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‘Pluck the manacles’

Lott calls for end to spread of slavery while Warren County’s first Republican in state House

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Daniel Lott’s grave at the Lottsville Cemetery.

The rest of Daniel Lott’s speech on the state House floor in support of his resolution to encourage Pennsylvania’s federal legislators to oppose the expansion of slavery.

“And I shall endeavor to show that the general government, instead of advancing on in the political reform from the commanding position occupied by her at the time of the adoption of the Federal Constitution, has actually taken a retrograde course in reference to the subject of slavery, and the men now occupying the same position occupied by the fathers of our country, are charged with being ultraist fanatics, disturbers of the public peace and enemies of the Constitution. Now, sir, no man can prize the prosperity of his country higher than myself and because I love my country, I would admonish her of her faults, for sir,, I have yet to learn that slavery is the salt that preserves this nation from political putrification – and, as such, necessary to be diffused throughout the entire Union.

“Sir, if slavery is the bond that holds this union together, we are occupying a very unhappy and dangerous position, for the day is approaching when the ‘American Eagle’ will pluck the manacles from the limbs of the captive slave, or perish in the attempt. But to our subject, after the close of the war of our Revolution, and the several states had ceded to the United States, the different territories claimed by them, giving by this act to the general government, the undisputed title to that large extent of territory known as the “North West Territory,” embracing what is now the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa, the Continental Congress, by an ordinance of April 28th, 1787, declared that “there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territories, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, where of the party shall have been duly convicted.”

“The first Congress held under the constitution re-affirmed the ordinance of 1787, by an almost unanimous vote. These men were the conservatives of that day, some took a stand in advance of this and contended that Congress had the right and that sound policy required the exercise of that right, in the abolition of slavery throughout the Union. In this class stood Patrick Henry, one of the most brilliant minds of the age.

We come now to notice that territory which has caused so much contention in this Union, namely, the territory of Louisiana on this subject. The South expect will look upon us with contentment, not the moral courage to defend position whatever that position may be.

The opponents of slavery everywhere expect that we will as the representatives of a free people, proclaim our undying (opposition) to the further extension of slavery.

The eyes of the civilized world (are on) us what less can they expect of us that we will take a decided and stand against further extension of this gross (injustice) against humanity and how express our views better than by the passage (of these) resolutions….

The spirit of freedom is once more (beating) in the breasts of the citizens of Pennsylvania (as) they are becoming alarmed at the (tenets) of slavery.

I hope, sir, that these resolutions pass by an overwhelming majority (and) Pennsylvanians forever wash her hands (of) participation in and sympathy for the (abomination of) abominations, human slavery.

Schenck’s History of Warren County notes that Lott spent just two legislative sessions in Harrisburg and also served “ten years a justice of the peace in Freehold.”

Schenck wrote about the morality that seems to have prompted Lott in everything he did.

In all the questions which affect the morality, peace or prosperity of the Commonwealth or community, he was found on the side of the right, his tendency being rather to carry those principles too far, than to be too lax in the interpretation and execution of them,” Schenck wrote. “He was a believer in temperance, and during the long years of anti-slavery agitation he was an outspoken Abolitionist.

With the Civil War ultimately solving the slavery question – while admittedly leaving a host of questions unanswered about what emancipation would actually mean – Lott returned to Warren County and continued with his religious fervor.

And it took him places he probably didn’t expect to go.

In 1882, the Ledger reported that “Our old friend Daniel Lott, of Freehold, has issued another pamphlet entitled, John Wesley and Modern Spiritualism, in which he appeals to ministers of the Methodist church, based upon reason, revelation, God and common sense. The book contains over one hundred pages, filled with copious extracts from the writings of John Wesley and comments by Daniel Lott, who thinks a case has been made out on behalf of modern spiritualism.

The only way to find out for sure is to buy a book. We can say this of the compiler and writer: We believe him to be an honest man.”

Schenck wrote that Lott believed “himself to be under the direction of the unsubstantial inhabitants of the invisible world.”

He wrote that Lott’s treatises and pamphlets were often written “under the inspiration of h is feverish meditations, at night chiefly.”

And while spiritualism has always had its skeptics, Lott became one too.

“A short time before he died, however, he renounced this faith, pronouncing it an injurious delusion,” Schenck wrote.

Also in 1882, the Ledger reported that “A Lottsville correspondent of the Corry Telegraph says that Hon. Daniel Lott of that place has a large rattlesnake with which he intends to experiment on the bite, an antidotes of his own, as yet unknown to others. He will give the results to the world to benefit humanity. Animals will be the victims for experiment.”

A Republican voting, abolitionist preacher who – for a time – believed in spiritualism and dabbled in experimental medicine.

Yep, that’s exactly where I expected this story to go.

Lott died at his “home in Lottsville after a long and severe illness from gastric fever” on July 24, 1886 at the age of 82.

The July 30, 1886 edition of the Ledger included his obituary.

“He moved to Lottsville with his father in the year 1815, where he grew to manhood, marrying in the 25th year of his life, Miss Sally Row, on January 12, 1827, living in the respect of the neighborhood, a tender-hearted, kind and affectionate man, filling many places of trust and honor in his country; serving in the Legislature of Pennsylvania, being the first man from the county who served a second term.

“He leaves in his life work, marks on the side of right – in the slavery question that so deeply involved our country, in the great rebellion and the cause of temperance, which to us today, is a question of vital importance.

“Always in all questions of morals, choosing the right: A man of decided conviction and outspoken upon all questions brought before his mind. Ending this life, entering the unseen under the blessings of God, looking unto Jesus, the author of our faith, trusting Him who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him, evidencing in his law house a quiet humble-like spirit, being refreshed by godly songs sang to him.

“He leaves his dear wife, the companion of his years of happiness, toil and pain, adversity and prosperity, to feel his absence: two sons and grandsons and grand-daughter to cheer the mother’s hart, remember father and follow after a large circle of relatives and friends – may the blessing of heaven rest upon all.

Asleep in Jesus, o how sweet,

To be for such slumber meet

With holy confidence to sing

That death has lost his venomed sting.”

He is buried at the Lottsville Cemetery.

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