Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-09-11
The Outrages in Kansas.

The Outrages in Kansas.
To the Editor Of the Belmont Chronicle:
We are told very frequently by Admins
tIation papers, their eehoes, and the apollo
gists of Slavery propagandists, that the ex
citement with reference to Kansas has beer
kept up solely fer elsctioneering purposes
that after the election we will hear no more
of it, &c. The most careless reader ant
observer knows those assertions to be en-
tirely, and in most cases, wilfnlly untrue.
No intelligen t, candid man will hesitats
to admit that whatever wrongs may have
been done by Free State men in few cases
these have been provoked by series of pre-.
meditated outragss and abuse, designed te
render their condition in the Territory in.
tolerable, and to expel them therefrom.
AS many persons discredit the greater
part Of the correspondence of Free State
men, with our Eastern journals, l have
thought it right to send you for publication
the following letter from the Superintend
ept of the Quaker Mission in Eastern Kan
sas, to the "Friends' Review" Phiiadelphia.
This was written, as the reader will OBJ.
serve, some weeks previous to the more re-
cent outbreaks, and taken in connection
with the late dasiardly and improved attack
on the Mission referred. to, is full of deep
and instructive meaning.
Let those of our citizens who have thought
that these outrages have beon exaggerated,
and the consequent excitement in the States
maintained for selfish party purposes, read:
From the Friends Review, Aug. %.
Friends in Kansas.
Believing that it would be acceptable to
the readers Of the Review to know some
Thing of the situation of Friends, have
been induced to offer brief sketch. There
are about twenty families of Friends in this
Territory, who are scattered in various To-
calities, embracing wide extent of coun-
try. Five families, including about twenty
ive members, are on the waters Of Strange
Creek, nearly ten miles in Westerly di-
rection from Fort Leavenworth, on the Mis-
souri, River. They hold meeting for wor-
ship on Frst days. There are six families
and thirty members on the Potawatamie
Creek, branch of the Usage River, near
the ssth parallel of North Latitude, and
about seventy miles nearly South from the
settlement on Strange Creek, and fifty miles
South from Kansas City, the nearest point
on the Missouri River. They hold meet
ing for worship on First days. The other
Friends in the Territory are widely scatter
cd, there being one, two and three families
in place.
We feel our position to be peculiarly
trying one. Under the present excited and
unsettled state o. things in Kansas, it is not
likely that ether Friends will Join US by i'm
migration, and we do not feel at liberty TO
leave the Territory, critical as the state of
things around us may seem to be. Under
the gross outrages and grievous wrongs,
which are imposed on the people of Kansas,it
requires close exercise of faith for man of
peace to maintain his principles. 1t is not
in human nature to maintain the right kind
of feelings towards the wicked perpetrators
of the wrongs we suffer. 1t is only by al
close exercise of Christian Faith that this
can be done; and supposing one to have
gained the victory over wrong in his own
bre asst, his work is but half accomplished.
II defensive warfare could be justif ed in any
case, it would seem to be SO in the present.
one; and while the people in Kansas, gen.
orally, are preparing for defence, aid call
ing upon all to do the same, the advocates
of peace can but feel themselves placed in
a trying position, not knowing at what hour
they may be called upor to ties, their faith
in the principles of peace. We kEUw not
but that we NAV be required to seal our les
,inonies with our blood. Some of our num-
Der have been threatened with violence, but
SO far, as we are certainly informed, none
has yet been offered, though it is rumorea
that one Friend in distant part has been
shot, but not mortally wounded. We are
sensible that our position is one liable to
rla, and calling fer the svmpathies and
udcious course Of our brethren. Doubtless
t is only BY a strict adherence to Christian
Faith, and dwelling neor the Father Of Mer
lies. that we shall be enabled to pursue the
light course. RICHARD MESDENHALL
CRESCENT HILL,
NEAR OssAwATAMIE, KANSAS,
7th Mo. 27, 1856.
Suct testimony as the above from such
source, indicates clearly who are the ag-
and TO what an unusual degree the
'ree State settlers have been inoffensive
nd forbearing. VINDEx.
FLUSHING. Ohio, Sept. 9th, 1856.