Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler

gan to be able to put in intelligible shape to myself those reasonings by which these men justified their action. They reasoned thus: "War is a state of violence and always involves

lous regard for others' rights by which they are governed in time of peace. But the North and South are already practically in a state of war. This comes of the mistakes made at the formation of our government. Thomas Jefferson and the fathers of the Revolution were mistaken in holding slavery wrong. It is a ri

rong, from the beginning, It was wrong to close the Northwest Territory, embracing Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, against slavery. So also it w

ing on our rights now, in this golden opportunity-will be worth more than the shedding of rivers of blood by and by. Therefore the primary and rudimental legislation of this infant Territory will be worth everything to us in the

bly they did not. But the dissent was generally unspoken. The men of this stamp commonly adopted the policy of the man

From Detroit he had made his way into Kentucky, had married a rich wife with many slaves, and had become a vehement partisan for slavery. But because he was born in the same State with myself, and because I could tell him much about that people that were once his people, he was glad to have me stop with him. Being old and choleric, he would go off into a fierce passion against the abolitionists. He would say: "These men are thieves! Our niggers are our property, and they steal our property. They might as well steal our horses." After awhile he would begin to talk about his

as threatened to be filled with a nation of mulattoes. But this mixed race would possess all the pride, ambition and talent of the superior race; at the same time they would feel all

hey had only paltried with, it; now the people were to try their hand. And what should I do? Had I any right as a Christian and as an American citizen, when providentially called to this work, to withdraw myself from aiding in its settlement? And should I turn my horse in the op

a merchant in the city, a member of the Christian Church. He received me kindly and treated me courteously, but his partner in business

hat now crossed the Missouri River at St. Joseph was not just the man that ten

e Territory and were returning. They seemed thoroughly disgusted, and said: "The wind blows so hard in

bitants. But the State has a higher boast to make than that it has so increased in wealth and population. It has been the first State in the Union-indeed, it has been the first gove