the Legislature in reply to an
intimation questioning the validity of the title of slaves in
Illinois. The old gentleman instantly arose and remarked "that
fittener men" than he was "mout hev been found to defend the
masters agin the sneakin' ways of the infernal abolitioners; but
havin' rights on my side, I don't fear, Sir. I will show that are
proposition is unconstitutionable, inlegal, and fornenst the
compact. Don't every one know, or leastwise had ought to know,
that the Congress that sot at _Post Vinsan_, garnisheed to the
old French inhabitants the right to their niggers, and haint I
got as much rights as any Frenchman in this State? Answer me
that, Sir." Notwithstanding this seeming confidence, these men
were exceedingly desirous of reinforcing their rights. They
resorted to the indenturing method, by which they got their
servant to go before some officer and bind himself to serve the
master, generally for ninety-nine years, for which he was to
receive a slight equivalent at the end of each year.

As the "Yankees" increased in numbers, confidence (on the part of
the pro-slavery men) in the titles to their negroes, diminished,
and they finally concluded that there was no assurance for them,
except in changing the constitution so as to sanction
slaveholding and thus the contest commenced, which for fierceness
and rancor excelled anything ever before witnessed. The people
were at the point of going to war with each other. The
pro-slavery men were, as they have always been ready to resort to
violence wherever they dared, unwilling to listen to, or
incapable of comprehending arguments. Their method of overcoming
opposition was by "buldozing"; but on this occasion they had to
encounter men of invincible courage, who were eager and willing
to 'beard the lion in his den,' and defend their rights at all
hazards. Many of these men had removed to Illinois to get rid of
the curse of slavery.

This scheme, however, was with much difficulty defeated and the State
was saved for freedom. The intensity of this struggle has been well
described by Governor Reynolds in his _My Own Times_. He says:

The convention question gave rise to two years of the most
furious and boisterous excitement and contest that ever was
visited on Illinois. Men, women and children e