Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-01-02

about the same time with Lundy, and
was his intimate friend. Well educated
and with an enthusiastic devotion TO the
principles of liberty and equality, Ge-
Minis active intellect and ready pen, oc-
cuoied necessarily in every department
of progressive thought in which he
might benefit the State or his fello W.
men, were repeatedly employed and es-
pecial!y eloquent in denouncing the
evils of slavery. As an associate o!
Luudy's, there is no doubt that the fine
culture and the habits of trained labor
OF this remarkable main had large In
fiueBce on the mental character OF his
friends.
AT ST. Ciairsville Lundy continued TO
work ut his trade, aud considered him
self prosperous in business; but hi;
thoughts were occupied with plans aud
possibilities in the interests of humani-
ty- Though possessed of but a very Or
dinary English education, he had det o.
ted his leisure hours to reading and
study, and acquired some facility in the
use OF language in committing his ideas
TO writing. ] have in my possession a
copy of printed hand-bill, or broad
side" which is probably the first of his
compositions ever issued from the press
The heading is as follows: 80 the A d.
vocales OF African Emancipation, who
are sensible OF The wrongs of thUse un.
happy beings now writhing and groan-
ing under the iron hand of oppression
and who are willing to aid snd assist
in devising means to release them from
the chains which have so long held them
in the most grievous bondage Ii il
signed, "Phiio JusIicia," and dated st
Ciairsyilie, lst month, 4th, 1875" L,
proposes to obtain cooperation by
forming societies to promote 'emanci.
patton and the dissemination of anti
slavery views, iu every ueighborhood
where a sufficient number OF interested
persons might be found the societies
to adopt common name, and a com
mon form OF Constitution, under which
they should all act, correspond and CO.
operate.
Lundy made repeated excursions on
foot, visiting every neighborhood in the
region around about, and by his per-
sonal exertions got the people together
aud organized societies. Ii was on one
of these occasions that the writer OF
this sketch--then a boy-frst saw him
and as he was repeatedly at our house
became familiar with his personal ap-
pearance. There he organized the
Union Humane Society of Goshen
township" 1t was there for the first
time witnessed the novel and astonish-
ing formalities $50 the, appeared to
mei, usual in the proceedings of pub
lie meetiug-the nomination of the
Chairman and Secretary, the making OF
motions and the putting of questions
The meeting in this instance consisting
of eight or ten persons, besides "Benja-
min" and my father. Benjamin (as
they called. hin) presided as the chair
man. How should ever forget a scene
to me so Impressive! remember per-
fectiy how he looked and spoke. His
stature, according to my recollection,
was rather under the medium height.
and he was slightly built and THU, aud
what might be called delicate-looking
but straight as an arrow. l think his
weight at that time could not have been
more than one hundred and thirty lbs.
His complexion was very fair, and his
hair and thin side whiskers sandy or in-
clining to red. He had an agreeable
face, might say almost handsome; a
low mild voice, and pleasant address ;
was easy and un assuming in manner,
but earnest and serious. He was quite
hard of hearing. Such are the impress
sions of my memory relative to this re-
rnarkable young man, who at the time
had never undertaken to address a pub
lie meeting, but who was trying to move
the world.
The little bands of humane men
which ne thus quietly organized, were
not altogether without something prac-
ticahto do. What were afterwards call
ed the "Black Laws of Otio," had been
enacted a few years before, and were
then in force. These laws were swept
from the statute books by that singular
political combination which placed Sal
mon P. Chase in the Senate of the U.
States. Every black and mulatto (the
word "colored" had not then been ap-
pied to thern) coming into the State,
was required to give bond with secu-
rity, that he would not become town
Ship charge. Occasionally a cOlored
man, with his family, came from Vir-
ginia or North Carolina, and went to
work to make living in Ohio. Tnere
we're those then. as well as since, that
could snuff "nigger" at a distance, and
who were not slow to set the officers of
the law on the track OF the intruder
The Union Humane Society of the
often interfered in such
cases in behalf OF the poor man and his
family, either ia furnishing security of
seeing that the legal rights he had were
protected. In these cases the legal ad-
vice and assistance of Charles Ham,
mond were always sought and prompt
ly given.
Lundy lived about four years at st.
Clairsviile, during which time he fire.
quentIy contributed selected matter to a
weekly paper called the Philanthropist,
which had then lately been established
by Charles Osborn, Quaker In the
neighhoring town of Mount Pleasant.
This paper was not strictly an an;i-sla-
very publication, though Osborn sym
pathized fully with Lundy, and willing
Iy inserted articles bearing on the sla-
very question. II should not be con.
founded with paper of the same name
established ut Cincinnati about twenty
years later, and devoted exclusively to
the anti-slavery movement. OF Lun-t
dy's connection WITH the paper at Mt.
Pleasant. he gives the following ae-
count.
2 eater he (Osborne) had published
the Philanthropist few months. l was
surprised al receiving from him a re-
quest that should assist in editing it.
The thought that ! gould do such a.
thing had not then eyer occurred to me.
But on his repeating therequest, con-
sented to try; aud from that moineat,
Whenever thought something ought to
be done, my maxim has been, though
doubtful OF my ability, try. Although
L resided ten les from the office, and
was actively engaged in other business,
| continued for some time to write edi-
torial for the paper"
AT length, Osborn proposed to sell
;,to IN, ha 20 hli iol, Mt