Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-01
THE DAILY RECORD-UNION.
QUADRUPLE SHEET.
FLOR the Record Union.l
WHITE-LIVERED BROADBRIM.
JUNIUs HENRI BROWNE.

hard WORK and rigid economy Eau Bdlueu d
small independence. They had farm, on
which almost anybody but thrifty New
England farmer would have starved, and
they were so bent on farming, as they call
tilling rocks in that section, that they de-
cided TO rear their boys to the same severe
and unremunerative occupation. Matthew,
however, had no fancy of the kind. He
had bias in favor of the law, and after ac-
quiring an ordinary education at neigh
boring academy, he went to Worcester to
engage in legal studies. Soon after reach
ing his twenty-ffth year he was admitted
to the bar, and then he announced to his
parents his determination to seek his for
tune in the West. They tried hard to
dissuadehim but, finding that his mind was
made up, they parted with him sadly, CIV
ing him their blessing and a Bible, and en-
joining him to remember always the Chris.
tian precepts in which he had been so
carefully instructed.
Kansas, to which a number of New
Englanders had already emigrated this
was during the summer of 1850, seemed
to be good field for young lawyer, not
withstanding political troubles had already
begun there, and to Kansas he went. He
believed that the civil discord would soon
be settled, and even if it were not, he felt it
to be sort of duty, having been reared as
an abolitionist, and being conscientiously
opposed to slavery, to lend his moral inhu-
ence to the Free State men in their effort
to resist Missouri aggression.
He arrived at Lawrence toward the end
of July, Just after Governor Reeder had
been removed after the Territorial Legis-
lature had expelled the Free State men and
given their seats to the pro-slavery men,
originally returned, as wasalleged, by fraud
ulent votes. For man of peace-and he
had been bred understandable could
not well have reached more uncongenial
place at a more uncongenial season. Feel
ing between the two parties was intense
the entire community was on the verge of
war the most pacific of the inhabitants
went armed everybody was prepared to
fight for his principles. Law was out of
fashion in the Territory disorder and an
archy had usurped its place. 1t was plain
TO Irkel that if he intended to stay there
he would better study military tactics than
Coke or Blackstone, and he was so dissat-
isfied with the appearance of things that
he would have gone away at once, had he
not considered departure humanity under
the circumstances.
Because | am opposed to fighting, he
said to himself, sit is no reason why l
should run away. Heroism consists in
moral courage. This is the place for me to
prove my Christianity. Here | am, and
here | intend to remain.
He took no very active part in politics,
although he did not hesitate to express
his convictions and opinions. when
there was any occasion to. In so small a
town as Lawrence everybody knew what
side everybody was on. Irkel had not been
there a week before he was as clearly I'M
derstood to be nigger-stealer SO the
Missourians designated it-as if he had
placarded his principles in each of the half
dozen rum shops of the village. The feel
ing between the opposite parties grew Bit
terer and bitterer; personal rencounters fire.
quently occurred every Yankee was
liable to insult and assault on account of
his nativity, and the lion was aroused in
some of the most lamb-like natures The
Free State men became intolerant and
violent after a while, and were often the
aggressors, although they claimed to be
always on the side of law and order.
Irkel had been employed as counsel in a
number of cases, but they had all grown
out of the existing troubles, and few were
peeuniarily profitable. Still, he thought
he saw very favorable opportunity in the
future for such talents as he had, and he
waited patiently for the cessation of
confusion and tumult. But things rather
deteriorated than improved as the months
went on. The Constitutional Convention
had assembled at Topeka, and in Novem-
Der had promulgated Constitution pro-
hibiting slavery, which reused the South
erners to a pitch of fury, and put the
"Yankees in frame of mind undeniably
belligerent. A number of men were killed
on each side. Governor Shannon, who had
succeeded Reeder, called out the militia,
and the town was, for time, in state of
siege.
All this while, poor Irkel had been very
unfortunately situated his non combative.
ness had been most severely tested he
had shown on several occasions a moral
courage little less than sublime for after
his arrival, it was ascertained that he was
conscientiously opposed to fighting, and
consequently temptations to fight were in
cessantly thrown In his way.
Kansas at that period swarmed leith
DULLES as well as ruffians, fellows
not exactly towards, but fellows
who were morbidly anxious to be
considered insensible to fear; who
boasted that they loved to fight; who pre-
ferred to seem brave rather than to be
brave, since the seeming was unattended
with any particular risk. One of these
half drunk, of course encountered the
lawyer in the main street one afternoon
and denounced him as i'd niger
thief" simultaneously drawing revolver,
and inviting him to do the same.
81 have no cause to quarrel with you, y
replied Irkel. Besides, l object to fight
ing on principle, as you know very well.
Otherwise, you would not try to pick a
quarrel with me without cause"
'It's id lie! I'd ruther fght'n eat
any day."
That doesn't prove your courage. II
weren't non-combatant I'd rather fight
they prepare here. What's being shot at
TO aLUachlnS one Vi your hdusds ledtHeI
steaks swimming in flies and grease !"
This presentation of the ludicrous side
of the question, which the lawyer had
often found effective, caused the tipsy ruff
fan to break into horse laugh, and he
roared out : That's so pard you've got
the thing down to dot, thah; you and me
must board at same place, sure. Ha, ha,
ha That's rough on the steak, but id
true every word. I've been thar. Let's
take drink. Theys white streak in you
if you do steal niggers. "
Irkel declined-he could not have been
more courteous if the fellow had spoken to
him with all fairness-and went his way
while Jack Barry. as he was called, steadied
himself at hitching-post, and looking at
the retreating figure, soliloquized: ON
queeah Yankee, that some good stuff in
him. If he'd get drunk and fight, he'd
pass for a gen'l'man.
This was sample OF the treatment the
young New Englander not infrequently re-
ceived, and it was not pleasant certainly.
especially as he was by nature strong SEN
tive and quick-tempered, and had hard