Slavery Question in Oregon. 345 tar and feathers, any where outside of the Western Reserve. As a rule the people of Ohio knew little of slavery and cared less. In theory they were opposed to the institution, but it was a theory which did not reach to their hearts or purses. About their only source of discomfort was the agi- tator and the ominous cloud of disunion which hovered around him. From personal knowledge I can affirm that it was curiosity to hear Sam Lewds explain how the free-soil move- ment could be made to harmonize with the general interests, that brought people to his meetings. But he did not explain and he indulged in no constitutional argument to prove the right of free speech, nothing to show the futility of depending upon the two great parties to ameliorate the condition of the slave or to prevent extension. All sorts of current politics were unmentioned and unmentionable. He expatiated in a different country and after a few minutes all were dispos- sessed of antagonisms, saw with him, felt with him and ex- perienced an invigoration, or rather, a newness of spirit which w^as to them both a surprise and an enigma. Old silver-gray AVhigs and dyed-in-the-wool Democrats would rise up during the pauses of the discourse, and with tears streaming down their faces, embrace as long separated brothers, pledging themselves to resist by every available means the extension of slavery over the territories of the Union. In the words of Goldsmith, those who came to scoff remained to pray. And how was such a mental metamorphosis brought about ^ By the strength and skill of the orator ? It was all so strange, so ex- cessive, so seemingly unnatural, that I am loth to give it the name of oratory. People often shed tears at the recital of wrongs endured, of cruelty suffered, but did all of thousands ever before melt in tears until the fountains were exhausted and the features distorted in sympathy until they were sore and required the hands to smoothe them and soothe them? Was the cause of such effects, oratory? or was it magic— the art of the conjuror? Truly, Sam Lewis set up the auction block and sold human chattels, separated husbands and wives, parents and children, tore asunder every human tie, but there
