In my previous post “A Northern View on Race” I gave the example of an Indiana newspaper covering the story of whether or not a former slave was qualified to testify in a court of law. The article which was titled “A Henderson County Nigger On the Witness Stand” , was riddled with racial epitaphs and clearly did not consider newly freed slaves as citizens.

While exploring the archives of the Charleston Courier (Charleston, Mississippi County, Missouri) I found another example of Northern views regarding slavery and whether or not Union soldiers were fighting to abolish the institution.

The May 20th, 1864 edition of the paper carried the following news:

“A mob of soldiers, instigated by abolitionists, destroyed the office of a German democratic newspaper at Bellville, Ill., yesterday afternoon.”

• Clint Lacy is author of “Blood in the Ozarks: Expanded Second Edition” available in paperback for $15 or Kindle format for $2.99