History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 52

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698

USA > Illinois > Madison County > History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches > Part 52

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THIE ALTON AMERICAN,

Was the name of a fivecolumn paper established in Alton November 8th, 1833. Its founder, J. S. Buchanan, was a

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

writer of some merit. It was devoted to the agricultural, mechanical and mercantile interests of Lower Alton and vicinity. It had a brief existence. The paper was a monthly publication printed at Alton by Messrs. Braley & l'arks, and edited by Rev. T. Lippincott. It was a religious but not denominational newspaper.

THE ALTON OBSERVER,

Has a tragic history, which can best be told in a sketch of Elijah Parrish Lovejoy, its editor and proprietor. For the facts herein contained we are indebted, and quote largely from "Tanner's Life of Lovejoy." Mr. Tanner was an old resident of Altou, and was one of the few so-called abolition- ists of the time who stood manfully by Mr. Lovejoy in his efforts to establish a free press and free speech on the free soil of Illinois.

Mr. E. P. Lovejoy was born in Albion, Maine, November 8, 1802, and was thirty-five years old lacking a day when he was foully murdered. He was the son of Rev. Daniel C. Lovejoy, a Congregational minister. Soon after his gradua- tion from Watertown College, he drifted to St. Louis, where he first became a school teacher, and subsequently editor of the St. Louis Times, a Whig paper. In 1832, the whole current of his life was changed by a sudden conversion to the Christian faith. His fervency and zeal in the cause of his Redeemer demanded that he should put aside other du- ties and prepare himself to preach the gospel. With that idea strongly dominating all others he entered Princeton Theological Seminary, pursued his studies diligently and un- ceasingly, and was licensed to preach in 1833. It was known that he was a ready and apt writer, and he was put in edito- rial charge of the St. Louis Observer, which was then the organ of the Presbyterians in Missouri and Illinois. Ife had no sooner taken control than he made the paper the vehicle for the conveyance of his opinions regarding the institution of slavery, which then existed in all the Southern states. He was from the start its bitter and unrelenting foe, and dealt it powerful blows. The right to discuss this question in all its bearings was deniel him. So bitter and extreme had his invectives become, that the original proprie- tors of the Observer thought it best to muzzle him, so to speak ; but their counsels were divided, and they gave him a half-hearted consent to continue. With the issue of June 21st, 1836, was announced the intention of Mr. Lovejoy to remove the press aud material of the office to Alton, Illinois. A few days afterwards it was boxed, but before it could leave much of it was destroyed and thrown into the river. What was left of the press was shipped to Alton, and unfortunate- ly unloaded on the wharf before daylight on Sunday morn- ing, where it lay all day for the inspection of the crowd of idlers and evil disposed persons, and before the next morn- ing it was destroyed and cast into the river. Nothing daunted Lovejoy procured a new press which arrived September 8, 1836, and a few days later the first number of the Alton Observer was issued. Its publication continued regularly until August 17th, 1837, when it again became the subject of mob violence. During the summer of the latter year the country was excited to fever heat by the discussions upon

slavery. The Observer, owing to its decided stand upon that subject had risen in power, and had more than doubled its circulation. He published June 29th, 1337, the " call " for signatures to petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. It provoked great opposition, which was measurably increased the following week, when he pub- lished his reasons for forming without delay an " Illinois State Anti-Slavery Society." The editorial was evidently written on the 4th of July, the natal day of our inde- pendence. We quote from the article, " This day ( the 4th), reproaches our sloth and inactivity. It is the day of our in lependence. Even as we write crowds are hurrying past our window in eager anticipation, to the appointed bower, to listen to the d-claration that ' all men are born free and equal ;' to hear the orators denounce in manly indignation the attempt of England to lay the yoke up in the shoul- ders of our fathers which neither they nor their children could bear. Alas, what bitter mockery is this? We assen- ble to thank God for our own freedom, and to eat and drink with joy and gladness of heart while our feet are upon the necks of nearly three million of our fellow-men. Not all our shouts of self-congratulation can drown their groais-even that very flag of freedom that waves over our heads is formed from materials cultivated by slaves on a soil moist- ened with their blood, drawn from them by the whip of a republican taskmaster."

Two days after the appearance of the paper containing the above editorial anonymous handbills were posted about the city calling upon those who disapproved the course of the Observer " to meet at the Public market July 11, 1837." At the meeting resolutions were drawn up and passed de- nouneing the paper. A committee was appointed, whose duty it was to get into shape the "sense of the meeting," and couvey it in some tangible shape to Mr. Lovejoy. It was done, and it called forth from the editor his celebrated editorial entitled " What are the doctrines of the Anti- Slavery Men ?" The action of the market-house meeting led naturally to a mob, which first attempted to assault Love- joy, then on the same night, August 21st, 1837, broke into the office of the Observer and destroyed the press and type. The friends of Lovejoy and free speech at ouce held a meet- ing and decided that the paper should be re-established. Money was obtained with which to purchase another press. The order was made and filled, and the new press and mate- rial arrived at Alton, September 21st, 1837. It was the third press for the Observer office. Mr. Lovejoy was absent upon its arrival. His friends placed it for safe keeping in a warehouse, and a constable was posted at the door to guard it until a certain hour iu the night, after which it was supposed it would not be molested. After the official re- tired twelve men broke down the door, entered the building, rolled the press out to the river bank, broke it up and cast it into the river. A new press was immediately ordered, and a public meeting of the citizens of Alton called, at which the right of a free press and free speech were insisted upon. Resolutions were offered, demanding that protection be afforded Mr. Lovejoy and his property, " on the ground of principle solely and altogether disconnected from appro-

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bation of bis sentiments." The adoption of these resolu- tions were opposed by the pro-slavery men in the meeting A committee was appointed to draft resolutions embodying the sense of the meeting. They asked until the next day to make their report. W. S. Gilman, a friend of Lovejoy, offered certain resolutions declaring in substance " the right of every citizen to speak, write, or print his opinions on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that right to the law administered through and by its regular tribunals." It was lost. The next day the committee reported the fol- lowing set of resolutions." (1.) That it was expedient to ahstain from a discussion of principles in themselves deemed right and of the highest importance. (2) That the estab- lishment of a properly conducted religious paper would be desirable and approved by the people of Alton. (3.) That without desiring to restrain the liberty of the press in gen- eral, it was indispensable that Mr. Lovejoy should not be allowed to conduct a paper, and that he ought to retire from the charge of the _Alton Obserrer." Mr. Gilman, one of the committee, protested against the passage of the in- famous resolutions as reported, but he was alone. We can- not forbear to give a few extracts from the speech of Love- joy who was present at the meeting. He replied : " Mr. Chairman, I have not desired any compromise. I have asked for nothing but to be protected in my rights as a citi- zen, rights which God has given me, and which are guaran- teed to me by the constitution. Have I, sir, been guilty of any infraction of the laws? Whose good name have I in- jured ? When and where have I published anything injuri- ous to the reputation of Alton ? What, sir, has been my offense ? Put your finger upon it, define it, and I stand ready to answer it. If I have committed any crime you can easily punish me for it. You have public sentiment in * your favor * I plant myself down on my un- questionable rights, and the question to be decided is, whether I shall be protected in the exercise and enjoyment of those rights. That is the question, sir. Whether my property shall be protected, whether I shall be suffered to go home to my family at night without being assailed and threatened with tar and feathers and assassination ; whether my afflicted wife, whose life has been in jeopardy from con- stant alarm and excitement, shall, night after night, be driven from a sick bed to the garret to save her life from the brickbats and violence of the mobs. That, sir, is the ques- tion." Here he was overcome by the memory of his be- loved wife's afflictions, and he broke down and sobbed. In conclusion he said, " I cannot leave here and go else- where. I have no more claim upon the protection of any other community than I have upon this, and I have con- cluded, after consultation with my friends and earnestly seeking counsel of God, to remain at Alton and here to in- sist on protection in the exercise of my rights. If the civil authorities refuse to protect me I must look to God, and if I die I have determined to make my grave in Al- ton." While speaking, an eye-witness says, " his manner was calm and serions, though firm and decided."

