The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-06-12

ton oi the illustrated Uncle Tom. Cable
which was issued Ia 80 samplnous styl,
duflng ibe holidays. An entirely neu
edition of this book hAd become neoes
si.y a. tbe old plates. from which som,
$50 600 copies hsd been printed. had he
come TOO mucb worn for further use.
The Publishers permit Us 10 reprint The
Introduction
HOW II cANE To BE WRITTEN
lis author, Mrs Harriet Beecher stowe.
hAd for msny years lived In Ohio 90 the
confines Of "a slave State, aud had thus
been msde familiar with facts aud occur.
renoes 10 relation to the institution OF
American slavery. Some OF the most
narrowing incidents related In tbe story
bad from time TO time come TO her knowl.
edge 10 conversation with former slaves
now free 10 Ohio. she hsd written let
ters ior former slave woman, servant in
her own family, TO S slave husband 10
Kentucky, who, trusted with unlimited
liberty, free to come aud 20 on business
between Kentucky aud Ohio, still refused
70 break bis pledge Of honor TO bis mas.
ter who from year to year deferred keep.
ing Of bis promise OF freedom TO The
slave. II was the simple honor aud loy.
atty Of this Christian black man, who re-
mained in slavery rather than violate
trust, that first impressed her with the
possibility Of such character as, years
after, was deineated 10 Uncle Tom.
But il was not for many years that she
felt any call TO make use of the materials
thus accnmulating. In fact, Il was
sort Of general impression upon her mind
as upon that Of many humane people In
those days, that The subject was so dark
aud painful one, so involved In difficult
ty and obscnrity, so utterly beyond hu
msn hope or help, that il was no use to
read, or think, or distress ones self about
IT, There was class OF professed Aboli. |
tionists In Cincinnati and the neishboring
regions, but they were Questionable
persons and few in number. They were
regarded as species Of moral monoma. I
nises, aud both 10 church and state were
looked upon IS those that troubled Is
rael.
u was general saying among consery.
alive and sagacious people that this sub.
iect was dangerous one to investigate
and tbst nobody could begin 10 read and
think uponit without becoming practical
~ insane; moreover, that il was a SUBJ
lect OF such delieacy that no discussion of
It could be held in the free States without
impinging upon the sensibiliies OF the
slave States, 10 whom alone the manage
ment OF the matter belonged
SO when DR.. Bailey-a wise, temperate
and just man-went TO Cincinnati and
set up An anti.slavery paper, proposing
fair discussion OF the subject, there was
au immediate excitement. Mobs, led by
shareholders from Kentucky, attacked ,
his Office destroyed bis printing press,
aud threw his types into the Ohio river.
In these mobs aud riots the free colored !
people were threated, maltreated abused,
and often had TO Zee for their lives, and a
Professor Stoves house was more than :
once refuge for frightened fugitives on
whom the very terrors of death had fal. 4
len. DIR. Bailey at last was induced to
remove his paper TO Washington, and TO !
conduct his investigation under the pro- !
eeiion of the National Capitol, and \
here for years he demonstrated the fact :,
hst the truth may be spoken plainly yet II
'ourteously, and with all honorable and :,
jhristian fairness, on the most exciting :,
II subjects.
After many years residence in Ohio, ?
Mrs. Stowe returned to New England,
ust IN the height of the excitement pro-
ueed by the Fugitive Slave Law. Set.
led in Brunswick, MAine. she was in -
onstant communication with friends in =
boston, who wrote to her OF the terror y
nd despair OF industrious, worthy color.
d people who hsd from time TO time es.
sped TO Boston, aud were living IN
eace aud security. She heard Of fami. Al
es broken up aud fleeing Ia the desd of is
iinter 10 the frozen shores of Canada. B
lat what seemed TO her more inexplica. le
le, more dreadful, was The apparent B
palhy Of the Christian world OF the free bI
'orth to these proceedings. The pulpits "
lst denounced them we're exceptions al
ie voices raised toremonsirale, few and r
IT between. NJ
with establishment and distress Mrs. !,
towe heard on al sides, from humane :,
nd Christian people, that The slavery Of .,
le blacks was guaranteed, constitution. -
lly right, aud that all opposition to it -
ndaugered The National Union. With -
lis conviction, she saw that even earnest ~
nd lender.hesrted Christian people ~
,emed to feel 1t a duty to close their 8
yes, ears, aud hearts to the narrowing a.
etaiis Of slavery, TO put down all discus- !.
ons OF The subject, and even to assist v
aveholders to recover fngitives 10 Nor 90
iefu States. She said to herself, the se i,
cople cannot know what slavery is;
icy do not see what they are defending;
nd hence arose purpose TO write some
Ieiehes which should show TO the world en-
svery as she bad berself seen Il. pou. no
efing this subject, she was one dsy th
lrnlnR over little boand volume OF an 70
nti-slsVery magazine, edited by Mrs Of
'r. Bailey Of Washington, aud there she tn
ssd the account OF the escape ola womsn A
iilh hsr ehid on the ice Of The Ohio on
liver from kentuekY. The incident wns be