Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

330 SPRINGFIELD, 2636-1SS6.
not been repaid by the State for his services in defending Springfield,
and he added: "As to private injuries and insults which I have received,
some have been by the burning of my fences and injuring my
woodlands by fire beyond recovery for many years ;
by most wantonly
as well as cruelly destroying two of my horses by cutting off their ears
and digging out their eyes before they were killed ; by personally
insulting me with the ^ile epithet of ' a murderer of brethren,' and
through anonymous letters threatening me with the destruction of my
dwelling-house and family b}^ fire."
But the time did finally come when men learned to have enough
faith in their personal convictions to be content to promulgate their
views unattended by coercive weapons. Then it was that the ancient
lampoon became history :
—
" Politicians of all kinds
Who are not 3'et decided,
May see how Yankees speak their minds
And vet are not divided."