Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-12-22


had not taken enough interest in pol
itics to vote i'll IS or 40 years. but
was a military man OF good record
and there was a feeling he had not
got all the honor due him for his part
in the Mexican war; and the inclina-
ton of the American people to be
hero worshipers, the nomination was
a good one. He was not at the con
vention. and possibly knew nothing
about it, so small was his interest IN
politics. He was sent letter by the
chairman and secretary OF the con-
vention, notifying him of his nomina-
ton, but in those days many letters
was sent postage due and he got SO
many letters sent in this way, in which
he had no interest or cared for what
ever, that when this letter came he
refused to take it out of the office.
And not hearing from him in good
long time, messenger was sent to
see him and if possible ascertain the
trouble. He accented, and as before
stated, was elected, but died in about
10 months after taking office. And
Willard Fillmore. his vice, served as
president from July 1850, to March
1858. Our newly acquired territory
from Mexico was bone of conten-
ton, almost at once, as to what
should be free or slave territory, at
least it helped much to excite and
complicate this vexatious question.
Texas was the last slave state admit
ted into the Union.
The south saw SO many proofs OF
the growth of anti-slavery sentiment
that they felt that their institution was
in imminent danger. Iowa had been
admitted in 1916. Wisconsin 1873, and
California in 1880, all free states.
California being very long state
from north to south. much OF it was
slave territory according to the Mis-
souri, Compromise and some sought
to divide it but it was finally not
done.
By this time the negro question
had become the one great question.
Do what they might it could not be
.ept out OF the campaigns or poll
tic. Wendell Phillips with the hun
drcds OF other anti-slaverv orators
.ha. had now sprung M all over the
north. was laundering the free state
sentiment from every school house
and hall in the land. Harriet Beech
cr Stowe. about this time caught the
inspiration. and brought out Uncle
om's Cabin. The writer when
ere lad attended one OF those school
ousc meetings, away out in the coun-
try. There were some OF Our neigh
bors and some from a distance, and
the negro question was discussed
with much earnestness, with many
expressions of fear and dire disaster
to the country. The underground
railroad was also discussed and !
shall never forget the inspiration ]
got at this meeting. though ] knew
nothing about the questions discuss
ed, or what | was going to hear, as
| got there by accident; but | too got
the spirit, and was interested and my
little heart beat faster than under or
binary circumstances, and without
being told. | understood that this, as
of secret affair and should be so &C
cepted. for we had southern sympa-
thizers all over the country.
In appropriating the money for the
coded territory by Mexico, David
Wilmat. a member of congress, of
fered proviso that slaevry be ex-
cluded from this territory. This an
gered the south very much. This
Mexican war had been popular in the
south and unpopular in the north,
and now it seemed that this pet insti-
tuition was going to be shut out OF
this vast empire, and war seemed i'm
mincnt. And it seemed that some
one must offer some sort of sooth-
ing syrup and come forward with
something that would for the time be
ing at least satisfy. until something
better could be devised. Congress
men and senator's went armed with
revolvers and knives, and they eyed
and looked defiance at each other as
they passed on the streets, and a
number of encounters occurred and
some bloody and disastrous ones.
Now the faithful old Henry Clay
came forward with bill. Though
weak and old. past the three score
and ten, asking its PASSAGE, that war
and bloodshed might be averted, with
all his oratorical ability and was ably
assisted by Webster and others, and
he bill was finally passed. This was
what was known at the time as the
omnibus bill This bill contained
many provisions, so as to as nearly
as possible satisfy all sections. hence
the name omnibus. The south de-
territory outside of California be now
considered slave territory. And they
also asked that all runaway slaves
should be returned by federal author
titles to their owners. You see the
free states did not care how many
slaves ran away. They did not re
cognize them as property and could
not sec the point of ownership and
was the cause of much and bitter
by the south. When an
officer or owner came north hunting
slaves. he received no help and the
slave was protected and spirited
away to Canada usually, and was gig-
en- to understand that he would serve
his best interests by getting back
home quickly in many instances, and
in more than one instance they re-
ceived terrible 1oggings. They
could arrest no one. State officials
as a rule would not act, and if they
Ii - ...a- III. q L. ln....-. .l.c L.