The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-10
Eeulogy on the dead president which closed the days proceedings,

shal of the day. As pronunced Whlg he had been ready to mourn extensively for the deceased president but the fol- lowing campaign of lS44 found the ma jor in the ranks of the Locofoco Demo- crats. Rumor and gossip had it that more or less close relationship to a very profitable trade in cotton and wool in one of our southern cities-not exactly the kind of wool that grows on sheeps backs but nevertheless Wool-had wrought very radical change of heart in the major and transformed him from strict constructionist of the Declara- ton of Independence to hearty be- liever in the righteousness and beauty of negro slavery. During the Polk campaign the major was active in sup port of the man from Tennessee. While in New York on business the major was induced to listen to that idol of the Whig party and prince of orators, the Hon. Henry Clay of Kentucky. While Mr. Clay addressed a great audience on the issues of the day the major lls- tened but not exactly to mark. learn and inwardly digest, but yet he listened. On coming home the question naturally was asked Well, Major, you have been to New York?" Yes" Did you hear MT. Clay' Yes, 1 heard MT. Clay the great Whig orator. Well what did you think of him?" Oh" said the major, q was disgusted, perfectly dis gusted, and to think that was the best the Whig party could furnish for cam paign oratory made me feel sorry TOT the Whig party. I was disgusted''
 Just think of that MT. Editor. The idea. of being disgusted with the speech or manner of a man of MT Clay acknowledged ability-a man who was then for the third time candidate for the presidency who had held the Unit ed States senate spellbound for hours while advocating his great measure or | the Missouri Compromise, who could set an audience anywhere wild with the magic of his words. And yet the major was disgusted. Who shall say there | is not power in human prejudice to stop the ears of reason and warp the judg- ment in the human mind? It was manl- | fest then. Is it extinct now?
 These were exciting times. The tenn 1 perance reform was on the reform dock ct The anti-slavery discussion had just begun to occupy public attention 1 and the anti-slavery idea of abolition ! had received scant courtesy from the greater part of the people of the town. In this connection an incident occurred in Madison history that marked an epoch in the towns political life. The announcement of a lecture on temper a1ice at the basement room of the Con | gregational church by the Rev. Isaac , Codding had drawn together the usual 1 large audience that was heartily re- sponsive to temperance sentiments no | matter how radical The reverend gentleman proved himself ready ora tor and greatly pleased his audience who to a man were ready to declare him to be just nice. Before closing his re- marks he gave notice that on the foi- lowing evening he would address the naople of the village on the subject of the abolition of slavery, which excited both curiosity and credulous doubt ana prejudice. Gossip was busy the next day and when evening came the ReV' MT. Codding faced a full audience made up of three classes, to wit: A very IeW anti-slavery people, large number or indifferent curious and a considerable number of pro-slavery partisans. MT Codding was as able speaker on Liberty vs. Slavery as when speaking on the subject of temperance and his speech that evening was a masterpiece of whitening sarcasm and terrible in- vective against the monster evil and the most moving appeals for humanity and human brotherhood, which of
 ioti tn hn anti-slavery advocates and of great in- terest to the great body of the audience, but like a red rag to bull in bull fight to the pro-savery people who lls- tened but wrigeled in their seats and bit their lips while they listened The orator had not fully expressed himself and gave notice that on the following evening he would be ready with the second installment for the peoples en- tertainment. Tongues wagged lively the next day and at 7:30 ?. m. was found an audience that packed the old room to the doors, and whose counten- ances showed smileso of pleasant anticipa tion. idle curiC sity and bitter dis approva
 in odd proportions mixed The orator was full of his subject and loaded to the muzzle but had only discharged few preliminary shots when 1t became ap- parent that no considerations of justice or courtesy or free speech could hold the pro-slavery element of the audience which broke out into confusion oi guys and cat calls so that the whole audience was at once in an uproar
 The plucky orator held his own till one of Madisons most respected citizens
 one of the solid men of the community
 not one of the so-called dangerou: classes, but a most conservative, a tai
 brawny man, rose up and stood over the speaker and with overbearing
 brow beating air shouted out, ''Si
 down. sir, Sit down! We won't heal
 such treas sonable talk" The audience soon dispersed. No blood was shed, nt bones were broken, but solemn looks
 marked many countenance and sol
 emn VOWS of eternal enmity to every
 form of oppression though unexpressec
 were registered in heaven The order
 of the town the next day was one O high excitement. Boston street haC
 several debating clubs which kept III the discussion of the last nights af fair all day. The good Pastor Shepard came down, dignified and erect as usual and gave his judgment of the affair a'
 the Village Oracle. q don't see Wha is the use of making such fuss oVeI ! a lot of woolly- headed niggers.' FTon II ar of fro