n 1845, General Robert Matson, of Kentucky, being hard pressed
financially, in order to keep them from being sold in payment of his
debts, brought Jane Bryant, with her four small children to this county.
Her husband, Anthony Bryant, was a free negro, and a licensed exhorter
in the Methodist Church of Kentucky. But his wife and children were
slaves of Matson. In 1847, Matson, determined to take the Bryants back
to Kentucky as his slaves, caused to be issued by a justice of the peace
of the county a writ directed to Jane Bryant and her children to appear
before him forthwith and answer the claim of Robert Matson that their
service was due to him, etc. This action produced great excitement in
this county. Practically the entire community divided, largely on
the lines of pro-slavery and anti-slavery. Usher F. Linder, the most
eloquent lawyer in this vicinity, appeared for Matson, and Orlando B.
Ficklin, twice a member of Congress, appeared for the negroes. Under the
practice the defendant obtained a hearing from three justices instead
of one, and a trial ensued lasting several days, and attended by great
excitement. Armed men made demonstrations and bloodshed was narrowly
averted. Two of the justices were pro-slavery, and one anti-slavery. The
trial was held in Charleston. The decision of the justice was discreet.
It was held that the court had no jurisdiction to determine the right
of property, but that Jane and her children were of African descent and
found in the state of Illinois without a certificate of freedom, and
that they be committed to the county jail to be advertised and sold to
pay the jail fees.

"At the next term of the circuit court, Ficklin obtained an order
staying proceedings until the further order of the court. Finally when
the case was heard in the circuit court Linder and Abraham Lincoln
appeared for Matson, who was insisting upon the execution of the
judgment of the three justices of the peace so that he could buy them
at the proposed sale, and Ficklin and Charles Constable, afterward a
circuit judge of this circuit, appeared for the negroes. The judgment
was in favor of the negroes and they were discharged.

"The above is a much abbreviated account of this occurrence, stripped
of its local coloring, giving however its salient points, and I have no
doubt of its substantial accuracy."

3. Lincoln, II, 185.

4. Lincoln, II, 186.

5. Lamon, 347.

6. Lincoln, II, 232-233.

7. Lincoln, II, 190-2