The fourth press for the Observer office was shipped from Cincinnati, and received at Alion on the night of the 6th of

November, 1837, by the friends of Mr. Lovejoy. It was stored away in the warehouse of one of the largest and most respectable firms in Alton. Some sixty well-armed men were prepared to receive and guard it. The night passed, and the next day, and there was no appearance of a mob. As the night of the 7th approached, the friends and defenders of the press gathered in the warehouse, but about nine o'clock, there being no appearance or evidence of a mob, members of the company began to disperse to their homes, some few of the number, at the suggestion of Mr. Gilman, remaining with him through the night. One hour later, some signs of disturbance were noticed, and it was evident that the mob was gathering by preconcerted signal. The leaders of the mob approached the building and informed the guard that, unless the press was given up, the building would be burnt over their heads. The request was refused. The mob then attempted to force an entrance to the building, when the besieged were ordered to fire, which they did, and killed one of the attacking party. Attempts were then made to fire the building, and in order to prevent this a sortie was made by three of the inside guard, at whose head was E. P'. Lovejoy ; as they emerged from the building into the bright moonlight they were fired upon by a portion of the mob, stationed near the building, and hid from >ight by a pile of boards. Five balls entered the body of Lovejoy, and the other two men were seriously wounded. Lovejoy ran back up the stairs and into the counting room, where he fell into the arms of friends; he was laid upon the floor, and a few moments afterwards expired. Thus fell the first martyr in the defense of the cause of the freedom of a race, free speech, and a free press, foully murdered by a mob, whose hate and malignity was aroused and put in motion by the leaders and men of the pro-slavery party. " His virtues will plead like angels, trunipet-tongued against the deep damna- tion of his taking off, and pity, like a new-horn babe strid- ing the blast, or heaven's cherubins, horsed upon the sight- less couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the wind."

The press was surrounded, taken, and broken up, and it, too, cast into the Missi-sippi river. Mr. Lovejoy possessed dauntless courage and heroic will, and no amount of abuse or threats could drive him from what he conceived to be plain duty. " With him principle was everything, life nothing when thrown into the scale with duty." Ile wielded a powerful pen, and there was an earnestness about his writing that carried conviction with it. IIe was not only at times forcible, elegant, smooth and cogent, but also a fine descrip. tive writer, as the following extract from a letter dated Alton, February 9th, 1837, and published in the Christian Mirror, will show : " If the wisdom of the schools can not teach you the true character of slavery, come with me and let us interrogate yonder illiterate. untaught slave ; he is just returning, faint and weary, from the toils of the day ; he is an aged man, and has had for many years a practical acquaintance with slavery ; let us hear his reply to the ques. tion, What is slavery ? It is to have my back subjected to the cowhide or the cartwhip at the will or caprice of my master or any of his family. Every child has a right to

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

kiek, or curse or cuff the old man. It is to toil all day beneath an almost vertical sun, with the bitter certainty always before me, that not one cent of what I earn is, or ean be my own. ' It is to depart from my but in the morn- ing with the sickening fear that before my returu at night it will be visited by the slave-driving fiend. It is to return at night and find my worst fears realized, my first-born son, denied even the poor privilege of bidding his father fare- well, is on his way, a chained, manacled vietim, to a distant market, there to be disposed of in shambles, where human flesh is bought and sold. It is to enter into my eabin and see my wife or daughter struggling in the lustful embraces of my master or some of his white friends, without daring to at- tempt their rescue, for should I open my lips to remonstrate, a hundred lashes would be the consequence; and should I raise my hand to smite the brutal wretch, nothing but death could atone for the sacrilege. But above all to be a slave, is to be denied the privilege of reading the gospel, to have no control over my own children and consequently to be de- prived of the power and means of edueating them in the principles of morality and religion. In one word, to be de- graded from man to a brute, to become, instead of a free moral agent, a thing, a piece of property and to be used as such, to be deprived of all personal and all civil rights, to be shut out from all enjoyment in this world and all hope in the next.' "

The Observer was afterward printed in Cincinnati, by Elisha W. Chester and sent to Alton for distribution. Rev. T. B. Hurlburt acted as agent, and attended to furnishing some local news. That arrangement was continued for a few years and then abandoned.

