Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-10-22
From the Alton, (Ill) Courier.l
The Crime Against Kansas.
RECORD OF INCIDENTS AND OUTRlGES.
The Origin of the Kansas Troubles.

The following letter was written to a
citizen of Alton, and was not designed
for publication. The writer consented
after urgent request, to allow US TO pub
! lish it. The Rev. Mr.. Robbins knows
from personal observation whereof he
afirms, and his statements explode the
silly pretext of Douglas and his follow
ers, that but for the movements of the
Emigrant Aid Company there would
have been no trouble in Kansas. The
pioneers of the Methodist Church in
Kansas and Western Missouri, ale well
posted in reference to the pro slavery
policy toward the territory covered by
the Missouri Compromise, even while
the Compromise remained, their obser-
vations and bitter experience extending
back 10 1848-eight years since. We
ask for this letter, not written for the
public eye, but all important to the ter
rible issues before the country, careful
and candid perusal, and then if honest
men can ignore the Kansas troubles, we
shall be compelled to acknowledge that
this is an age of fiction, and fearful facts
are not equal TO the work of moving the
public mind to action.
Rev. Mr.. Robbins is at the present
lime the officiating minister for the
Methodist Church at Upper Alton, and
is widely known among his denomina-
ton
UPPER ALTON. July 16, 1856.
DEAE SIR: At your request, sit
down to state few facts of the truth of
which 1 became fully satisfied during
residence of three years, on the "bor.
der'' and scene OF the recent Kansas
troubles.
In doing this, have no desire to be-
come gladiator in the political arena !;
but facts are facts. and when desired to
do so by my friends. 1 feel at perfect
liberty to give them. a
The Missouri Compromise &C. was a
grief 10 the mind" of slavery propogan-
dists of Western Missouri. long before
its repeal was spoken of in Congress. OF
the bitter enemies of Ills slavery restric-
ton we will be believed when we say,
David R. Atchi>on was the leader
Awaiting himself of courtesy long prac.
iced at the I" White House. (Which is
to consult those members of Congress
respecting the appointment of Govern
ment agents, who are to act in the vicin-
ity of said members or their ccnstitu
ents,) he has, for long time, secured
the appointment of pro slavery men only
to all the Indian agencies bordering on
the Missouri. These pro-slayery agents,
sound in the faith themselves, were
ready TO carry out the wishes of their
patron, and do what they could to intro
duce slavery into Nebraska Territory,
the lav notwithstanding.
Hence the agents who reside in the
Territory carried their slaves with them,
end held them as such, and one at lea.t,
who did not reside in the Territory, took
his slaves there and set them to work
As you can easily imagine, these agents
were exceedingly jealous of the existence
of any Free Soil influence, and when
ever discovered in the Territory, stood
ready to smother it, if in their power
Hence, when in 1845 the Methodist
Episcopal Church divided on the subject
of Slavery, as soon as it was discovered
that the Indians connected with the
Methodist missions in the Territory did
not generally favor the notion of going
into the Southern organization, INMEDr
ATELy, all the Church property was Sc
cured to the use of a pro-Slavery minis.
try, and the Indians given to understand
that they musi go into the Church South.
or have no missionaries at all bearing
the name of Methodist. But a large
portion of the Indian membership, with
a majority of their native preachers.
proved TO be made Of material too stern
to be coaxed by missionaries, or driven
by government agents into an organiza
ton they did not sanction.
These continued for three years to pc
tition TO be served by missionaries from
the Methodist Church, or as some style
it. the Church North. In May, 1848,
their prayer was granted by the authori
ties of said church, and in the fall of
that year, Rev. MIR. Gurley from Ohio,
was sent to serve the Wyandolts. and
Rev. DR.. Still of Missouri, aided by ma
tive preachers, undertook to supply
other portions of the Territory with the
word of life, and the ordinance of reli.
gion, occasionally. But now new cru
sade began. Mr. Gurley had scarcely
commenced his labors among the Wyan-
DOTS till he was arrested and placed un.
der guard, like thief, and sent out of
the country. DR.. Sill was also ordered
to leave on pain of severe treatment
should he have the temerity to disohey.
The agent who figured in this affair
was certain Dr. Hewett. Our Indian