Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-05-10
EXTRACTS FROM THE AUTO
BIOGRAPHY OF
ZANE GREY SWISSFIELM
First Newspaper Woman Of
Minnesota.
A Remarkable Woman OF Ante
beiium Dayo-1o16-1e66
CHAPTER XVIII.
Fugitive Slave Law.

When it became certain that the
Fugitive Slave Bill could pass Con-
gress, but could not command two
thirds vote to carry it over the as
sured veto of President Taylor, he
ate a plate of strawberries, just as
President Harrison had done when he
stood In the way of Southern policy,
and like his great predecessor Taylor,
died opportunity, when Mr.. Fillmore
became President, and signed the bill.
When it was the law of the land, there
was a rush of popular sentiment in
favor Of obedience, and a rush OF
slave-catchers to take advantage of
it's provisions. Thousands of slaves
were returned to bondage. Wings and
Democrats were still bidding for the
Southern vote, and now We'd with
most willingness to aid their Southern
property. The church also rushed to
the front to show it's Christian zeal
for the wrongs of those brethren who,
by the escape of their slaves, lost the
means of building churches and buy
ing communion services, and there
was no end of homilies on the dis
honesty of helping men to regain pos
session of their own bodies. All man.
ner of charges were rung about One
SINUS, and Paul became the patron
saint of slave-catchers.
Among the many devices brought to
bear on the cOnsciences of Pittsburg-
ers, was a sermon preached, as per
announcement, by Rev. Riddle, pastor
of the Third Presbyterian church. It
was received with great favor, by his
large wealthy congregation, was print
ed in pamphlet form, distributed by
thousands and made profound i'm
preston, for Pittsburg is Presbyter-
ian city, and sermon by its leading
pastor was convincing. The sermon
was an out and out plea for the bill
and obedience to it's requirements.
Did not Paul return Onesimus to his
master? Were not servants told to
obey their masters? Running away
was gross disobedience, etc., etc.
Robt. M. Riddle, in a careful leader
in The Journal, deprecated the exist
ence of the law; but since it did ex.
list, counseled obedience. He was a
polished and forcible writer and his
arguments had great weight.
The Visiter published an article on
1.-THE Two Riddles" in which was
drawn a picture of scantily clad wo.
man, with bruised and bleeding feet,
clasping an infant to her bosom, pant
ing before her pursuers up Third
street. The master called on all good
citizens for help. The cry reached
the ears of the tall editor of the Jour.
nal seated at his desk. He dropped
his pen, hastily donned his new brass
collar and started in hot pursuit OF
this wicked woman, who was felon.
iously appropriating the property OF
her master.
The other Riddle-the Presbyterian
pastor-planted himself by the lamp
post on the corner of Third and Mar
ket streets, and with spectacles on
! nose and raised hands, loudly implored
divine blessing on the labors of his
tall namesake. The Visiter concluded
by advising masters who had slaves
to catch, to apply to these gentlemen
who would attend to business from
purely pious and patriotic motives.
l did not see Mr.. Riddle for two
weeks after the publication Of the
sketch, and then we met on the street
He had never before been angry OF
vexed with me, but now he was both
and said:
"How could you do me such an in
justice?"
"Why is it an injustice?"
ooh you know it is! You know
would cut off my right hand, before
would aid in capturing fugitive"
''Then why do you counsel other.
to do it,"
"Oh you know better! and Rev
Riddle, he and his friends are dis
tressed about it. You do not know
what you have done! l have already
had three letters from the South, ask
ing me to aid in returning fugitives
and he, too, has had similar applica
tons. Oh it is too humiliating, toe
bad. You must set it right"
l agreed to do SO, and the Visitel
explained that it had been mistaken
in saying that both or either of the
two Riddles would aid in returning
fugitives. They both scorned the bus
mess, and Robt. NJ, would cut off his
right hand, rather than engage in it
He only meant that other people
should do what would degrade him
He was not a good citizen, and did not
intend to be. AS for his Reverence
he would shirk his Christian duties;
would not pray by that lamp-post, OF
any other lamp-post, for the success
of slave-catchers. He had turned his