The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-09
FREE SPEECH IN KENTUCKY.

The following is the highly interesting cor
respoudence to which we referred last week.
IL view Of the triumphant vindication of the
freedom Of speech which followed, it may be
l-yaried as one Of the Landmarks of Freedom
SHALL LIBERTY OR DESPERATION TRIUMPH!
Mr. VEENoy, Ky, July IL, 1855.
SIR: We address you, not in anger, but from
deep conviction that cur rights, politically,
morally, ard socially, are endangered. We are
free 10 say that your conduct, when in our
town, in times past, has been that of courte-
Gus gentleman, and won our respect, however
much we differed with you in regard to Slave
y: but we regret to inform you that we have
information, not to be doubted or misunderstood,
Of a speech recently made By you in this coun.
~ at Brush Creek Meeting House, and on the
next day at Scaffold Cane Meeting House, that
has produced serious alarm among the people
line country-sO much so, that a sense of COM
mon danger called together a large assembly
a me courthouse on yesterday, to consult how
" protect themselves, their families and prop
eriy, from the alarming doctrines of the speech,
PARTICULARLY at Brush Creek. The most impor-
'ni' positions taken by you had been, as the
Meellhg were assured, carefully written out by
w. H. hlrtley, and subStantiated by others of
our highly respectable citizens who were pres
el'' and read to the meeting, which you may
s-e IN the public press. 1t produced deep
sensation, and was regarded by all as revolu-
r'aaTy-an invocation to assail by force, by the
nee States, the institution of Slavery in the
>'-ih' and call upon the slaves to insurrec-
'on 70 obtain their freedom.
While We know it is our duty to treat the
-A'e Well to do all we can to amelorate his
1''ol'ion, we cannot, in Justice to ourselves,
~+ Protection we owe our families, and the
4'n'y OF the Government, suffer such doctrine
- 'e preached in the midst and in the hearing
:" our slaves, without giving our most unquali-
- "''ent Slavery is amongst us-it has
an u tH'aled upon us-it is part and parcel of
o'ernment-our safety requires we should
aIgP aen as they are, until, by the aid of Prov
- sad the wisdom of man, they can be
,,, beyond our limits-to Africa, if prac-
| Entertaining these views, we were ap-
'DFl committee and instructed to transmit
49,. enclosed resolutions. Be assured they
Ism me deliberate opinion and fixed pur-
-: - ue meeting, and, we believe, large
-. IN. y, OF the people of the county. They will
"eir lives in defence of the freedom of
b,,..i ana the press, but they will not, at all
a. permit men, under the mantle of free
i,,-I speech, to scatter amongst them fire.
''-1' and death. Very respectfully,
JOIN ADAMS, Sr.
M. J. MILLER.
Co., C. NJ Clay R. G. WILLIAMS.
H.. ~ a, meeting of the citizens of Rockcastle,
mo 'ges'' That Or. Joplin, r. G.. Williams,
corn ,s.4lnS and NJ. J. Miller, be appointed q
f. '" a15 to inform Mr.. c. NJ. Clay, John G.
f,.', Auu all other Abolition speakers and
r ~, that they must desist from speaking
g@,iilhg in the county of Rockcastle, nnder
lie s ,rl''y OF being dealt with as justice and
''' d" requires.
bEREA, MADISON COUNTY, KY,
O. July l6, 1855.
rr sL ~ received your letter of the 18th
- n the enclosed resolution of the Mt.
a,a III IL meeting. Allow me in turn to recipro-
sbirb sentiments of personal consideration
ff !ou nave done me the honor to express I;
o,i;s;o, uISI an honest difference of political
il tbs VII never cause one republican to resent
l. el,;Ff. s'acn OF another the same right which
Of ga -'.ts LOT himself l admire the frankness
,s5 ;t'i letter, and shall answer it in similar
sal nori gu mlsconceive our whole purposes
Lava o:cy' 1t would have been more lust to
le R Sme n me hearing, before condemning
lin, I ios since that is impossible now. the only
he I., ,' Is to reconsider your action, and do
CpiiD; ;r'e justice. You base your change of
l. E;-t,o me mainly upon the testimony Of w.
Ian, Lnty Mr. kirtley is said to be an honest
eer wv wv you know him better than /. /, how
l,eioS now him to be man of violent personal
he RieSz' dis attack upon me formerly in
Ge ssm rninond Messenger, and his late letter to
an ny. press, show him, to impartial men, TO
4 sake ru'aie witness, where great interests are
caas ' speeches at Brush Creek and Scaffold
Ian ore Re alleged against me as "reyolutiona.
Mates ,h ,sccation to assail by force, by the free
and : o .1e institution of Slavery in the south
oiasir 's ~ upon the slaves to insurrection to
t+ras" o tle en-: freedom" Now, l say it not in
Tons in u ,t Llsnlt but simple fact, these alepa-
are tba t9eir whole extent are 1ntrue. what
circumstances? The Rev. Jno. G.