And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.--Rev., vi; 9, 10, 11. Ye heavens, attend! Let all the earth give ear! Let Gods and seraphs, men and angels hear: The worlds on high--the universe shall know, What awful scenes are acted here below! Had Nature's self a heart, her heart would bleed At the recital of so foul a deed; For never, since the Son of God was slain, Has blood so noble flowed from human vein, As that which now on God for vengeance calls From "Freedom's" ground--from Carthage prison walls. Oh, Illinois! thy soil has drunk the blood Of Prophets, martyred for the truth of God. Once loved America! what can atone For the pure blood of innocence thou'st sown? Were all thy streams in teary torrents shed, To mourn the fate of those illustrious dead, How vain the tribute for the noblest worth, That graced thy surface, O degraded earth! Vile, wretched murderers, fierce for human blood, You've slain the Prophets of the living God; Who've borne oppression from their early youth, To plant on earth, the principles of truth. Shades of our patriot fathers! Can it be, Beneath your blood-stained flag of liberty, The firm supporters of our country's cause, Are butchered while submissive to her laws? Yes, blameless men, defamed by hellish lies, Have thus been offered as a sacrifice, T' appease the ragings of a brutish clan, That has defied the laws of God and man! 'Twas not for crime or guilt of theirs, they fell: Against the laws they never did rebel. True to their country, yet her plighted faith Has proved an instrument of cruel death. Great men have fallen, mighty men have died-- Nations have mourned their fav'rites and their pride; But, two so wise, so virtuous and so good, Before on earth, at once, have never stood Since the Creation--men whom God ordained, To publish truth where error long had reigned; Of whom the world itself unworthy proved; It KNEW THEM NOT, but men with hatred moved, And with infernal spirits have combined Against the best--the noblest of mankind. O, persecution! shall thy purple hand Spread utter desolation through the land? Shall Freedom's banner be no more unfurled? Has peace, indeed, been taken from the world?