The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-02-08

WHICH SECURELY bbCktV 'ucF'WaNs'u VIZ
ted every movement. and even 9 ole thej
slaves 0ui or ,eir hands Il
Tue law snd the whole p"Tr Of ths1
assyernmeqtwas on the side OF The A.y9d
llohier. and lu harbor OF aid the slsvesi
tFhberty Sss to risk great dangers Il
But %he ~s.fk went on, despite Of IF ~
to stop it Ii vain did the narshalst
make s1ddan visits TO suspected houses ::
in va,u they intercrp'ei suspected 70 te' :.
The leagas put nothing ia writing
They had sigpssnd psswori'a. SO that
/ q nidniehfslSfkness ibsy cult nasfctl
friend or Toe, hut M detec'veskill couid,i
ever trace them out. Mr.. Steel was de,
bounced in the most hitler terms as.the,i
"Father Of the Underground Rl.lr"ad;'
and Z feward Of IS OQOs Sss stlFared No
get nm over into Virginia Tae1 x
plniis OF this league were never recard,:
ed. but II they could he, their romsner'
would far exceea the c,iisniry q, the MIDI
die age Services IN this league were lheI
most @cha'itab'e and unse!fisii ina the
world. The slaves c.itns poor, hungry
and nskea, ! They must De clothed and
red 'Thev- might be set down bv one
member at The ddbr Of the next member
on the route at m'anigh'. He must then
take them ut once, send them forward
or secrete them in some cave or other
hiding place. During the summer sea-
son, there night be several bundled
Sl,ves on the route at one time. Aud
every member was engaged for nights
| in succession. Sentries would partroe
the roads watching for pursuing officers
and slaveholders. It was no chilhss
play. These men we're armed, for they
! lHssesIle HeIe s2ofn never 70 surrender q fugis
/ one. This waslWilliam stesi's greas
work. -
Although an active politician Mr..
Steel was never but once candidate for
Office He was the candidate Of the
Liberty party" for congress, the first
anti slavery candidate in the old Bel-
mont (Oai"l district He circulated
throughout eastern Ohio, In ls44 wha, was
known as the Grea. Petition" signed
by nearly all the anti slavery men, OF the
west, agreeing to vote for Henry Clay
il be would emancIpate his own slaves
Hiram Merdcnhsii, q brother Of Mrs
JUICE Lewis, OF this city had the honor
To BE- selected to present this petition to
Mr.. Clay in person at Richmond, .ssnd:-
ana Mr. S.eel was q delegate from
Oaio to the free-solI convention held al
Bqtf,lo, in 1913, which nom mated Van
Blrel Tor president and Charles Ftancis
Adams for vice president. DR. Wa
kins Of this city vas also member o!
that convention.
Mr.. S;eel left no worldly fortune; ba,
having expended thousands upon thou.
saads for charity and good works, mul-
titudes will rise up ~ tee great day Of
sccounts 10 call him blessed, and honol
the priceless jewel of his good name
He with others Of the early aholitionist.
atood on the imonntain tops, and behold.
| ing the goodly land of freeman's re-
public. following their principles through
siorm and sunshine nnsel6shIy to ti.s
end; seeking neither the honors or emo
lnments Of the victory And Of him I
might. be truly sad: aHe hath showed
i thee, o man, what IS good; and wha
doth the Lord require OF thee. but dt
4 Justly, Ito love mercy, and 10 wall
hnmbIy with thy G ,d." .,s.
4 nTCal. Hulhurt. General Agent fol
i the 'BrllaIre & Southwestern, informs Vi
That an engineer corps Is. at work thil
j. week, sutveping line Of road from
| Beverly, running up The Muskingpm Il
q the mouth of Meios creek, thence ~
that stream. and mp Bole's fork, wher'
Ii will intersect line of rosd being sur
veyei from Caldwell via Renrpck t.
2 ,nesvislp. The corps Of engineers ar,
$50 At work this week between Rsnrocl
and Z,ne-ville.. The Colonel is verl
hopeful that these lines will be biiilt hex
summer Z,nesville will aid literally il
the cqnst uclion of this line of road, amt
all that is necessary To secure its speed,
% mp elton is the proper aid that must
and doubtless will he given by the peo
pile along The route.-Noble County Re
publican Sd inst !