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I, Elijah Lovejoy, feel that the abomination known as slavery should be abolished and that those of us in the press should be free to spread the word of the abolitionists and the horrors of slavery.

I have been in the press much of my life. My editorial career began working on a paper in support of Mister Henry Clay. I briefly entered a seminary, but soon returned to publishing. I began to understand the horrors of slavery after witnessing the burning of a slave at the stake. Soon after I began writing editorials that expressed my views on slavery. Pro-slavery individuals, as well as the government, began to harass me for my articles. The stubborn fools even torched my press, but I refuse to submit to their wills. I have rebuilt my press many times, yet each time it is destroyed. But I will not back down. The slaves deserve to be set free and the press deserves the ability to express its views on slavery, or any other issues for that matter. These are my beliefs and I will die before I relent to my pro-slavery aggressors. I will be a martyr for my cause.

John Quincy Adams is an acquaintance of mine and often reads my periodical. He is a strong supported of my cause, especially the abolishment of slavery

The only way either of my causes will be reached is with the assistance of the feral government. Freedom of the Press must be established. Simply because an editorial does not agree with the general consensus does not mean it should be censored. Likewise, the government must forbid further enslavement and harassment of the blacks. These goals will never truely be achived unless an offical law is passed.

"Alton, Illinois - Civil War Era - Elijah Parish Lovejoy." //AltonWeb - Community Information Center for The River Bend - Southwestern, Illinois//. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .

"Elijah Lovejoy." //Spartacus Educational - Home Page//. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .

"Elijah Parish Lovejoy." //Colby College | Four-Year Liberal Arts College in Maine//. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .