The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-09-12
Friends in Kansas.

The Philadelphia Fnends' Reriev, Of the
ODD ult., contains letter from our friend,
Richard Mendenhall, dated vt Crescent Hill,
near Ossawatomic, Kansas, 9th Of 9Th
month. After stating that there are now
some twenty families Of the Society Of
Friends scattered over the Territory, whose
situation, owing TO the actual state OF war
between the FREQ Stats settlers and tho ruf.
fan invaders from Missouri, Georgia, and
South Carolina, may we'll DO supposed one
of great trial and difficulty, the writer says :
"Under the present excited and unsettled
state Of things in Kansas, 1t il not likely
that other Friends will soon join Us by i'm
migration, and ne do not feel ut liberty u
leave tho Territory. critical as the state Of
things around us may seem TO be. Under
the gross outragcs and grie'ous wrongs
which arc imposed upon the people OF Kan.
sas, 1t requires close exercise Of faith for .
man Of peace to maintain his principles. IL
is not in human nature 70 maintain the
right kind of feeling towards the wicked
perpetrators Of the wrongs We sufer. IL 10
only BY Q close exercise of Christian faith
that this can DO done; and surprising one
10 have gained the victory over wrong In
HE own breast, his work 10 but half ac-
conplishcd. II defensive warfare could DO
justified In any case, 1t would seem TO DO 90
In the present one and while the people in
Kansas, generally, are preparing for de-
fence, and calling upon all to do the same,
the. advocates of peace can but feel shem-
selves placed in trying position, not know
ing at what hour they may DO called upon
TO tcst their faith In the principles OF peace:
We know NOS but that We may be required
to seal our testimonies with our blood
Some OF our number have been threatened
with violence, but, 20 far IS We are certain
" informed, mono has yet been offered,
though il 10 rumored that one Friend IN .
distant part has boon shot, but not MORALLY
wounded"
The Friends in Kansas. while strongly
sympathiIing with their Free State neigh.
bors, and sharing In their priyation., sacri-
fees, and danger, cannot join them In TO
sort to arms, for self-defcnce. They can
only abide the consequences Of faithfJ I'D.
hersnco to their principles, and wait pa.
tiently for En'.
1.-THE victory, Of Endurance born"
A resolute Noncompliance with the afro.
cious laws Of the Shawnee Mission Legisla-
ture, o firm maintenance OF their testimony
against Slavery, and such cxertions 10 ame-
IT. SLu hnyr,r. of sha stv;c. Il, xwhioh
their neighbon aro involved, ~ Christian
charity and love may dictate, may expose
them to insult. persecution, and outrage ;
hut We fervently trust that they may b
enabled, through Divine assistance, TO TO
main where their lot has bccn proyidentiaily
cast, prepared ~ suffer, even unto death,
rather than dishonor their profession. They
will thus offer another salutary example OF
tho power and c6cacy Of passive Resistance
to evil-the martyr's unresistabls might oil
meeknes. add
There Is. beyond doubt, at this time, .
great amount Of destitution and suffering
among the Kansas cmisrants, growing out
OF tho harassing Pro-SlAvery inyasions to
which they have becn subjected; and, ~
many have been deferred from making CON-
tribltious to the relief fund, through fssrs
Of It's application 10 purposes Of military
defence or preparation, Il has occurred 70
VI that, by means Of thcse Friends IN Kan
sas. safs channel might BE- opeucd Tor the
judicious distribution OF pecuniary AID IN
The Territory. We have No doubt the
Friends alluded to would cheerfally under.
t4ts, end faithfully dischsFys, the duties 81