LaGrange (MO) National American, "Negroe Stampede––$2,650 Reward," November 12, 1859

      Negroe Stampede––$2,650 Reward. 

[O]n last Monday night, ten negroes decamped from [this] city, five males and five females––two of the [numbe]r are small children, the eldest not being over [illegible]e years old. They were all likely, intelligent and [illegible]able slaves, with one exception, and thaat an [ol]d and decrepid female. They belonged to seven [diffe]rent persons. Large hand bills have been is[sued] by the parties owning the slaves, in which full [desc]riptions of their persons are given, and the total [of t]he rewards offered, foots up to the munificent [illegible] of $2,650. Great exertions have been made [for] their recovery, but up to the time of our going [to p]ress, no clue to their whereabouts or the direction [illegible] which they had taken, had been obtained. [The] fugitive stole a flat boat from this place, in [whi]ch it is supposed they crossed the river. The [boa]t was caught afloat at or near quincy. If these [illegible] succeed in making a permanent escape, it will [be] [t]he third or fourth successful stampede that has [tak]en place from LaGrange in the past three or four [mon]ths. This fact leads us to the conclusion that [the]re is a regular under ground railroad established [fro]m this place to Chicago, Ills., and that the com[illegible] have an agent or agents in this city. It is our [beli]ef that an abolitionist conductor accompanied [illegible] last part of slaves, and that this underground [rail] road forms a connection with the Quincy & Chi[cago] R.R. While this state of things exist no [sla]ve-holder is safe in the possession of his slave-[pro]perty, however much confidence he may impose [illegible] his servants. Every human being loves liberty, [illegible] when it is pictured to the slave with all the wily [illegible]-uence of the fanatical abolitionist, he like the [Pat]riot of the Revolution, will leave home and kin[illegible] all those pleasant associations by which he surrounded here even as a slave, and go in search [illegible] liberty and freedom. it is no use denying it, the [illegible] of liberty is an innate principle that exists even [am]ong the beasts of the field. The more intelligent [illegible] slave beocmes the greater his thirst for freedom, [and] the stronger will become his protestions of att[ac]hment and love for hi smaster, that he may [the]reby obtain grater confidence and secur emore opportunities for acquiring that knowledge and intelligence so necessary for the accomplishment of the [de]sired end--his perfect freedom by escape to Cana[da], and when the favorable moment arrives, as[sist]ed by the white abolitionist he takes his flight, [for]getting all obligations and gratitude which he [ow]es to his kind and indulgent master. We do not [wi]sh by thse remarks to get up a panic among [sla]ve-holders, or to less in the least degree the con[fid]ence now existing between master and slave; but [we] desire to warn the slave-holder to be more vigilant and caution him to be less indulgent, for the [illegible] stares him in the face, that it is those slaves [that] have been the best treated and have had pretty [mu]ch their own way, that have escaped.