, 1874-04-25
"a HlGGER LOOSE"

to mind m incident that occurred within my orn
ojsa1yation. As it illustrates public sentiment
in one section OF our State only eighteen years
ago, bog to present 1t as mark Of the history
Of the times In which We have lived. Il seems
scarcely credible TINT they should have changed
so radically in 30 short petiod, more indeed,
than many century in the worlds annals can
exhibit. But to my story:
In 1856, during the Fremont campaign,
made my first - atunping II tour, through
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
That part Of the State was hopelessly Democratic;
but preferred to labor where tho hardeat work
was to be done. and SO, without the fear Of tar
and feathers and ancient eggs before my eyes,
as warned BY many, even made speech in
Cairo to small crowd, and, in most CASES, was
heard patiently and respectfully. An ardent
young Republican by the name Of Stores made
the appointments and put up the bills, which
were, in most cases, torn down long boforo the
meeting. Trees and bar-rooms we're not per-
mitted to be adorned with information in regard
to Fremont " Abolition movements.
Ono Of these meetings vas held ut
tsMAEAxpA,"
in Union County, IL miles north Of Jonesboro.
There we're not ha1f-a-dozen houses there, but
perhaps hundred persons from the surround
ing hills gathered under the wood-aaed 1t the
depot, in the afternoon, to hear what " the Chi
cago Abolitionist had to say for himseH: The
point in that campaign mas chiefly that
ssEs rnsas soaa a.se ea asas had ses es
regarded as settled, and the repeal Of the Hts
sour Compromise, again removing the excite
ment, and preparing the way for the e1tens1cu
Of Slavety into the Territories was severely con
demned. On this point and others quoted
in tn IN al.
ling effect. Admitting that Slavery. under the
compromises Of the Constitution, had right to
exist whore it WAS, the people were willing to
listen to the arguments against its extension !;
and ny audience st Makanda seemed to think
that xas not 30
TERRIBLE An ABoLlI1oS1sT
as the Democracy had represented.
One man, who had discriminating mind, and
sharp, soI1d sense, came up to talk with me aftor
the meeting, and was invited by Mr. Mcconnell,
to take tea with me. OF course
nc had long talk on the general subject Of
| politics. As he Was q type Of the people then by
| fur the largest majority in Southern Illinois,
rather above the average, it ls true,-
HIS HISTORY
greatly Interested mo.
He lived on the farm on which his father--a
North Ca1o1inian-sett1ed, seven miles southeast
OF Makanda, when he (the sony Was only 8 gea1s
old. He was then nearly 60, but looked at least
| Tharo ~ ~ h,d never heen nuhlio rond.-oniv
hridIe1naths in different directions from tia
farnn. He said hu ronld, orrn ~ his asc, travel
| si1 months to find another section Of country
| similar to what his heEue Was for nearly fifty
years after be settled upon it. His father built
| 4 Iog-house, and for two or three years they
we're quite busy clearing of spots WHARF they could
raise some garden-truck, corn potatoes, tobacco,
| and cotton, Their horses, mules. cattio,
n,,d hogs needed not tie least care tho rear
round. In the winter they betook themselves
| to the sheltered valleys, and took good care
of themselves. Game Of all kinds Was most
abundant. Geese, ducks, wild turkeys, aud
enau 1arue. in their season could be killed in
the greatest profusion; and, whenever they
wanted deer or bear, they knew right where
| to 20 and get it. Wolres, coona, and foxes gaye
them more ac.iye sport. These people had moth
| ing whatever to do but to
LIVE AND ESJoT THEMSELVES
| Their vanta wero few, and with two or three OK
captions, we're all supplied within themselves.
| OF the hitter living some thirty milos or less
! from both the Mississippi and the Ohio, When
ever they wanted powder and lead they packed b
mule with Skins, and, going to either river, read
! ily procured . months or half-years supply
4 railmay-car VIE the slowess and the only pub
lie conveyance for landtrayel this nan Of nearly
| GO had ever seen. Living below the east
! and west lines, between Shawneetown and Kas-
] kaskin, St. Louis and CINCINNATI, he aud his
| ueichhora, till the Illinois Central Railway
| plowed q furrow through the ignorance and the
seclusion Of Southern illinois, had been as COM
pletely isolated US il they had lived at the mouth
| Of the Yellowstone. Since then, nothing is
| more cheering and wonderful than the marked
progress Of the people 10 that part Of our noblo
| state.
After this preface, already much too long, let
| us hasten to our subject.
IA S11aER LOOSE"
During the evening, Mcconnell, true, gener-
ous-hea1ted Scotchman, and the only man who
| dared to own himself Fremont man-aud that
in very quiet way, however-in or about
| Makanda, gave me great deal Of information
in regard to the state OF public opinion in South
| cru 1llipois. Abo1itionists were everywhere
despised and Cursed. and no man ostenaibiy
an Abolitionist would baye been permitted to
address the people. Handbils offering rewards
for runaway negroes were often seen pos ted On
trees, and in stores, bar-rooms, and other public
pIaces. Two OF three hundred dollars for catch
inng "niggcr" and handing him back to his
master Would be nice thing, and furnish ..tho
baser sort" who did it with bad whisky for rnany
q week 70 come. This class was always on the
alcrt,-"n nigger loose" must be nabbed and
woe bo to the man who dared to help tho poor
fugitive to escape.
Some three weeks before / was the guest Of
Mcconnell very early ono morning bis boy,
who had gone into the out-kitchea to kindle a
his ron,,, ft,a ..v.