The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-06-03


have noticed in young people who are
liable to be led astray by dissipated
company. The seductiOns of Louis
vile proved too much for him: he
was not able in the midst oftemptatiOns
i to reduce his temperance lessons to
practice. After separating from the
Journal he started a paper in Peoria,
Illinois, and there died, never having
been married. Since his body has
been mouldering in the grave a whole
J generation of people have been swept
from the earth. How few among
them comparatively have like him led
a life Of sufficient Importance 'to point
moral or adorn a tale"
In his early days Edwin Forrest
/ played in Cincinnati in what was
called the Globe Theatre, on the east
side of Main, between Fifth and Sixth
streets. He was handsome young
ster but a careless player, and did not
then give promise Of future eninence.
His merit was first recognized in cities
at the South. An item in the Gazette
stated that he was starring there, but
the word was printed staring there.
I thought the spelling wrong, and so
said to the editor, Charles Hammond,
who insisted it was right. After that
I saw Forrest play Othello in the old
theatre ON Columbia street. In that
scene where the horror of the subject
eliminates, on repeating the words,
"Had all his hairs been lives, my great
revenge had stomach for them all, 4"
he had such a singular facial appear
ance, such staring look, that the peo-
pie where 1 was, near the stage, broke
out with involuntary laughter. This
is strictly true, however incredible it
may seem. The same night, after the
play was over, I heard that Forrest
had a dim idea of a conspiracy, but
there was nothing of the kind. Mr..
Hammond was ahead of me in spell
ing.
For purposes of business and pleas
lure, and to avoid a sickly climate,
Southern planters and merchants were
in the habit of visiting Northern cities
| in the summer months. Cincinnati
received its full share of this class of
visitors, who came upon US in such
numbers that our best hotels were not
always able to furnish them accom-
mOdations. Their advent was hailed
by the owners of bOatyards and iron
boundaries, who, with furniture makers
and other mechanics, found them to
be profitable customers. The COM
merciaI prosperity of the city was
greatly dependent upon Southern trade.
Breadstuffs and all our various agri-
cultural products reached their usual
markets in slave holding States.
When our Southern friends came as
usual, in the summer of 1886, they and
their families, they found an anti-slav-
cry paper printed in Cincinnati. 1t
was the Philanthropist, edited by Jas.
g. Birney, and published under the
auspices of the Anti-Slavery of Ohio.
It was conducted with decOrum, and
its professed object was perfectly legit-
imate-tO bring about a peaceful ter
minatiOn of slavery as speedily as facts,
and arguments, and appeals to the con-
sciences and understandings Of slave
holders could be made instrumental TO
effect it. Unfortunately, the public
mind was in a state not to tolerate
such paper, and its press was destroy
ed by a mob. This destruction took
place as early as the middle of June,
and Immediately there was discovered
widespread determination to stop
the publication permanently. For
some weeks the city was kept in con-
stant agitation. City papers, the
Whig, the Republican, the Peoples
Echo and the Evening Post, assisted
in keeping up the excitement. Va
rious arts of intimidation were resorted
to, but all in vain the paper contin-
ued to make its regular appearance.
At length, on the latter part of Ju-
ly, a public meeting was held in the
lower market house, where the citi-
zens had been called to decide whether
they would permit the publication or
distribution of Abolition papers in the
city. Resolutions were adopted, de-
claring in effect that anti-slavery SEN
timents must be suppressed, peaceably
if possible, but forcihly if necessary.
A committee of twelve or fifteen per-
sons was appointed to call on Mr.. Bir-
ney and his associates, to demonstrate
with them and TO warn them of the
impending danger. Considering its
Illegal nature, this meeting was re-
markabIe from the character of the
men who took part in its proceedings.
The President was a minister of the
Gospel, the Vice President was liter
ary gentleman, favorably known
throughout the country, and the Sec
retary a lawyer engaged in lucrative
practice and recognized as a teacher
in his profession. The members Ofthe
committee were no less respectable.
They were ministers of the Gospel,
merchants, manufacturers, lawyers,
one who had been a judge, and men
who were called statesmen.
For some reason the report of this
committee was delayed for a week,
when it was published. 1t contained
letter from the officers of the Anti
Slavery Society, declining to comply
with their request. Thus they an
nounced the failure of their exertions,
and earnestly implored the people to
abstain from unlawful violence. But
peaceful measures having failed, there
were those who were determined to
try what virtue there might be in
force, and on the same day, soon after
dark, the abolition press was again de-
stroyed. Now mischief was afOot,
and no one knew what course it might
pursue. After trying in vain to find
Mr.. Birney the mob increased in num-
bers and turned its fury against Unof-
Tending blacks. One house was as
sailed and the inmates routed in
Church alley. For two days and
nights mob gatherings were kept at
bay in different parts of the city by a
police force which had been called in
to service by the Mayors proclamation.
By this time a new set of men came