The perils of discussing politics --- 1862 style

Goodness knows, a body can end up in a contentious situation these days if politics become the topic of conversation. But that's always been the case, as the following brief item from The Eddyville Star of Aug. 23, 1862, suggests.

The earliest files of Lucas County newspapers date from 1867, but now and then items published elsewhere give glimpses of what was going on here during those "missing" years between 1850 and the late 1860s.

The host in this case would have been a Republican, a supporter of Lincoln and his administration, loyal to the Union cause. The three delegates from Lucas County who had hoped to spend the night were Democrats, members of the not always especially loyal opposition --- although a distinct minority. Here's the text of the article:

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Hard Road to Travel --- A short time since, three delegates from Chariton, Lucas county, making tracks for the Democratic judicial pow-wow, held in Ottumwa, stopped with an old farmer in Monroe county named Jones, for the purpose of getting supper and the privilege of staying over night.

After their team had been provided for, and supper over, the delegates whose names might not look well in print, stepped out of the house into the yard, placed themselves in as comfortable positions as circumstances seemed to admit of, then proceeded to criticize the conduct of the administration in the prosecution of this "abolition war" and so on, by which  time their host was fully aroused.

So soon as he fair comprehended the drift of affairs, and what manner of men he was entertaining --- he hurled their luggage after them into the yard, exclaiming: "Gentlemen, I do not wish to be thought inhospitable, but it is against the law to give aid and comfort to traitors, and I would be much obliged to you to leave these diggins as soon as possible," which they did according to order.