Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-23
Che Anti glaperp Bngle
SALEM, OHIO, JANUARY %, 1858.
A TRIP TO INDIANA.
G.. X. W.

DEAR READERS: Without once saying-by you
leave, We have been for three weeks past absent on
an Anti. Slavery expedition in Indiana. An expe-
ditiOn which though laborious has been one of in
terest to us and we hope not p%rofitless to our good
cause. 1t was our intention to have kept you pos
ted from week to week con corning our doings, but
as we had no other public speaker in company,
daily lecturing, travelling and The discussion, pub.
lie and private, which the addresses provoked, so
exhausted both time and energy that we could not
write.
Our labors were confined mainly to MARSHALL
and Kossciusco counties. These, Especially the
Iormer), are comparatively new, though becoming
thickly dotted over with the cabins of the set
tiers, and in many places the settlers are commence
ing their second improvements, and the erection oil
spacious barns and commodious houses was going
forward, till the hard times" checked their pro
gress. The older portions of Marshall county pre-
sent many well cultivated and beautiful farms.
The soil, in its native state presenting q growth of
magnificent timber, altogether surprising that of
Eastern Ohio, consists OF a deep, black, sandy
loan, very easy of cultivation and very productive,
especially in grass, corn and wheat. This descrip
ton answers for what is called the 'timbered land
Besides this, a portion of the country consists of
what is called ''barrens" and the term is aptly
descriptive of its appearance. 1t is covered
with a stunted growth of shrubs, and a dwarfed,
leaning and crooked growth of timber, principal,
ly oak, and the whole, as is also much of the tim
bered land, in ters2ersed with wet praries or mar
shes, many of which are productive in cranberries,
Il fruit of some commercial importance in this new
country, and especially valuable to the settlers,
whilst their orchards are growing-which by the
way are not as numercusly planted as they should
be, in the commencement.
Plymouth, the county seat, and for the present,
the terminus of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and
Chicago Rail Road, is a PLEASANTLY situated town,
which gives marks Of the enterprise and energy Of
its inhabitants, though Judging from my poor
success in getting up an audience there, their en-
terprise is not much directed to anti.slavery reform,
The meeting was held in the Methodist Chapel,
a convenient and pleasant room. But we had but
few persons present, and among those few, three
persons we're found ready to criticise and object,
one a Republican doctor, one a Wesleyan clergyman
and the other rejoicing in the combined virtues OF
a Methodist clergyman and a Democratic Lawyer
and office seeker. However we rejoice TO say we
got along comfortably and escaped safely from this
. combination of forces against us. Plymouth il
e should he stated was the only exception among
5 our meetings, to a numerous audience. In many
cases the numbers were altogether equal to the
a full capacity Of the houses where they were held
/. and these houses were Arrays churches, where
f such were found in the neighborhood. To Rev
Mr.. Thompson Of the United Brethren church anC
to Rev. Mr.. Stonney of the Wasleyans, we are in
debted for cooperation. The former though hav
ing a protracted meeting in progress in the Baptis
house in which We were to speak on Sunday, il
Warsaw, suspended it's exercises and with hi
church attended our meeting at IL o'clock, A. NJ
e and gave his public approval of the principles ad
= vanced. A Lawyer present however could no
. refrain from joining issue with us in our applica
c ton of the higher Law to the government. lie wa
for doing somehin9," even if temporarily he hac
e to suspend the Divine Law in favor of the Consti
), tuition.
r AT tho request Of Mr.. Stonney, we accompanied
e him to two Of tie preaching places on his circuit
He himself made the arrangements for our meet
+, ings, publicly announced them on the Sabbath
e and when they were held gave us valuable aid b,
a his presence ond influence. Mr.. S. is a fearless
a hearty friend Of truth and humanity. With sucl
e men on all our circuits, and as settled pastors o
our churches, the day of deliyeranee to the slav
u would speedily come.
d At Etna Green we spoke on a Sabbath, and afte
/, our discourse was concluded, a pompous Democrat
If ic Doctor, with the swagger of a slave driver, chal
lenged US to a public discussion. We invited hin
4" to proceed at once. This he declined, for tire
~ reasons: LIST, it would take nine hours to presen
E his views 2nd, Ae had not his documents witt
y him, and Sd, wha, he had to say was not suitabl
to be said upon the Sabbath. This last statemen
: we could readily believe, and as we doubted tn
~propriety Of his nine hours speech Gu any day