The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-09-24
SEPTEMBER 9th. 1856.

SEPTEMBER 9th, 1856.
Ma. LEWIS BCRh-Sir: | received a letter
from you good many months ago-reai ii
carefully, and the contents at that time | will
confess did not understand | thought YOU
were excited about some things IN the affairs OF
Kansas; but think now understand it better
than did then. l suppose you thought you
foresaw the difficulties that would overcome
this territory, which seems to be now coming
fast and God only knows where they will stop
l will give you the outlines of my opinion.
though | cannot pen down on paper what
think of the present crisis. | only can say we
are in the midst OF civil war, ani it is the
worst war you ever read Of! Men are shot
dead on the road, in the neighbortood around
on every side of me, and on both sides of the
question. Pro-slavery men are shot and free
soilers are also shot don't see much differ
ence, tho knoro the -4Jolitionists are tie
most TO blame for IT, and | say GOD FORBID
ANY MORE YANKEES FROM COMING
TO KANSAS. Men are found shot. all thro'
different parts of Kansas, laying out on the
praires and no attempt made 10 bury them.
Ii that is not hard | do not know what is
All the gamblers and cut throats from all parts
of the world, are gathered to Kansas 10 plum
der and atke advantage Of the times. There
are plenty OF men here who care for nothing
but spoils. and would kill any man if they
knew he had FIVE dollar gold pie e; and yet
President Pierce has his army at Fort Leau-
enlcorth, tcithin three males Of as. and not a
single order to any of the commanding ofcers
does he gre 10 puta stop 10 IT, achich could be
done easily If he wouId.
Myself and family are still in the land OF
the living; but do not know how long We may
be. a great many OF my neighbors have lef.
the territory with their families and others are
leaving daily, and thousands of the ruffans
are coming in to fight the battles.
Now, Lewis Burk, you said Tor me to leave
Kansas and come back to Old Wayne-that |
could do we'll there; but know | could not
do half as we'll there as can do here, il peace
could be restored again, for there is no coun-
try under the canopy of heaven that | ever set
my feet upon. that I like as we'll a. Kansas
Goi Almighty never made a prettier country
any where than Kansas nor any more fertile
Il Is the best grazing country | ever saw, and
the best corn country | have ever been in and
| know | have been in same good ones. I've
raised watermeons plenty this year weighing
so lbs, none less than 30 lbs, and all red
cored. | have good crop of corn. and if
this cursed war would cease, | could make
money enough in two years more TO pay YOU
what [ owe and would do it il We could have
peace and good health-the latter of which
we have generally enjoyed. Kansas is no
doubt healthy country, and the most pleas
ant one | ever lived in, ii our difficulties Were
settled
J. w. Braudus started few dars ago for
Fayette county. to see his relations, and will
no doubt see you; but thought | would write
you to-day a few lines. to let you know | had
not forgotten past favors. | have worked more
S-aaiilr in Kansas than ! bav hi fl-
the same length of time. l sleep we'll and
never Law down but fear l viii be interrupted
by some of these cut-throats before morning;
but that cannot help. | have made my
mind up to stay and try to outlive it, and pray
God We will. William Coffin has left for the
present. and Beraiah Hiatt also-old man VIII
sons family went with them, and they have
left every thing to go TO waste. | have not had
time to 90 and to their things for them
They live about ten miles from me, nearly on
the road to Lawrence. 1t has not been safe to
90 for few davs, for both parties have been ia
king prisoners, and Il they were likely to be
taken from them, they always shoot the pris
oners first, for they expect to De killed them
selves If taken. Some prisoners have been
taken and killed Immediately without any trial
whatever; and men have been ound killed
and scalped on the road side. What savages
.
You know nothing about these times, and
fear You raising the excitement higher and
higher with you on politics. until YOU will be
in the same kind Of fight that we are in here
for 1t only amounts 10 a fSht 5stween tie North
and tie .Souti-a dissolution of this Union
and that is what | have looked for. for years.
and fear the time has nearly come-though
| hope God will forbid such result think
every man who loves his country, ought to
govern himself. aud give to the South her
rights, and the North should have hers and ;,
for God : sake, put down the fanatics and take
a medium course that can be sustained bv all
wish to God that HenEv CLAY, General
Jackson. Adams, Webster aud Calhoun, could
be called back awhile a-d manage for Us a
short time, II the great men OF our nation
continue on IN the way are going. where
viii We LAM? Soon. | say. We will land in a
dissolution Of the Union without fail say.
GIVE Us KANSAS AS \ SLAVE STATE
AND NEBRASKA AS A FREE STATE.
and let us trurel on as 5rotherS ugaia
+ II YOU receive these lines and see J. Braud
us. tell him We are all we'll AMI sill up an 4
doiag Now, Mr. Burk, when You receiv e
! these lines, please write and still give me Your
views on matters in general | will write YOU
again soon and le;you know more about the
war The great ba..le is now set for the 18th
Of this month. God knows wha; il will fetch
Nothing more a. present. so l remain,
Yours. Fra;ernaliy,
JOEL HIATT