The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-20
THE EARLY ABOLITIONISTS
Stirring Memories Recalled by the Semi
Centennial of Loyejoy's Death.
RecOllections of the Conflicts in AltOn-Elisha
DOty's Association with John Brown
Judge Davis and the Chavis Case.

The recent semicentennlal recurrence Oh tne
anniversary of the assassination of Elijah Z.
Lovejoy by proslavery mob here recalls others
Of the stirring incidents which occurred along
the border in slavery days Many of these
ycenes, which have become historic through
their association and Surroundings, took form
and shape along the Mississippi river. hich,
between the States of Illinois and Missouri, con-
stituted the geographical line between freedom
and slavery BIrs. Stowe and the Dlaywrights,
and in large part, the historians as we'll, have
drawn their pictures on the line which stretched
from the Atlantic ocean on the east to the Mis-
sissippi river on the west, which has come to be
known and will go down in history as mason
and Dixon's.p 1t was along the more western
slave line, however. that the real battles were
fought, for the slave power came face to face
with determined and resolute raen of undoubted
courage and conviction, who not only resisted
it's extension, bur who openly defed its fugitive
laws and extended their aid and comfort to its
fugltives. Their ranks were largely recruited
from the East, New York and the New England
States contributing largely to the moral senti-
ment and physical courage which here raised
the front of resistance and aggression. At
tracted by the growing commercial Importance
OF Alton a large number of Eastern men settled
there, and their pronounced anti-Slavery senti-
ments became tine leaven which, threatening to
leaVen the entlre lump, drove the prO-slavery
element to madness. Loveioy came to Alton
fugitive from the slave autocracy of St. Louis
and Missouri. 1t was in his defense, rather
IN the defense of a free press that. after a
ries of preliminary conflicts the shots were
fred that awoke an echo at Sumter and swelled
into the grander chorus of Appomattox.
The blood of the slain was upon the hands of
both assaants and defenders. Lovejoy was
killed, but the mob had suffered the loss of one
man and the woundine of another. The antag-
onistic elements were urged to greater fury and
of mutual reprisal- Alton became the center
around which the opposing forces moved. The
extreme Abolitionsts grew in numbers from the
conviction, growing out of Lovejoys murder
that there was no ground of compromise with
slavery. AS they increased numerically they
became mora defiant and more open in their
operations Alton was made the terminus
of underground railway" along
which. in all probability. more slave
any similar line in the country. The route was
by easy stages from Alton northward, and once
en route the fugitive was fairly assured Of lib
erty, for after the Alton riots of 1887 had
aroused the public conscience there was no
longer federation of slavery, respect5for it's fugi
tive laws. or fear of the officers who attempted
to enforce them. In no other free State the
sentiment so open and pronounced, for in no
other had the real character and purpose of the
slave power been SO clearly displayed. The
field was an inviting one TO adventurous spirits
infamed either with zeal for the cause love OF
stirring incidents by field and flood. Many such
were attracted thitner.
mic and martyr of Harpers Ferry. here
early as 1857. He accompanied, or soon
followed, by Elisha Z. Doty. who came from
Iloga county, New York. Doty began her
mit-lke existence in the depth of the woods
about FIVE miles from Alton, but would fire.
quently disappear, remaining away for weeks at
time. and as he was Incorporating in his
opposition to slavery he soon became recognized
as one OF the most active Abolitionists. His
strong individuality and desperate courage won
Tor him deeper pro-slavery resentment
visited others.
intensified when his friend and comrade,
John Brown, was captured in the attempt
to seize the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Doty
had left his cabin some days before the night of
the raid, and on his return stated that he had
gone to join Brown, but that the blow had been
struck sooner than he anticipated. He would
undoubtedly have been arrested an accessory
before the fact had the evidence which was dis
covered at his death been then available.
Doty was murdered in his cabin about a year
after the close of the war by some unknown as
Sassin, and among the effects found in old
trunk in his honse by the coroners jury were
letters from William Lloyd Garrison and Gerrit
Smith, written before the war. and one from
John Brown, dated Rochester, n. Y, Sept. 81
1853, informing him of the contemplated move
ment, which, the letter stated would be made
IN about a month later, and asking Doty to Join
the force. History shows that TIE attack was
made Oct. IL, 1883, and confirms Doty's state
ment made at the time, that it was premature.
Antedating the career of both Brown and
Doty, however and in the very midst of the
era OF border warfare. there came to judgment
ana responsibility here man whose name
deserves to be perpetuated in the history or the
slave conflict in America, if full and perfect
one is ever written. Serving United States
commissioner under the successive admiuistra-
tons of Fillmore and Pierce, Levi Davis ST.,
occupied a position not only dangerous. but one
calling for the most exalted judicial sense of
duty to enable a man of his stern moral senti-
ment against slavery. and who utterly alb
horred the constitutional and statutory safe
guards with which it had surrounded itself. to
hold the scales evenly balanced. That his sense
of justice aud integrity was equal to this task
will be his best and most enduring monument.
On questions of fact arising in the cases which
were continually coming before him under the
fugitive slave laws he brought almost the wis
dom OF Solomon to the bench when he
gave more weight to the testimony of those who
had no proprietary or monetary interest in the
fugitive than to those who had This he could
do without violation of official oath or private
conscience; but when the properly was clearly
proved his decisions were according to the strict
letter and spirit of the laws. which could be in
terpreted in no other way than favorably to the
shareholders proprietary rights. But had Daniel
come to judgment, in the fierce state of feeling
then prevailing among the Abolitionists here. his
decisions would have been denounced had they
recognized the validity of laws which the Adolf
tionists denounced as covenants with death.
Judge Davis's sense of Judicial integrity re-
manned mistaken during several years of ordeal
before reaching an event which, as illustrating
at once his courage and conviction, the rapacity
OF the slave power, end the implacable temper
nj the Abolitionists. is of the most remark
able In our history.
During the latter part of 1S4S Young South
erner named Peyton. the son of a wealthy
mississippi planter, came to St. Louis accom-
panied oy bright mulatto slave girl eighteen
or nineteen years of age After several months
residence there young Peyton returned South,
leaving the girl alone in the North. She said
that her master had given her her freedom.
After few weeks residence in St Louis she
found her way to Alton, and here soon met and
married Alfred Chavs, respectable negro bar
Der and former slave. Two children were
born TO them in the of years. and their
life was as uneventful as the ordinary until the
incident occurred which found them standing "a
silent figures in one OF the most dramatic
scenes OF border life. Suddenly, and
without warning or expectation, two
perfect specimens of the slave trader
of that odious type known in Abolition border
parlance as ''blacksDake whips" appeared be-
fore United States Commissioner Davis, with
papers and documents executed in legal form,
demanding the surrender of Mary e. Caavis,
IN riuaa 81 H., ill lnnd hnan