The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-03
LYNCHIyG IN KENTUCKY.

The American Baptist, Of Utica, New York,
publishes letters from the Rev Edward Mat
thews, giving an account of his barbarous treat
ment in Kentucky.
MIR. Matthews it seems, is an agent OF the
American Free Mission Society, and, in the
exercise of his agency visited that State ana TOOK
occasion to advocate from the pulpit anti-slavery
sentiments Not long since, in the village OF Rich
mond, Madison county, he applied to several
churches for permission to lecture on the moral
and religious condition Of the slaves but was IN
successful February LIST, in the evening". ne
preached to the coored congregation OF that place.
after which he was assailed by mob and driven
from the town. Returning in a short time, he
left a communication respecting the transaction az
the Office Of the Richmond Chronicle and again de-
parted, but had not gone far, before he was over
taken by four men, who seized him, and led him
to an out-of-the-way place, where they consult
ed as to what they should do with him. They
resolved to duck him, ascertaining first that he
could swim Two of them took him and threw
him into pond, as far as they could, and, on his
rising to the surface, babe him come out. He did
so, and, on his refusing to promise never to come
to Richmond, they flung him in again. This ope-
ration was repeated four times, when he yielded
They next demanded of him promise that he
would leave Kentucky and never return again
He refused to give it, and they threw him in the
water six times more, when, his strength failing,
and they threatening to whip him, he gave the
via ~ Iaftt he
We do not know anything about Mr. Ma
thews or his mode Of promulgating his views.
The laws in Kentucky for the protection of what
is called Slave-Property are stringent enough,
and nobody can doubt the readiness of Public
Sentiment to enforce their heaviest penalties
against offenders. Ii Mr.. Matthews violated the
law, he should have been tried by the law and
he would have been, had he committed an illegal
act. No charge of the kind is made against
him.
He was, then, the victim of Lynch law, admin
istered in ruffianly manner, and without provo
cation; and the parties concerned in the transac-
ton, whatever their position in society, were
guilty Of conduct as cowardly as it was brutal
As to the manner in which Mr.. Matthews has
conducted himself in Kentucky, we know nothing
We transfer to our columns the following extract
from an editorial in the Journal and Messenger of
Cincinnati, Baptist paper, and which, it may be
presumed, speaks intelligently on the subject;
MIR. Matthews is likewise Baptist minister,
whose oaensibs mission is one of love. If he has
violated that mission, or any LAM, he is smenable
to God and lam, and not to LAwLEss VIOLENCE
His going to Kentucky is o matter of conscience
to him, in which he has right to indulge. Many
good anti-slavery men would question the wisdom
of such step. None would doubt his RIGHT
Many, as q matter Of taste and propriety, cannot
admire the way in which he is reputed to do his
work But they believe he is conscientious and
they know that oppression maketh even a wise
man mad We do not think, in obedience to
Christ's commands, he sufficiently counted the
cost For no one in his position should 90 to
Kentucky to agitate the question of slavery, un-
less he EXPECTS TO DIE. No man in this position,
which Mr.. Matthews occupies, can do it, without
falling martyr Liberty of speech and thought
is not, cannot be enjoyed in slave States. Slavery
could not exist ior q moment IL it did. Ii Is
doubtless the duty Of the Christian, not to sur
rerder his life cheaply for the sake of being
martyr. That would be an unhoiy motive. 1t is
his duty to preserve it until the last moment So
Christ enjoins 10 is no mark Of cowardice to
flee. When they prosecute you in one city, flee
into another, said the Saviour. But he did not
say, give pledge that you will not exercise your
nights. Hence, He nor his Disciples ever did it.
But it question: after one has deliberated, and
conscentously entered a community in the exer-
else of his constitutional and religious rights,
whether he should give pledge under the infu-
ence ola lore Of life, neUer 10 return. If he does,
he has not counted the cost A Christian should
be as conscientious in pledging soemnly, not to
do what he has an undoubted right to do, as he is
in aboring for the emancipation of the slave"