Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-10-22

who bore petitions from portions of the
Wyandott. Shawnee, Deleware and
Kickapoo tribes, asking to have mission
aries sent them from that Conference
Bishop James presided at the Confer
ence, and before he would take any step
in the premises, he, in company with
the Indian delegation, waited on Col. D.
D. Mitchell, Superintendent of Indian
Affairs, and obtained permission for mis-
sionaries to enter and labor in the Ter
ritory among any of the tribes of In
dians who Nigh! desire them to do SO.
For one year after this the missionaries
were not molested. r---
But this state of things could not last.
Colonel Benton passed along the border,
and addressed the people in justification
of himself, in disregarding the instruc-
tions of the Missouri Legislature, as con-
tanned in the famous Jackson resolutions.
In his speeches he attempted 10 prove,
(and did it. too, that Congress had the
control of slavery in the Territories, and
proved from the history of that country
that Congress had acted on that doctrine
since 1920, as well as before. He also
spoke of slavery as an evil, that he would
gladly rid his State of it, if in his power
This was TOO bad. Something must be
done. Accordingly, Rev, Mr. Markham
was ordered to leave the Shawnee nation
early in the winter of 1850, and in the
following February was stopped on the
road in sight of an appointment which l
had in the Shawnee country, and sent
out of the Territory. Col. Luke Lea
was the great agent who officiated on
this occasion.
Before taking leave of him 1 showed
him the petition of the Shawnee people.
asking our pastoral care. likewise our
authority to labor in the country, signed
by Col. Mitchell, but all TO no purpose.
Said he ''you are suspected of being alb
olitionists, and therefore you and your
brethren are considered as disturbers
here. We left, but our case was laid
before the President. We we've rein
stated by special order to the Indian
Agents a copy of which was kindly fur
nished US. But when we returned, every
effort was employed TO frighten us out
of the Territory, and every indignity
heaped upon us they dared, at the time,
to impose; and, as they would acknowl-
edge, because they supposed we were
tinctured with Abolitionism. On the
other hand, Missourian, or any man in
Government employ, who would enter
the country with slave, would be sure
to be protected and caressed.
Major Morsely, agent al Wysndott,
in conversation with a gentleman, is
represented to have said, eve intend TO
have this country for slavery, peaceful,
ly if we can, but if not peacefully we in
tend to have it any way" exhibiting a
pistol as he closed the sentence. While
the Commissioners were treating with
the Wyandott Indians, they said to the
Indians, 3" You are to keep still on the
subject of slavery, but you may be sure
this country will be slave Territory"
The same spirit was exhibited in the
State as in the Territory, wherever SYM
pathy with Atchison was found. How,
sir, in view of these facts, and others
like them, every one of which could be
substanliated if necessary. what becomes
of the tra,th Of that assertion made IN and
out of Congress that, 'If it had not been
for Eastern Aid Societies, Kansas would
have been free to-day" | know not
what impression the facts here narrated
may make on other minds, but they
have long since fixed the conviction on
my own, that there has been on the bor
der a body Of men, ever since 1S4S a.
least, Of whom David R. Atchison is the
soul, who have been determined 10 make
Kansas a Slave State. regardless of the
cost. For this their lives and fortunes
are pledged. Kansas and Slavery have
been their motto Unless Slavery is ir
the ascendant, The dissolution of the
Union, with Atchison, is consumma-
tion most devoutly wished.
The repeal Of the Missouri Compro
mise only gave larger liberty to do
what would have been done had it not
been disturbed. The party intended,
aided as they expected TO be by other
Southerners, to fight Kansas into a Slave
State. though it might cost dissolution
of the Union. had not such convic-
lions it is probable should have been
in Kansas TO day. But | said to Mr..
Wheelock of shipman, in November,
1853, "If there is an attempt 10 make
Kansas Free State, blood will be She'd"
this he would remember.
The only thing that held the ruffians
back from an indiscriminate slaughter of
Free State men SO long, was the want of
the color of tbe'law. This they could
not obtain so soon as they desired, be-
cause Governor Reeder delayed the leg
islative election. So soon as the oppor-