Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-08-06
Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune,
The Black Law Nuisance.-Thc
Niger Drivers in Lee County.
AMBoY, Ill, July "a, 1857.

AMBoY, ILL, July "a, 1857.
MEssRs. EDITORS: - For some time
past our town has been excited and our
State disgraced by an attempt at the en-
foreement of those leprous Disbursements
Of our statute books, known rs the "Black
Laws of Illinois," The circumstances are
briefly these Sometime last spring mu-
latto named De'Blaine, came to Amboy
and set up barbar's shop. A collection
of loafers who feared the competition of
this negroes respectability as compared
with their own-a most just apprehension
determined that he should not remain
in the place if they could break up his
business or bully him out of town. In
pursuance of this high-minded enterprise,
DeBlain's sign and stovepipe were stolen,
and his windows smashed in. This was
supposed to be strictly in accordance with
the views of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and our slightly gigantic
Senator 1t declared conclusiyely tina: the
negro had no rights which white men were
bound to respect. DeBlaine, however,
continued to mind his own business, which
accumulated so that he finally sent for an
assistant. This exasperated the bullies in
the highest degree. One of them, named
Bingham, went into DeBlaine's shop and
knocked him down with heavy cane, strik-
inc him of course, when the blow was un-
expected. DeBlaine fell senseless to the
floor Binoham was arrested and fined
SIS and costs. Bingham then made
another attempt to take the life ofthe bar
Der and was arrested. l understand the
prosecution was withdrawn with the un-
derstanding that prosecutions against the
barber should definitely cease.
1t was supposed that matters had now
been brought to a satisfactory close. Two
violent assaults had been made on the un-
offending man and the Ruffians had es-
capped with the ridiculous penalty of 81 3
fine. 1t would hardly do for the rowdies
to make another murderous attack on the
object of their malice. Public opinion
would have arrested them to the suburbs
on three cornered rail. A new system
of tactics was resorted to. Bingham tished
the ''black chapter out of the Revised
Statutes and got out process for De
Blame, charging him with the fragrant Of
fense of living in the State of Illinois ten
days with the intention of remaining
Per contra, Bingham was put under $500
bonds to keep the peace. The process for
DeBlane was put into the hands of an offi-
Ger who summoned a crowd of lewd fellows
of the baser sort to hunt the negro. A
motion was made that they commence
with Mayor Wyman's- house. That gen
tleman, however, suggested to them, that
due regard for their personal safety would
send them to any other quarter of the city.
DeBlane was finally arrested, but the trial
was postponed until the prosecution
was withdrawn, with the intention as al
legged, of transferring it to another tribunal.
Finally DeBlaine, harrassed and worn out
with bitterness of his persecution, his life
constantly in danger and his property de-
stroyed whenever the cowardly thieves could
lay hands on it, left the city and will not
probably return. 1t was entirely unnece>-
sary for him to take this course, as no Off
Ger in the county could have been found to
execute the provisions of the atrocious law,
and so far as personal violence was con-
cerned, he would have been protected
against the assassins by force which the
scurvy vagabonds would never choose to
come into collision with tuice. LEE.