Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-07-22
ANTE BELLlM SETTING
CHAPTER II
by Benjamin T. Butler

i The period just before the Civ
a War was one OF hectic activities g
the part OF the North and Sout
X Go gain political aud moral contr,
Il OF the nation. The question OF sla'
- cry had been the paramount issu
q for over fifty wears. The north wa
- determined that slavery was II,
tC be extended TO the territorie
n and the South was equally deter
mned that slavery should be pei
mtted in any territory or stat
l whore the majority OF the pcopl
( voted in its favor.
= Leading up to this period IN on
: history were many events tina
p threatened the solidarity of on
5 nation The fugitive slave law. IN
Missouri Compromise. and tn
hanging of John Brown. caused III
people OF all sections of the coun
Try 10 become divided in theii
opinions as 10 the moral sOundnes.
OF slavery. Fathers disagreed witt
sons. brothers with brothers. and
! friends OF years standing. became
mortal enemies The eyes of the
world were conferred upon this
chaotic condition existing in The
nitel States England itself was
divided in It's sympathies between
me North and the South. The poor
people of England were for the
emancipation OF the slaves. while
'the wealthy manufacturers wished
10 hold onto their cotton trade IN
the South The South with its vast
acres. producing many thousand
lalcs OF cotton a wear was expert
cnring difficulties i'm Keeping the
slaves i'm harness The Under
eroind Railroad system was daily
depicting the slave help on The re-
mofcst plaalalion The mysterious
manner i'm which news travels
among the aborieines in All parts
~ tic world accounted for this
condition Masters as we'll as
slaves realized that the old order
OF things had changed.
Great events cast their shadows
before them. and The length of TIE
shadow is determined by the great
ness az The events Human liberty
has ever inspired tho souls OF
fncn set there is not race on
fnen existing today that az some
period or another in It's develop
mont has not been slaves. 'rhc
AFRO American was, end is no oX-
ccpion. Nll the crucllics he has.
and IS suffering has hccn pcrpe-
iiru'cd upon other races 10y his an
tcstors Yon have but TO turn 10
The pages of history. aud read tho
stories OF black kings. and black
queens like riankL who conquer
ed Egypt in $50 l.. g.. ,iIcroditus)
ana Queen Candace mentioned IN
the Acts OF the Apostles IS Oh v
s6-s7l in order to realize that hu-
man nature is and has always been
the same
II was not until tho Jewish race
gave to the world its greatest cthi
cal thought. Love thy neighbor ai
myself" that the doctrine of migh
makes right ceased TO rule thu
world. There are "A number Of peo
pie who do not realize the influ
cnce Christianity has cxeried UP
ION modern civilization. Withou
this moral ideal of the Fatherhoo'
of God and the brotherhood o
man. England under Queen Vic
toria never would have abolishe
slavery and the Civil War woul
never have been fought.
From the time that Elijah WIFI
was reunited with his family a
r Chatham. until the close of the q
vii War, he lived under the pre-
ltection of the British flag Bein
man of foresight. he could sc
by the trend of events the fury &
the on-coming storm Many time
he would sit around his lreplac
and tell his children of the horror
< OF slavery. and the approach Of tn
struggle between the North an
/ South he would speak to ther
! Of men like Lovejoy. Cassius n
, Clay, Charles Sumner. Henry War
Beecher. and that noble woman
Harriet Beecher stowe. who ha
just written that world famou
, book. Uncle Toms Cabin" TIL
family would listen intently to tn
words OF the man. who held thei
destiny in his hands They learne
, to realize that all of the people {
the white race In America wer
not In favor Of slavery. They be
came unbiased I'm their iudgmer
, Of men. regardless of what thei
creed or color might be- Anothe
thing that added TO this tendenc
toward observation-disclosures on IN
part OF the fugitive slaves. was IN
, establishment of church 70
J slaves by reverend King. nes
Buxton. Ontario. twelve miles froi
Chatham. Rev. King was a forms
slave owner IN the state Of Loul'
ians. but he abhorred the instIt'
ton Of slavery to such an exten
that he liberated all his slave
moved them to what was the
known as the Elgin settlement
and gave them assistance in star