry--tIuths, which, like sman he dared
openly avow aud defend. The scene was bor-
rible one; it has left blot upon the good name
Of Illinois, compared with which her failure TO pay
her just debts, will be, in the eyes Of the world but
a trivial offeDse. But the blood of the martyrs is
"the seed Of the Church During the session of the
Legislature just closed. We had the reverse Of the pic
ture: Owen Loveioy, the brother Of him who fell in
that unequal contest with the besotted prejudice of
the few who thirsted for his blood, stood in the
lower House, a member from the County of Bureau,
and in the presence OF the beauty fashion, talent and
morality Of the capitol end the Representatives Of the
whole State assumed broader, wider and more
IRENE ground than that, for standing on which his
brother poured out his blood. He found a symps-
tbe,ic audience; and in the home Of ouglas-in the
very ball where bic waning power was won-this type
Of the fruit which the blood Of the martyr has brought
FORTH declared in speech of two hours duration and
Of surprising eloquence, bis utter adherence Of
Slavery and the slave system, Undetermined opposition
to the slave power bis devotion to the truth of the
truths upon which the Declaration Of Independence
is based, his incorporating hostility to the Fug
tive Slave Law; and during the whole time so pro-
found the attention. and bresthless the silence
Of those who listened, that feather might have been
heard to fall At the conclusion, the deep. drawn
breatbs, the sympathetic looks, and the moistened
eyes attested the impression he had made. The pro-
priees of the place forbade further manifestation of
approval
Sir, said he, @ / not ashamed to avov my
self believer in the higher law ! hold myself
"amenablo to thstlaw, and avow, myself, my ale
"giance TO the Supreme Power that enacted il.
"would not save for the weightiest reasons declare
my intention to disregard any human enactment;
"but, Mr. Speaker, tell you and tell this House,
"tbat cannot and will not obey the requisition of
L" that Fugitive Slave bill j will brave your penal
"ties, if it need be. will meet fines and mprison-
" ment; and if the same grace shall help me that
" Sustained my murdered brother. will meet death
itself rather than aid in the execution of that in
famous enactmenti'
And the galleries sppsuded Say, does not the
world move! This in an Illinois Legislature, not
three score and ten miles from the blood stained spot
whore that 4" murdered brother" laid down his life
Mr. Lovejoy's was the fret exposition Of the doc.
trnes Of bis school ever heard in our Sate-House.
Southern members, who listened for the first time ia
their lives to an abolition trade" were surprised
hot, cnle iuetp nd
could be raked out of the depravity into which they
have supposed all Anti Slavery men to be plunged.
A family Of KentuckiaDs-good people in the main,
but violently preudced against everything that does
not chime il with Southern notions of the institution
was present After The speech was concluded, and
while the crowd was going down from the gallery to
the ro.unds member of this family said another,
bis voice yet husky from ill.concealed emotion,
" John, is that AbolitioDism 2 eyes said John,
"I reckon that's all there is OF it." "Tben" replied
the first, o have been Abotonist for more than
twenty years, only am such an old fool that
" didn't know it - The avo1al Of this honest man is
significant and it opens to all the hope that when
the doctrines of the Anti Slavery understood
NOT to mean niger stealing" and 20 anal gamaton'
when they may be eanvassed and discussed, like
other questions of vital interest in our Legislature,
and the most benighted portions of the State, tire
world of Illinois will move faster than ever before.
God speed the day
The progress Of opinion in our State is steady AMI
rapid. The events of the year sst have preciptaed
what has long been impending. The people are tired
Of Douglas and his whisky crew; and, however he
may boast however he may continue to brave his
fate the public sentiment that he has by his
subserven y TO the Souih is surely pointing to his
final overthrow and political ruin. The unfortunate
prevalence of Know Nothineism--its partial dentIf-
cation with those who hold opinions upon the Slavery
question consopsnt with the benevolence of the age
may perpe,ua;e his misrule. That Ilndoo element in
our politics-so ntolerant and nti-Republicsn-is
driving to the embrace of Nebraskaism thousands of
Germans who hate Slavery but little less than they
love to protect and defend themselves. To this class
Mr.. Douglas is atfully appealing His speeches in
the Senate and all the efforts of his friends az homs
are for the contamination OF what has already COM
mepced. We, who hate Slavery much as we love
Freedom, look on astonished at the Madness with
which men are sezed but powerless to resist the
swelling tide. We can only hope that the mania may
be short-ived-that it may exhaust itself in al inter-
pecine IIindoo war, which may do much TO repair
the injuries already inflicted.
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.