Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-04-15
Death Of Owen Lovejoy.

Hon. Owen Lovejoy, M. G. for the 5tf
District of Illinois, died at Brooklyn, N
Y, on the 10Th Mar. He was born al
Albion, Me-, Jan. 9th, 1911, and was
therefore in his 54th year. The son Of
clergyman, who titled farm to ado
enough to his salary for the support Of
large family. Owen Lovejoy had the
very best sort of New England educa-
ton, resulting in stalwart, body, a clear
head, and generous heart. He labor
ed on farm till he was Is, worked his
way through Bowdoin College by teach
ing, and in 1888 migrated to Alton, III
inois, where he studied theology, under
the care of his elder brother, Rev. Eli
jah P. Lovejoy. In 1888 he was settled
as Pastor of the Congregational Church
at Princeton Illinois, which position be
held until 1854, when he was elected to
the Legislature of Illinois. In 1856 he
was elected to the 35th Congress, and be
was serving his fourth term in Congress
at the time of his death.
We have said that he had a generous
heart. He was a genial mana man of
warm sympatbies but he was a man Of
very deep feeling-we may say of strong
passions and this was best illustrated
in his intense hatred of slavery. Most
did he hate it, and never did
man more justly hate it. He had seen
the minions of slavery murder his broth
er for slavery's sake. That martyrdOm
was never forgotten never did slavery
cross his path without getting a blow
that would have been mortal if mortal
blow man could give, And slavery,
in masters W b 0 cracked
their lash on the floor Of Congress, rous-
ed in him deadly ire, and it was ever.
brayely shown. The New York Her
aid well says that 'among the many
fiery orators in thai fiery period preced-
ing the withdrawal of the southern mem
bers from Congress, Owen Loyejoy was,
perhaps, one Of the most eminent"
Nor was he eminent as an abolitionist
only. The Herald adds that he was "a
nan Of extraordinary eloquence, and had
, reputation for industry aud bravery"
This is all true. He was more than
sloquent--a man Of sterling sense, Of
'ich humor, Of sharp wit, aud we have
leard il said that he WAS the most efec-
i've speaker Of the great West on the
tump. We can easily believe it. But
lis reputation will stand chiefly as the
orator Of Freedom, and the hater Of OPP
,ression and the deliverer ofthe Cypress
d. Wei! do we remember the vain at
empt of gang of slaveocrats to intimi-
late and silence him on the floor of the
House. In violation of all rules of de-
Drum, they d vance upon him in a
ody with threats of word aud gesture
5 if they would murder him on the in-
,ant. Standing firmly in the spot he
ad taken, in the area in front of the
peaker's chair, he stood alone, with
lenched fists and angry gestures and
cree denunciations, defying all their
lalice, They were towards, led by the
owardIy Pryor, or his defiance would
ave stung them to the EXTREMIST out
age. We should not have been sur
rised had he been murdered on the spot.
iut the speaker intertered to enforce the
lles, not upon lis cowarily, assailants,
Ut upon Lovejoy. BY the rules, he had
le right to address the House, either
'om his seat or from the Clerks desk,
ut not from the place where he stood.
Instantly submitting 10 the rule, he took
is stand in the clerks desk, and direct
, fronting his assailants and the south>
N side of the House, he poured upon
lem such torrent of indignant elo-
lence as never before tingled their ears,
I'D never will again. We felt that it
as at the hazard Of his life; and had
ot every assassin known that in any con-
st with him it would be life for life, We
slieve be would have been murdered.
The hero, the great orator, the good
an has gone. We do not expect to
e his like again we do not mean to
rget him. In a recent visit to Wash u
gton one Of the pleasaRtest anticipa- ii
Jns was to renew our acquaintance c
ith Owen Lovejoy. We did visit him N N
bis sick chamber but we did not think a,
was for the last time. Now we know g
at the journey was not in vain Hal N
as Journal "