THIE ILLINOIS TEMPERANCE HERALD,

Was a monthly publication, the first number of which was issued June Ist, 1836, at Alton. A. W. Corey was the editor, assisted by Timothy Turner, a noted temperance worker and orator. It was a four column folio, published under the auspices of the Executive Committee of the Illinois Temperance Society. It reached a circulation of from six to eight thousand copies. It was discontinued in the latter part of 1842.

THE ALTON COMMERCIAL GAZETTE,

Founded by Samuel S. Brooks and John H. Pettit, March 12th, 1839. It was an ably eoudueted journal, Democratie in politics. It suspended publication in March 1840, but was revived in May of the same year, and did good service in the presidential campaign, at the close of which it again suspended.

THE ALTONIAN,

No. 1, of Vol. 1, made its appearance April 6, 1838. L. A. Parks and Edmund Breath were the editors and publishers. It was a four (wide) column folio, Whig in politics, and supported Henry Clay for the presidency. In the third number the editors say, "We feel highly flattered at the reception our paper meets with, but the mere approval of

those who agree with us in sentiment will not support us. We desire more substantial proofs of their good will for we eannot, like the chameleon ' feed on air.' Our paper at pre- sent contains more reading matter than any other paper in the state, and the cost of publication is consequently consid- erable. As yet we have not received a sufficient number of subscribers to cover expenses, aud have determined to sus- pend operations until we secure six hundred. We shall issue an extra whenever we have matter sufficiently impor- tant to communicate." The above tells but the story of its rise and fall.

WESTERN PIONEER AND BAPTIST STANDARD BEARER.

The Pioneer was established at Rock Spring, St. Clair county, Illinois, in January 1829. It was the organ, and was published under the auspices of the Rock Spring seminary, a Baptist school founded by John M. Peck. In 1836 the press was removed to Alton, and the first number of the Western Pioneer and Baptist Standard Bearer issued Sept. 14, 1836. It was edited by Rev. John M. Peck, E. Rogers and Rev. Washington Leverett. With the commencement of the 2d volume the words " Baptist Standard Bearer" were dropped, and it was then known as the Western Pio- neer. It was the organ of the Baptist church throughout the west, and was the pioneer religious paper west of Ohio. That it was ably conducted, it is sufficient to know that John M. Peck was its controlling genius and supporter. IIe was a strong, vigorous writer, aud eminently qualified to establish the first religious journal in Illinois.

VOICE OF ILLINOIS

Was a campaign paper, published by the Whig Executive Committee for Madison county. It was a four column folio. The first number was issued May 19th, 1838. It supported Cyrus Edwards for Governor, William H. David- son for Lieut. Governor, and George Churchill for senator. It suspended at the close of the campaign.

THIE SUCKER,

was established in Alton, January 5, 1840. It was publish- ed by Messrs. Parks & Beatty and edited by " Ourselves," who were understood to be William S. and John Lincoln, sons of Levi Lincoln, Governor of Massachusetts and Junius Hall. On the 21st March of the same year it was merged with the Telegraph. It was a Whig paper, and supported Harrison for the presidency. The following is the valedie- tory of the editors.

"The Sucker, from a temporary wandering in this mun- dane sphere is about to become immortal. The nature of our engagements is such that we cannot without serious loss to ourselves and a neglect for higher duties, superintend the publication of a weekly paper. There are a thousand little troublesome details connected with the issue of a news- paper of which the world has no knowledge, and of which naturally enough in the commencement of our enterprise, we made no account. Wisdom howeveris better than riches, and we cannot say, therefore, but that we have received a consideration for our money. We have several items of ex-

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perience laid up in our memories which we have acquired in a similar manner, and which we consider among the best capital we have.

THE WESTERN WEEKLY MIRROR

was established at Edwardsville by James Ruggles in May, 1838. He was editor and proprietor. The Mirror was de- voted to the introduction and propagation of a universal language by which the whole hnman family could hold con- verse with one another and be understood. It was a worthy mission, but the feeble effort of its progenitor fell still- born. It continued until the spring of 1840, when its name was changed to the

SOVEREIGN PEOPLE.

It continued until the summer of 1841, when it suspended.

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM AND TIIE CANDID EXAMINER.

