Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09
cLEARFIELD, PA, JULY ., 1856.
KANSAS.
rirdcts from Letter, 10 gentleman ia Clear
feLa County, Gate&
COUNCIL Cry, Kansas Ter, May q, sc.

yoE a short account of the affair at Lawrence.
The details You must seek in the papers, for L
cannot write thcm-not in the ssBanner & Ad
vocate," however: you will find no account OF
them there! But you may, perhaps, in the
Tribune But Greely, you say, is a Presi-
dent-maber. Well now, brother, possibly he
is; but somehow he does tell the truth about
Kansas; for he keeps correspondent here
who represents things just as they are, till the
hearts of the people thrill with graf itude, and
turn to the Tribune as their trucst earthly
friend, which shall yet break the spell of the
sOrcercsS, and cast our shackles of. Don't
think that mean to chidc you, George, for
your opinion of the Tribune, but believe me,
Greely is right in respect to slavery. 1t is
the one question, which if lost to us, all else is
lost. Don't think that l mean by the term
slavery, negro slavery alone. The race of the
enslaved is only incidental. We here, who
have been accustomed to so high degree of
liberty, are in imminent danger of a seryitude
more abject and more hateful than European
dcspotism-more ahject, because we were so
free, and more hateful because our oppressors
have not even the glitter of royalty, but are
bandits and drunkards. The whole Territory
is to be subjected to complete guerilla sur
veillance, intolerablc to bear. Spies are in cY-
cry settlement. Many Of our best mon are in
prison. Our stronghold is sacked-net by the
superior strength OF our enemy, however, but
by United SiGtes authority, which they (the peo-
ple) would not resist. Since this occurrence,
a terrible gloom has settled upon all the land.
rba + III h;,f,.
safe-murder is abroad, and anarchy reigns.
Beneath all these brooding elements civil
war is warming into life. The North, per-
haps, will think that things are going on prct-
ty quietly here, now that our best presses are
destroyed, emigration stopped, and communi-
IL as: IS; the Missouri yer
| sion of matters. And as for ourselves, what
shall we do !? Our numbers arc by no means
Insignificant; but we are mostly poor-too poor
to live well-much too poor to fight. Yet in
view of all these disadvantages, believe the
general sentiment is to place our property, our
lives, and our dearest honor by the altar of lib
erty, and resist every encroachment upon those
| rights, with which the constitution of these
| United States and the God of nature have en-
dowcd US: and we appeal to every lover of lib
erty throughout the land to render us speedy
assistance, and protection in the use of these
blood-bought and priceless treasures. Shall
IRE appeal in rain l.? Must lUe die here aapified
and UAheGrd Or, what is worse, must we be
shorn of everything which makes life more
| than british existence: of everything which
goes to dispel the gloomy cloud that floats be-
| tween US and eternity! Oh! Brothers of the
North, we appeal unto you. Shall it be in
vain? But almost forgot that am only wri-
ting to few persons. However, you can do
something-wake upyour neighborhood. We
must have the next President favorable to US;
or we shall be lost. Labor for that. 80.
do not anticipate that there would be much
dghting-not that the Southerners lack war
like qualities, but they are under no necessity
to fight, but can go whenever they please.
They are contcnding to enslave US, while we
are contending for Freedom and for existence.
But You may think that the President would
send the military to drive off such force.
Then why don't he send them to drive off or
disperse the Georgians and Alabamians, who
are causing this trouble? Let him do this,
| and we will be satisfied. Our friends could
| then settle together, and make themselves
homes in this beautiful country. -. The
President is chief in this wickedness, and
holds over US the terror Of U. S. authority to
enable reckless banditti TO rob and destroy
us with impunity. This is the way in which
we are to be subdued. This is the way in
which the plots Of Douglass, Atchison and
Stringfellow are TO be executed. Must it be
SO much longer!
You will think it strange that should have
| SO far overcome my repugnance to war, as to
be wishing tor revolvors. Think rather how
great must have been the wrongs which have
driven me to it. Not that all Kansas is actu-
ally destroyed, for it would be an absurdity to
| talk of fighting if it were. But the eastern
part of the Territory has, in many instances,
suffered terribly from the ssP residents Bandit
til" and the whole of it is kept in state of
anxiety and suspense which things have a
tendency to harden our hearts. deplore this,
but so it is. Our teams from this place have
not as yet been robbed, but only stopped and
searched for arms. individuals, on this road,
have also had their arms taken from them.
In view of this condition Of affairs, could not
make up my mind to forsake Kansas in the
time of her danger; neither could l think of
staying here and idly looking on until we are
completely gagged and bound beneath an in
! tolerable and hopeless oppression. The only
alternative, then, which l can see, Is to fight.