The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-26

deserved but would bring warning 10 all
others of the same principles. The mem
beers thereupon related that. a great por-
ton of the people of the colony were. dis
satisfied with the state of things existing
therein. but feared to express themselves.
IF the colony charter could be repealed
and the property divided among the mem
hers. all trouble would at once cease. He,
therefore, proposed such repeal as the
best remedy that could be applied. This
proposition met with general approval,
and petition to the legislature for the re.
peal was signed by about fifteen hundred
persons, and, as the legislature met shortly
thereafter, it was introduced and referred
to the committee on judiciary.
At this time Gen. Henderson was mem
Der of the senate, and proved himself
faithful servant Of the trustees. lie used
all his influence to defeat the petition. lie
was privately informed of the state OF
things in the colony how the charter was
usad as means to establish religion con-
trarv to Christianity and common sense
how the members were abused, and eX-
PEELED for no just cause; that serVitude
and slavery had been established In the
colony worse than in the south; ut appears
that the trustees themselves considered
the colony system as slavery, for one of
them, in company with shareholders from
the south, told them that he, the trustee
was STAKEHOLDER of superior rank because
he had nine hundred acltite S,oedash st4oeS
in the state of Winois.) The charter had
been gotten up by the trustees, and III al1
illusiye and deceitful manner Represented
to the members lit was never shown 70
them previous to its adoption.) a gfea9
nort;on of the fruits of the sweat ana nara
tahor of the members was lavshed upon
ner,ons of no principles, who approved
tha;r condnct and supported the trustees
u; ;n1 the;r Mans. but the members had no
nrotection, or at least could get none
p'TTb The General answered, IN substance,
that all religion ia this country was under
tbe control of the priests, and they were
alike The repeal of the charter. he sald,
would be wrong, for the reason that
the trustees we're to take a CON
tract to build the Western Air Lime
railroad. and if the charter was repealed
the great enterprise would very likely fall
to the ground. -
members could move the General toa leel
ing of sympathy, nor had they eXpeclou
any help from others than those Wno'ifohl
noble impulse of liberty and justice, con
slider it duty or moral obligation 'hey
owe their fellow man to assist him when
evil men combine together for his destruc-
ton.
After such labor by the friend of the
trustees, the vote in the committee STOOD
two for and two against the repeal, the
fifth member was undecided-it took him
! a long time to make up his opinion, but at
last It was expected that he would go tor
the repeal. At this time the General tel
egraphed to one Of the trustees, who soon
came to the capital. Shortly after his ar
rival the fifth man decided in favor OF the
trustees-against the repeal. tine rumol
, was that the victory cost SIX thousand dol'
lars. c a..
Let us now glance over the field Of bat
4 tle-look at the abominatiOn OF desolatlOn
;. and examine the wreaths OF laurels tina
\ deck the brows Of the victOrs. 1t Is wei
D. known fact that the charter would hav
a been repealed if the General had no
d, thrown all his influence on the side OF tn
n. trustees, thus giving aid and comfort
s. nourishment and strength to norther
in confederacy, in principle and in fact agEgr;
re ted beyond all human endurance. W
J. can count the tears, and groans, and tn
I'd sufFerings, the failure Of the repeal pre-
in duced? No human being can; but lie VIII
ir looks down in the secret of our hearts, an
who can perceive the least vibration OF on
n feelings. The agonies OF death ltse
w would be nothing IN comparison with til
ey miseries which we're brought upon tho
ed who could not play the hypocrlt and col
u sent to everything the leaders, in thelrpr
ce tended infallibility, invented and dictate
ut as a rule over the members. The General
E. success in the legislature made the trusted
IS proud. Their privilege to rule on cart
e had now, they said, not only been teste
l. but their power increased, and no one TIL
al side of hell could ever disturb them al
to more therefore the persecution was re
IS commended against all who dared to maj
I'd tain an Independent opinion of his oW
ID that in any way couflicted with those OF
nd trustees.
he Perhaps the General had meyer reflect
At upon how he would feel, if he, for no OF
d. er crime than maintaining his rights a
lal free man, was to be chased out from
co. home, and his wife and children kept
lld his enemies and taught to despise, to ha
s. and to abhor him, to please set of b
rude men.
on Another consequence of the Gener
diff. victory was, that the trustees conVertt
us large portion of the common propert,
and their individual benefit, aud haZarded
1t of colony's funds in reckless speculation,
hts beyond the means of the colony and
ONE vond their own business capacity, W
we're ot last brought on the financial ruiz