The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-10-06
Original Correspondence.
Far tie Herald # Freedom.
Reply to 'Back-woodsman."

10 odCA-WOOlSu1dus
LANE, OTTAWA, Sept. 90, '55.
MrsTEK EDIruK ii didn't think when
| rit you that letter that | would rile
emmy body's feelin's. l don't know who
"Back- woodsman' is, but he holds the
pen of "ready writer" and knows how
to string his idees in proper order-so its
easy followin' him. l say don't know
who he Is; hadn't him nor his like in
my mind IS e-e when I rit that letter.
For you see, Mister Editur, our nabor-
hood covers desput big slice of coun-
try, and contains some who were for a
slave State till they got their eyes an
nineted by Missouri eye-salve to see the
s.tyrannies and expressions" of slavery
attempted to be fastened upon the suyrin'
squatters of Kansas.
But | must be brief and say what ]
have to say to my back-wood's nabor,
SOS to get it into your next paper-for
didn't receive emmy paper of the number
his.l letter was in, and only found it to-
day at Yankee nabor's.
"Back-woodsman" says ''it seems to
him design to convey the idea to my
eastern friends that Yankee air is great
leayen for Missourians, or for making
them freemen.'' Now | didn't say
nothin' about yankee air ;" and ef he'l
read over the parrygraf he quotes and
comments on, he'll see that l said ''the
very air of Kansas smells of freedom,
and nobody can breathe it long and curse
the Yankees, because they love it free
dom and have brought it with them
from Ticonderoga and Bunker HILL"
In his conclusion he says, "our prin-
ciples were established before we became
acquainted with the Yankees, therefore
we object to their claiming us as the
workmanship of their hands,
Now, nabor 'back-woodsman," this
made me think of reply of Whitfeld's.
the great and good Methodist | think
it was when drunken fellow reeled up
to him and claimed to be one of his cor
verts. "Well,' said the preacher, "you
may be one of ney converts. certainly
you amt one of the Lord Jesus Christ's.' y
So, whatever may be the principles ol
their converts or any body's else, there
are very few Yankees who haven't learn
ed from their Bibles that the good Father
recognises the Africans as his child
rem and teaches the common brotherhood
of all races of men. Now, Nabor, you
saw "don't understand me to say we are
humane as some profess to be, for we
claim no relationship to the African, and
shall not recognise them as brothers un-
til their sable skins become white and
they comb their hair straight"
Well, wont say anything about pro
fessions of humanity, for count nobody
as humane that amt christian in prac-
tice. Christ was the divine embodi-
ment of humanity, and he taught US,
poor, dependent critters, to meet the
wants of others with fraternal sympathy
and material aid. He gave to us-biaek
skins and white skins, straight bair and
curly hair--that blessed Republican
Plat form, "Do unto Others" DC. And
mind neighbor, this Bible platform
han't but one plank, and that is broad
enuf to hold all human interests; there
amt shake in it either, and when Mis-
soorians and Yankees in Kansas, come
to all stand on that platform, there won't
be no need of s. black plan" from the
force of the old fellow that "sows tares, 2
to secure the freedom of Kansas from
African Slavery, or the slavery of caste.
No, no, Aunt Debby's Zone idee
woman on this African question, she
don want but one plank in her social on
political platft rrn, and that one the broad
platform of universal brotherhood whose
s.eersman abiured all distinction bui
moral ones. and rebuked respectors oi
nersons who identified himself with the
most unfortunate and miserable, saying
.. in as much as ye did it (the kind Oh
unkind aet) unto one of the least ol
these, We did it unto me-"
l take il for granted, nabor. that you
recognize the African as included among
the subjects of gospel salsasion, and
travellers to the same eternal home
| If so-for suppose you intend 10 go to
Heaven-ain't it wise to make up your
mind to recognize them as brothers
here. It won't look well there or be
quite heavenly. to pout and talk about
skins and hair. as title deeds TO a heay-
leEly relationship-Win It nabor ? Il Is
well 10 remember that the grave and
Heaven are waiting for rs ali.
/ remain yonrs truly sor black aso
white, Misseurians and Xankees-soo
bless us all, with : knowledge OF thai
| truth which makes the fres man and
| free woman.