The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-04-13
The FaRaticism o the Demo-
cratic Eesarty.

Hon. Owen Lovejoy of fIllipois, deliv-
cred speech in the House Of Represent
atives. FEBRUARY 81, taking for his text the
caption of this article. For biting sar-
casm, bold denunciation, and open chall-
enges to the Slaveocracy, we have not
seen its equal for many day.
Mr.. Lovejoy is brother to the Lovejoy
who was murdered at Alton, ILL.,, some
years since, the circumstances of which
will be remembered by many Of our read
ers.
Mr.. Lovejoy was accused by a demo-
cratic member, of harbo,ing fugitive
slaves and helping them on to freedom.
His reply to this charge is capital, re-
minding one, in its close, not little of
the spirit of sCharles Carroll of Carroll
tou," of the Declaration Of Independence
memory:
"a single word as to this charge of
negro-steaIing. I suppose | have right
to speak on this subject, having been
made the object of this allegation. So
far as any personal abuse is concerned, it
may 90 for whatit is worth. If the OBJ
iect is to ascertain whether I assist fugi
tive slaves who come to nv door and ask
it, the matter is easily disposed Of. l
march right up to the confessional, and
say, I do. [ recolect the ase of a young
woman who came to my house, who had
not single trace of African descent eth
er in feature or complexion. According
to her own story, she was betrothed to a
man of her race though not of her color,
and was before her marriage, sold to a
libertine from the South, she being in st.
Louis. She escaped, and in her flight
from life of infamy and fate worse
than death, she came and implored aid
Was to refuse it? Was l to bewray
the wanderers Was to detain her, and
give her up prey to the iDcarnate fend
who had selected her as vi ctim to Offer
up on the altar of sensualism!
Who would doit? / would not did
not. No human being, black or white
bond or free, native OF foreign, infidel Oh
Christian, ever came to my door and ask
ed for food and shelter, in the name of 6
common humanity, or of a plying Christ
who did not receive it. This l mean te
do as long as God lets me live. [ shall
never "bewray him that VANDERBILT"
shall never become slave catcher. Any
one who chooses may transform himself
into bloodhound-snuf, and scent ano
howl along the track Of the fugitive-lol
out his tongue and lap the dirty wate
that stands in muddy pools by the way
side-overtake the riffe-scarred and lash
excoriated slave, IA mother it may bt
with her infant, the love Of whom has
nerved her for the flight thrust his can
inc teeth into the quivering flesh, brace
out his fore feet, and hold the captive til
the kidknapper comes with letters ano
handouts. to load down ankles and
wrist, and then receive, as a reward O
this brutism, pat on the head from The
slave catcher, and the plaudit, "Good dog
Bose.
Sir, [ will never do this. I never vii
degrade my manhood, and stife the sym.
paties Of human nature. 1t is an insult
to claim it. l wish l had nothing worse
to meet at the judgment day than that. ]
would not have the guilt Of causing that
wall of mans despair, or that wild shrek
of womans agony, as the one or the 9th
err is captured, for all the diadems of al
the stars in heaven.
Is it desired to call attention to this
fact?. Proclaim it then upon the house
tops. Write it on every leaf that trem
bles in the forest, make it blaze from the
sun at high noon, and shine forth in the
milder radiance of every star that bedecks
the armament of God. Let it echo thro
all the arches Of heaven, aud reverberate
and below along the deep gorges of he'll
where slave catchers wi, be very likely to
hear it. OWEN LovEJoY lives at Prince
ton Illinois, three-quarters Of a mile east
Of the village, and he aids every fugitive
that comes to his door and asks it. Thou
invisible demon of Slavery, dost thou
tbink to cross my humble thresh-hold,
and forbid me to We bread to the hun
cry and shelter to the houseess? IBID
YOU DEFIANCE IN THE NAME
| OF MY GODw