, 1874-06-10
ADDRESS OF WELCOME,

The address Of welcome was then delivered
By Ills Excelency Gov. Doycridgo. as follows /;
Thirty odd years ago there camo q man across
tho prairics, without conpnpn or lowell laying
out n railroad. Tint man waR Owen LovoIoy-
q man hating Blavery, loving liberty, and honor
ing bis God. That road was ono hue OF tho uu-
derground iailroad-charteredn not by law, but In
moral convictions engineered not by science,
but through charity; constructed not with mon-
ey, but out OF love, freighted not with COM
merce, hut with down-troduen humanity oper-
ntea not for tho benefit Of stockhollets, but for
tho escape Of the fugitive fleeing from tho hand
Of his opprosaor. Without magnificent depota,
the home OF every despised Abo1ltioniBt in tte
land was station, whero the weary trnvotov
found rect and Refreshments, welcome, and
"God speed you."
Ono terminus was In tho land OF tla s1avo !;
and with the fixed polar star as tue uuerring
headlight, the tram ran on amid darkness nrd
storm, by devious aud diverse routes, through
valley and forest, along Swamp and stream, b7
rock and cavo. past canobrake and tl,icltot, in
lane and by-way across mountain and plain.
over prairie, hill, and lake into that land yonder
beyond the confines OF the great Republic, o,-the
shortest, quickest. and safest route from slayery
to freedom.
THE TRAIN nAN ON
amid the donunclatious Of the North and the
malignant ctrsea Of tho South. It ran on.
organizntonH. 1t on in spite Of the infamous
Engttlve-sl law, tho moro Infamous "Drod
Scott decision" aud the military Interference Of
the Executive.
the dangers throutens1, louder and iiereeer tho
whistle sounded, and fasser and faster tho train
Hlea on. lilo people stood nghaHt ut tho terrible
shrle!'. and tito vary nation rrombled boueath
the thundcr'1Igs OF tho wheels, i.
NO ONE SUPPOSED
1900. 600 OF slaves could be transported from
tho South into Canatla. No ono supposed
that tho. delivoranco Of Israel from Egvptian
bondage would be repeated on Amorican soil.
Thora wns no Moses to Load tile enslayed host
no plague to terrify--no angel Of death to aunal
no cloud by day-no pillar Of fro by night-no
Jehovah to divide the aoa. Yot the underground
rallroaa waa m inHtmmant III tho ba1,iH OF n
poses.
The lying fugitive, pursued, hunted, and cap-
tured ehcuad. hidden, and hurried on to tha cltv
OF rolnge, was q constant reminder OF tie ill.,
humanity and barkarity Of African slavery. The
Rtory OF his wrongs frum ns own lips, tic ucara
of shaeklos on Ills ankles, Of nlangvles on lis
wrists Of the iron COLLAR gu his mock, Of iii, L,l,
on his back, excited sympathy, asakepel moral
sentiment, aroused tho public couaeionce. and
brought aEitation,-s.lch agitation Of tho
aooial, mental, moral, roligialls and poticul
forces as wore noyor bofQS5 Witnessed III tins
OF any other country.
THE CONTEST
broadened and deepuncd Thn Houth In its
lronzy aud Desperation invoked war. Tho .ti,es-
lion WIS: 6hnu the country be nll anyo or oil
EreR,-shall the blnck tIag or tho flag of our
tathers wave oyor tho land The Government,
before on tho aide Of slavery, for its own honor
anu PRESERVATION, docuyoa for freeuon,, an.l
sgalnat a!nvory. Thon TIN Underground Railroad
COMPANY, with oil lts obligations canco!cd, dis
aolied. Tho tratf' STOOD Still tho ilroH OF tho
ei,Hiho Went out and in q day tllo proclamation
oI llo immortal Lincoln, baokel by tho War
lutnh! dc year Ut jnbiloe l.ah colue IL
THE MEN
who had part In this great struggle. men
who initiated and carried on ai1f forward ii,n
a,tl.slayory movement to n glorious co,sumna.
ton; tho mon wlIu hacntuo aHitatUrB. wars no.
cursed as Black Abolttonlsts wore duuouucotl
as negro -tAiovos; Wore scofnod Heolrcd npd
hnoore1 at by the popuiaca; wcre mobbou.
beaten, and inlprlaonod; aud to wlloBo eurs cano
tho wl cry llise that aurgns oyor thu Jewigh
rabblo.'" Away with tAo,nl Away with them
Cruelty then! Cruotfy them !''-tllo men who
endrrol Eli, sufforad all, nud through faitA nud
thoy3 '0'o wv
4undy Lovotoy tho Martyr, Collins, Huuter,
yWoh Aovojoy, Henderson, Coltlny, JoBlyn. nr.
!i' and nurkle, of our own Immediate eec-
tlon. atd Of the nation, Holly I3rney, IIale,
muanls, olaae, ulddings, CllaHo Lewis, summer.
3oriy. L9ayltt, tho two Iappss,a, A!yan Stewart,
He9'an aroe4, Parker, lsrainard, Stevens. Qroe-
iuy. neMa1a, Lincoln and old Jol,n Irowi1, Mar
eaIet raliof. sarRl urimho, and Mrs, Higourney.
sna host Vt others. have goue-.gono to wsar