The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-05
FRIEND OFTHE COLOREDMAN
General Coburn Wins His Spurs in Saw
ing a Prosecuted Negro from Slavery.
The Democratic Gang Carrying on a Campaign
of Personal Appeal for Money-An Old
Trick to Delude the Colored Voter.

One of the most exciting events that ever
occurred in indianapolis was the attempted
abduction of John Freeman, an Industrious
and respectable colored man, who lived on
North Meridian street at the time, near
what is now known as the Conduit proper
". He had been here for several years,
working hard, and had saved enough money
to pay for the little home in which he lived.
and which was the pride of his heart. next
TO his wife and children. He was contented
and very happy in his way. But there was
to be a rude awakening from
his dream of peace. One day, in
1853, a man named Ellington appeared
here from Kentucky. and claimed that
Freeman was hisrunaway slave. The fugi-
tive slave law was then In force, and John
ID. Robinson. then a leading Democratic
politician of Indiana, was United States
marshal. He listened to the claim of Ell
lington, and shut his ears to everything
Freeman had to say. The poor negro was
arrested and taken before q Justice of the
peace, and the doors locked. SO as 10 keep
all knowledge Of the affair from the public.
But Lucian Barbour. who had an office in
the same building, happened to
see the party enter, and demanded
admittance to learn what was going on,
which. being refused, he threatened TO
break the door down. This gained him adj
mittance and defeated the scheme of the
conspirators to kidnap Freeman without
the knowledge of the public. Mr.. Barbour
demanded a continuance OF the case.
against which the armed Kentucklans
protested; but the justice granted 1T, and
Freeman was sent to Jail meanwhile. The
marshal, claiming that the Jail was Inse-
cure, hired a guard to keep watch over tine
prisoner, and compelled him to pay the bill,
something never heard of, before nor SINCE;
but the marshal was a Democrat and the
prisoner was a negro.
There was, at the time, a strong pro-
slavery feeling in Indianapolis, growing
out of the fact that so many Southerners
resided here, and any person who came to
the assistance of a negro, and particularly
of an escaped slave, did so at his peril,
both professionally and socially. John
tering upon his practice. This case APP
pealed to every sentiment of his heart.
He was warned OF the consequences if he
interfered; but, Notwithstanding. he offered
his services. which were gladly accepted,
and, assuming charge of the case, he en-
tered the contest against the Southern
slaye-driyers with all his might, Mr.. Bar
bour acting as advisory counsel. 1t was a
long and a hard legal tight. during which it
became necessary tn go as far away as
Georgia to secure evidence for the defend
ant. But at last the end was reached, and
Freeman was declared to be a free man, tho
Southerners being sent home empty-handed
and swearing mad. Freeman had been
compelled to sell everything he had to pay
the costs; but, though he had lost his home
in the struggle, he had saved his liberty
and was happy.
1t is safe to say that the name of Coburn
has been honored ever since by at least one
coiored family. Later, about 1851, another
colOred man was arrested here as a fugitive
slave. and because of the reputation ac-
CURED in the previous case. the entire pub
lie turned to General Coburn to defend him.
And he did SO with his ~l-kn vigor,
but the proof was too strong against the
prisoner this time. and he was turned over
to his captors as an escaped slave and
taken South. It caused great excite
ment. These affairs show ed the sympa-
thy of General Coburn for the oppressed
colored man; but when he became a mem-
Der of Congress, and the law would allow
it, he went a step further and appointed a
cOlOred man to the position of postal route
agent. This was the first negro who ever
held an office in Indiana, and he was in
debted for the place to Gen. John Coburn.
Work OF the Committees.
There was an increased activity at both
Republican and Democratic headquarters
yesterday, and both executive committees
are likely to devote their entire time for
the brief remainder of the campaign to
harvesting whatever political hay remains
ungathered. The efforts of the Republican
committee are being mainly devoted to Sc.
CuIAnS "A "A0Ccb PoooiDAo u
the facts and figures which have formed
the basis of discussion since the municipal
canvass opened. and will make an earnest
attempt to place in the hands of every
voter statements made up from the official
record showing the attitude of both politi-
cal parties upon all questions of immediate
municipal concern.
I'VE are banking on the intelligence OF
the people at this election said Chairman
Joyce. of the Republican executive com.
mittee. IAN if we can get the real facts
which are at the bottom of this contest be-
fore them, i ave no fear of the result,
Most persons are In the habit of judging
the future by the past. and this is why we
have taken pains TO bring into prominence
the course of the Democracy in their tinan.
cial management of city affairs when in
power, and their record as ObstructiOnists
when In the minority on all matters look.
ing to it's financial betterment. Our OPP
pOnents complain that we devote toe
and gone. but if the Democrat
wasted a revenue of nearly amilljon dollars
fb ye eity w oven 1 baff y @e mill in p%G dollars ana inc d lsb,
at the end of their two years administers
ton. it is fair to assume that they are not
entitled to another trial until they have
shown some signs of improvement. If they
~ ia iCcOiu oc OppocCQ " II OILY pTdc
ticable scheme of securing the revenue:
needed for street and yisduct improve
ments-I mean the $3.50 liquor-license ordi-
nance, 1t Is certainly proper that we should
make this widely known in order
TO show their intention to Grip.
pie or destroy the ordinance here
after. In any event, we are makins
our tight in that way. Our candidates ar,
men who can be relied upon as faithful ex
ponents of our platform, and the combined
efforts of the opposition have been unabl,
to pick a flaw IN any one of them. We ar,
going TO win this election because we de
serve to win it. and the Democrats are go
ing to lose 1t because they deserve Il
lose it.r
At Democratic headquarters the exertior
runs less in the way of documentary argu
ment. and more in the direction of persona
appeal. The most active work that has beer
carried On there for the past two weeks ha
been In the matter of money raising. and this
like jeff Davis's CONSUMPTION, has reached
from the neighborhood of the cradle to tn,
confines of the grave. LII there is a know
Democrat. young or old, In the city VIII,
has escaped the opportunities of Demo
cratic money collectors, he is entitled {,
look upon himself as a curiosity. A goos
deal of this shekel gathering has taken tn,
form of suppiication, but occasionally. il
the case of the breweries and saloons. i
has assumed q stand-and-deliyer character
highly suggestive of lurid chaI tiers in sucl
works OF fiction as sixteen Strin,
jack and the Pink RobbeI