New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
OVEN LOVEJOY'S ELOQUENCE.
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The Hon. T. IT. Arnold before TIE Illinois Bar Association
Lovejoy always suggested to me Roundhead OF
nest almost IL not qnite fanaical In his politics His
courage was unfiinchinR, and he would have died
for his principles he had d oiSati masculine elo-
as a stump-speaker IT would be difficult to name his
superior. In February, 1859. at the Capitol
in Washington, speaking OF the acts which led to
this trial flor harbornR fugitive slavel there Ia
one OF the bOdest and most effective bursts OF eo-
quence from Lovoy to be found in all the literature
of anti-slavery discussion. He had been tainted
and reproached the floor OF Congress. and stigma.
tlzed as one who, in aiding slaves TO escape, had
violated the laws and Constitution Of his country.
He had been denounced as " Digger-steaier,"
threatened by the Shareholders, and they attempted
TO ntimidate and silence him. They little know
the man. aud his reply silenced them. aud e1torted
the most radical and imprisoned anti-saveIy
speeches ever made in Congress- by unflinchingly
declaring do assist fugitive slaves Proclaim il,
then. upon the house-tops; write IT on every leaf
that trembles in the forest; make t blaze from tho
sun at high n0on and shine forth in the mdor ra-
dance of every star that bedecks the armament of
God lot it echo through ali the arches of heaven.
and reverberate and below along al the deep
gorges of hell, where slaye-catchers will be very
likely to hear 1t. Owen LOyejOy lives at Princeton.
Illinois, three-quartors of mile cast OF the village;
and he aids every fugitive that comes TO his door
and asks it. Thou invisible demon Of Slavery dost
thou think to my humble threshold. and forbid
me to give bread to the hungry and shelter TO the
homeless / bid you defiance In the name Of
God p
his brother, he went to the graveyard at Alton and
kneoling upon the sod which covered the remains
of that brother he there, before God sworo eternal
war and vengeance upon slavery. He kept his oath.
lie was man of powerful physique intense feel
ing aud great magnetism as a speaker, and he now
went forth like Peter the Hermit, with heart Of
fire. and tongue of lightning, preaching Ills crusade
against Slavery.
In the log school-houses. in the meeting houses,
and places of Worship and in the open AR, he
preached and lectured against slavery with
vehemence and passionate energy which carried the
people with him. The martyrdom Of his brother
was O sufficient excuse for his violence. and
the name of Lowjoy. the martyr like
the name of Rob Roy or Douglass in Scotch
history, became name to "conjuren with
Some idea Of his dramatic power may be obtained
from O sermon, preached at Princeton in January,
1912, on the death of his brother. After describing
his murder by cruel mob. because he would not
surrender tho freedom of the press he declared,
solemny. that for himself, come life VI death,
will devote the residue of my life to the anti-savery
cause" THE shareholders and their sympathizersb
said he have murdered my brother, and if another
victim is needed, am ready"
His aged and widowed mother was present in the
church. Pausing and turning to her, he said
" Mother, yon have given one son, your elder TO
liberty are you willing to give another % And the
heroic mother replied: :" Yes, my son,-you cannot
die in better causep He lived to see slavery die.
amid the flames OF war which itself had kindled.