A semi-religious paper printed at Alton and edited by A. Doubleday. In the prospectus the editor says : "Its mission was to reveal to the world much light and hold in one hand the key to unlock the mazy labyrinth of iniquity and pour celestial oil and light on the eye-ball of reason, that it may dispel the gloomy mist of superstition by hold- ing out the 'Olive Branch ' of amity, and saying, "Let us reason together while now and then we will throw a smooth stone at the forehead of error so as to enlighten mankind."

The contract undertaken by the editor was entirely too large for him. He had but one opportunity of "pouring oil and light on the eye-ball of reason," and the "smooth stones " gave out after the issue of the first number.

THE PROTESTANT MONITOR

was established in Alton in March 1848. Mr. John M. McPike was one of the publishers. It was devoted to Chris- tianity, free discussion, literature, agriculture, general intelligence, the glory of God and the rights of man. On the 23d of June, 1848 the name was changed to the

ALTON MONITOR,

with its religious mantle exchanged for that of Democracy, and the names of Lewis Cass and William O. Butler nailed to the mast-head as its candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency. Mr. McPike withdrew from the paper. It was continued as a campaign paper a few weeks later, how- ever. The names Cass and Butler were taken down and Mar- tin Van Buren's substituted. It was then under the editorial control of John W. Buffum. It suspended at the close of the campaign.

THE PRESBYTERY REPORTER

was a religious magazine the first number of which appear- ed May Ist, 1845. The first year only two numbers were issned. From May 1847 to May 1850 it was published quarterly, sixteen pages. From May 1850 to May 1854 it was published bi-monthly. The subscription list was then

transferred to the Evangelist, printed at Chicago. In May 1855 the publication of the Reporter was resumed at Alton, and continued monthly, as the organ of the l'resbyteries of the Illinois and Peoria synods. Rev A. S. Norton is the cditor.

TIIE MADISON RECORD.

The first issue of the above named paper was made at Edwardsville, February 14th, 1850. Messrs. Dallam & Ruggles were the editors and publishers. In November of the same year, Dallam retired, and his place was taken by Lemuel E. Smith. On the 19th of December the firm un- derwent another change. Ruggles retired aud David Gillespie, Esq. became a partner with Smith. and editor of the paper.

Mr. Robert H. Ruggles, one of the founders of the paper, afterward went to Henry, in Marshall county, Illinois, and there founded the Courier. The Record, under the manage- ment of Messrs. White & Gillespie, continued until the spring of 1851, when the latter withdrew, and soon after the paper suspended.

THE ALTON COURIER,

In its day, was the most influential newspaper in Southern Illinois. It was established in Alton, and made its first issue June 4th, 1852. It was founded by Geo. T. Brown, a promi- nent member of the Madison county bar and an enterprising and wealthy citizen of Alton. Associated with him were John Fitch, who, prior to his removal to Alton, had been editor of the Carrollton Banner, and James Gamble. The Courier was issued as a daily, tri-weekly aud weekly paper- It was an eight column folio. Politically it was Democratic, and was designed and regarded as the exponent of the prin- ciples of that political organization. It was founded upon a very liberal scale, and from its very first issue, assumed a commanding position among the newspapers of the State. At the close of the first volume, Mr. Gamble retired. Mr. Fitch continued with the paper until 1854, when he dis- solved his connection with the Courier and soon after became editor of the National Democrat. At the time the Courier was established, the Telegraph was the only paper published in Alton. It was then the organ of the Whig party in Sonthern Illinois, as it had been previously the leading paper in the state. The leaders of the Democratic party had long felt the need of an organ, and to meet that want, the Courier was established. It continned to do valiant service for the party until 1854, when the agitation of the Kansas-Ne- braska troubles commenced. The Courier took a decided stand in favor of Free-soil, which then meant no farther ex- tension of slavery. The Telegraph_advocated the same measures, and thus, though starting widely different, they, by the operation of politics, were advocating and aiming at the same object. In the campaign of 1856, the Courier advo- cated the claims of John C. Fremont for the presidency.

As before stated, both the Courier and gelegraph were Free-soil papers, and under the circumstances, it was deemed advisable to have but onc. In short, there was not room in Alton for two papers occupying the same ground and advo- cating the same measures. After some preliminary sparring,

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 52

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co. Number of Pages: 698

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698