The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-16

| Massachusetts, by the presentation OF this
| petition, was actually the first State Of the
Union to place herself on record through
the act OF her citizens as being in favor
| of
| WHOLESALE SECESSION
movement, although, twenty years later,
| when tho war, brought about by the accept
| ance OF that very secession movement by
| the Southern leaders, broke out, no State
OF the Union furnished SO large a propor-
tion OF her adult males for the suppression
OF that movement as did the old Bay State
South Carolina. Georgia md Alabama can
no longer figure In history as the leaders
OF the secession movement. Massachusetts
through the IIayerhilI petition, must he
adiudged TO have been the insiigator and
promoter.
Mr. Buffers was seon by tho Globe cor
respondent yesterday at his favorite place
OF reeort on Water street. whcre. IA com
pany with several OF his old cronios ha was
deeply engaged IN the mysteries OF the fas-
cnatng game OF dominoes. AT the earnest
solicitation OF the Globe correspondent,
however, the old man consented b. forego
the pleasures of his game for awhile TO tell,
for the first time tho inside history OF tho
act which brought upon him and his fellow
signere the bitter dcnunciatiOn of the entire
South and West, and which was aftprward
fraught with such momeDtous conse-
queDceS.
man, that single one of the forty four
signers OF that petition, OF which am tho
only one now living. really thought OF
or even contemplated IT'S possible results.
Yes VIII make one exceptiDn--Bon Emcr-
son, whom the democrats OF that day called
Black Ben on account OF his extreme
anti slavery Views. might have forcsoen
tho results Of its presentation 10 congress.
Emerson, who was closely identified with
Whittier Garrison and the other leaders
Of the anii-siagery movement In NAUSEA
ohusetts OF that day, was ar-sighted.
iong- headed strong minded Baptist.
man OF iDiiexib1c resolution and abioluteiy
without fear A. Il matter OF fart. together
with John r. Montgomery and Sewell II.
Jewett. he WAS really the father of the
Petition, although II was Franklin Carrier.
who was at that time bookkeeper for John
J.. Montgomery, who brought IL around
town for signatures
'.Was there any opposition manifested to
the petition VIXEN Mr.. currier asked for
signaturegT was asked.
''Was there? should rather think there
was" and the old gentleman
cHuckLED SOFTLY
to himself But 10 understand the qucs-
tivn. 1t is necessary for me 10 30 into The
condition OF affairs in Hayerhill at thar
tine.
I'VE were not A city then only town OF
every man. woman and child was altogether
or partly dependent upon the shoe industry
for their livelihood, II was he South, 10
q large extent. TO which Hayurhill manu-
facturors looked for q market Tor their
goods. and remember the large number OF
Sontherners who were wont 70 come 10 this
town In the )ate tbirtes and early forties
10 buy their stocks for the coming year.
The idea OF the petition. iahAa n was
first circulated, was nat particularly dis
ttSteeul 10 the great majority ~ nianufac-
turers and iradesmen. We were pretty
much all aboliiionistg II not 81 name IN
sympathy. here In those days. and Hayer-
hill, In common With all .sew EEglGnd.
was pretty hot. tell YOU. over tho gag
resolution against the right % pe. lion
whirh had Just before fhep been i'r spnted
10 congress by an New EnsIa id ma.
Charles g. Atherton Of New Hampshire.
80 when Frank Carrier brought around
the petition, he obtained quite plumber
81 signatures 10 IL easily enough-a good
many more than appeared upon IT when II
was presented 10 congress and people be-
gan 10 discuss II pretty freely and TAX
about Il not only in The shops. but IL their
bones and on the streets And tlIis .sry
discussion led 10 curious couflusiah
Some OF tine business men md inanufaet- |
tirers don't remember ~ whose snFtixa-l)
sipn 4, WAS. al at once hcg&n 70 rsnism
hor that the petition might net euike !