The National tribune., 1900-04-19
The BREWING STORM.
"reminiscences of the Days Before
Secession Took to Arms.
p. 6. RIACKMCN,
Co. B, esd Ind, West Berkeley, Cal.


Twas at work as machinist in PittSburg
the last few weeks of 1860, and rs the G eater
part of the patronage of the shops came
from the Southern States, the secession
agitation interrupted business SO COM
pletely between the North and the South,
that the prOprietors said there would be no
more business fer the shop until the trouble
was settled. So of course the workmen
were discharged.
The widow with whom | had been board
ing had visiting her an old gentleman
from Sabine Pass, Tex, who had been a
ship-carpenter in PittSburg. He had en-
gagged passage home on n small new steam
boat built for Il party at Sabine Pass. A
daughter and her husband were going
with him, and nearly persuaded me to go
along with Hen, rs the old gentleman
said business was good there. and he did
not think the disturbance would ever reach
his part Of the State.
But before the new boat was ready to
start, one night after all had retired and all
was still, heard the front door suddenly
open and some one enter, who exclaimed
in a tone of excitement.
Well, mother, | got home alive, any
way"
The next day | learned that he was the
widows elder son, just arrived from Texas,
and from what he told me of the excite
ment and behavior of the Texans toward
people from the North, | concluded TO go
on the little boat no farther than Cairo.
ILL.,, on my way to Terre Haute, Ind, to
join my wife.
As the boat was not on schedule time,
she stopped at several towns along the
river to kill time and gather the news.
AT Wheeling | created n mild sensation
unintentionally. | wore Il long blue cloak
it being cold Weather-which covered me
completely from neck TO heels. | saunter
ed up one of the streets in the evening,
and il being Sunday. saw a church lighted
up. | walked in to hear the sermon. Not
having on my Sunday suit, | pulled the
cloak close around me to hide my rusty
clothes. Observing an intense gaze di-
rected toward me, | began to wonder if |
We're an object of suspicion. After the
meeting broke up, and on the street, the
gaze followed me on my way to the boat.
Then it dawned on my dull perception
that was suspected of being Government
SPY, but as the preacher made no incendiary
speeches their fears subsided.
| got off at Cairo, ILL.,, to go by railroad
to Centralia, 100 miles north, but had to
stay over night at Cairo, and for lack of
other amusement accepted an invitation
by a casual acquaintance to listen to
secesSioniSt speech by a young gentleman
from South Carolina, named Ogilvie Byron
Young. He was very eloquent speaker,
ofsouthern Illinois joining the South in the
prospective Southern Confederacy, especi-
ally from a business and commercial point
of view. as thus they would have free access
by the Mississippi River to the seaboard,
and their business transactions would
naturally go South instead of North. 1t
was an orderly meeting, except that three
or four hiSsed at q certain point The
speaker quietly remarked that he knew of
but two animals that hissed-the snake
and the goose. The hiSsers soon got up
and left the house.
At Centralia, north of Cairo, I stayed at
hotel few days This little railroad
town, where I voted the Fall before, gave
Lincoln a majority. Excitement was
running high. Almost the entire con-
versation was about the disturbance South.
Men Were stopping there who wanted to go
South, but dared not till the excitement
subSided. Men We're arriving from the
South fugitiveS from the suspicious and
hatred of the 'fire-eaters." a young
machinist from Columbia, S. c., made his
escape across the country to Cairo.
One absorbing topic of conversation was
the Knights of the Golden Circle. Col. |
Buckley, the reputed head of the Order, |
had lately been in Centralia, and it was
said had organized a Circle with some of
the leading men as members.
A young blacksmith of the town came
in often TO hear the news and discuss seces-
sion. He was jealous Union man, and
on Sunday morning, Jan. 6, he was telling
us of Col. Bickley's doings, and about
his bidding certain lawyer, Omelveny,
good-hy at the door of house where a
gathering had just closed a session, and of
Omelveny saying to Buckley:
well, go on, Colonel, and carry on your
good work, and we'll watch these Black
Republicans, and hang them to the lamp
posts if they raise a disturbance"
OF course this provoked an outburst of
inv fro tln mir icfc
man who was present was bold enough to
remark:
perhaps you had better not say too
much about the knights of the Golden
Circle" That remark added fuel to the fire
in my breast, and | said:
@Young man, would have you under
stand that you are a little too far North to
think of intimidating people with your
Knights of the Golden Circle, and perhaps
you better not say too much about them,
either"
That ended the conversation for time.
but was too full to drop the subject entirely,
so ] sat down and scratched off the follow
ing lines and took them TO the local printing
Office OF the Egyptian Republic, in which
paper they We're printed:
ANTI-sECEssIoN.
Here's hand to the Iaboring band
OF mudsillS and mechanics
Who by their forte the State support
In thrift and cen through panics
Let traitors bold, who rant and scold
Because the mighty dollar
Fails TO enslaye the honest brave,
Restrain unheeded choler.
as well may rave the wind-tossed wave
Above the mighty deep,
While in their might beneath the fright
The waters tranquil keep;
For while the great may agitate
And toss about the Ship Of State,
Beneath the storm the StalWart form
OF Labor truly great
Will bear along with purpose strong
The good old Constitution,
And never heed the bastard breed
Who shout for revolution.
For soon We'll find the earnest mind
or working, thinking millions
Stand boldly forth, both South and North,
To hurl from power the sculions
Who proudly ride upon the tide
OF bitter, soothing treason.
And reinstate, rs sure as fate
The reign Of Right and Reason