Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-01
Half q Century,


Mrs Jane G.. Swisshe,m has in
press book of about 400 pages,
which will soon appear under th L,
above title. We take from advance
sheets the following account of the
origin of "Uncle Toms Cabin. !"
Mrs. Swisshelm, after giving an &C.
count of her first journey to Wash>
ington, says:
81 had letters to The proprietor OF
the irving House, where | took
board. Had others to Colonel Ben.
ton, Henry Clay and other great
men, but he who most interested
me was DR.. Gamaliel Bailey, editor
of the National Era. The great
want of an anti slavery paper at the
capital had been supplied by S. sub.
scriptions to publication fund, and
DR.. Bailey called from Cincinnati to
take charge of it, and few men have
kept u charge with more care and
skill. He and the Era had Just
passed the ordeal of a frightful mob,
in which he was conciliatory, IN.
yielding and victorious; and he was
just then gravely anxious about the
great crisis, bu. most of all anxious
that the Era should do yeoman ser.
vice to the cause which had called
it into life.
"The Era had large circulation,
and high literary standing, but DR..
Bailey was troubled about the diff.
Guilty or impossibilty of procuring
anti.slavery tales. Mrs. South til
was writing serials for it, and be had
hoped that she, Southern woman
with Northern principles, would
weave into her stories pictures of
slavery which would call damaging
attention to it, but 10 this she had
failed.
"Anti-slavery tales, anti.slavery
tales was what the good Doctor
wanted. Temperance had its story
writer In Arthur. If only abolition
had good writer of fiction, one
who could interest and educate the
young. He knew but one pen able
to write what he wanted, and alas,
the finances of the Era could not
command it. If only he could en-.
gage Mrs. Stowe. I had not heard
of her, and he explained that she
was the daughter of Lyman Beech.
err. I was surprised, and exclaimed:
"'A daughter of Lyman Beecher
write abolition stories. Saul among
the prophets'
II reminded the Doctor that Pres.
ident Beecher and Professor Stowe
had broken up the theological de-
psrtment of Lane Seminary by sup
pressing the anti. slavery agitation
raised by Theodore Weld, q Ken
lucky student, and threw their in.
fluence against disturbing the Con-
gregatlonal churches with the new
fanaticism; that Edward Beeoher
invented the "orgauio sin DEVIL" be.
hind which churches and individuals
took refuge when called upon to
"come up to the help of the Lord
against the mighty" But DR.. Bal
ley said he knew them personally,
and that despite their public record,
they were at heart anti-slavery, and
that prudence alone dictated their
course. Mrs. Stowe was q graphic
story teller, had been in Kentucky,
taken in the situation and could des.
cribe the peculiar institution as nc
one else could. If be could only en-.
list her, the whole family would
most likely follow into the abolition
ranks, but the bounty money, alas
where could he raise it :?
"Where there is q will there is Q
way" and it was but few months
after that conversation when DR.
Bailey forwarded 300 to Mrs. Stowe
as retaining fee for her services in
the cause of the slave, and 10, the
result, "Uncle Toms Cabin" As i,
progressed he sent her another aud
then another 500. Was ever mon
ey 80 well invested 2"