Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-08-14

KANSAS ScRlr.-A great deal has been
said in the Pro-Slavery prints about the
application of donations for the relief of
the suffering In Kansas, to the redemption
Of scrip issued by the Free State leaders,
for political purposes. Those who have
the most objections to make about misap-
propriating Of charity funds contributed
never a dollar of the money about which
they gable SO yociferously. For the pur-
pose of dlsabusing the minds of any donors
who have given ear to the lying clamor OF
the Pro-Slayery sheets, we wish to offer a
brief explanation, or statement of facts.
In the first place, we desire the reader to
bear in mind that two classes of Kansas
scrip have been issued. The first class was
called Free State Scrip 1t was issued
about the time of the first invasion of
Missourians, to pay the expenses Of framing
the Free State organization, including the
Topeka Constitutional Convention, and the
subsequent Free State Legislature. This
Free Scrip was issued for political purposes.
was made to bear 10 per cent, interest, and
payable when Kansas should come into the
Union as n Free State. 1t was similar in
purpose and character to the scrip issued
during the American Revolution. The
amount was confined to $4,000. We
believe that Il portion Of that sum has never
been issued.
The second class was called, Protection
Fund Scrip 1t was created and issued by
a vote OF the Free State citizens OF Kansas,
to be used to liquidate losses and expenses
incurred during the armed invasion of
Kansas, in Dec, 1888, and the subsequent
winter. 1t was during the time that tried
men S souls. when the cause seemed il
revocably lost, when the hoof Of the slave
driver was upon the neck Of Freedom, when
towns were sacked, dwellings burned, men
butchered, and famine was staring that
brave band OF patriots in the face, that
so 500 of Protection Fund Scrip was
Issued, to procure necessaries of life, \
few men in the Free State ranks had a
little surplus property, in the shape of
store goods and food. Their neighbors had
no money and no property that could be
converted into money. In this exigency
the Hutchlnsons, merchants of Lawrence,
turned over what food and clothing there
was IN their store To relieve the wants and
distress OF the starving, naked people, and
look Protection Fund Scrip in payment.
Morrow gave all the provisions he had for
the same sort OF. pay. Miss Hall, who kept a
boarding house in Lawrence, fed n large
number OF Free State men under arms, To
repel one of tho inyasiOns, and received
: scrip therefor Several other ladies in
Kansas md the same. The Ilutchlnsnns
gave away so much Of their property for
: scrip to prevent starvation, that they
Jailed IN business, and were obliged 10 make
an assignment to their eastern creditors.
Cov. Robinson and Others managed to
obtain donations in Massachusetts, to re
deem SlO.l5S of this scrip There re-
mains outstanding at present Sl3 .G9s Of it.
Those who hold 1t are poorly able to sus-
tain the loss. They need their money for
the clothing aud provisions they advanced
IN the hour OF need, to their suffering com
patriots.
The National Kansas Committee. at its
meeting In Now York City, Jan. -, 1857.
recommended in the future distribution
Il ald among the needy in Kansas, of pro.
visions, clothing and seeds, il be appraised
at a low valuation and zach recjpient be
asked to give his obligation therefor, nav.
able within three years, and that the obi
cations thus received be applied to the re
demptiOn Of the Protection fund scup.'
until 1t be redeemed 1t was found by The
distributing Committee in Kansas, that
out few persons desired aid as a gratuity
they preferred 1t in the shape Of a loan or
a sale, to be paid when they got able.
This ISL well known trait Of Northern
Now in regard to the Free State scrIp.,
the Aid Committee have neither redeemed
nor sought TO redeem a dollar of it. The
of it are willing to wait until Kan.
sas comes into the Union as a Free and
Sovereign State, when they will present it
to the State Government for redemption.
The Protection Fund scrip outstanding
. OF a different character, and should be
,iquidated with as little delay as possible.
IL was issued for the purpose of relieving
PERSONAL suffering, to clothe the naked and
Ieeo the hungry and those who diyid ed
'heir property with their noighbors upon
ne promise of repayment, at a future day,
mould not DO turned away empty. IL
heat those confding, generous men and
women who gave up twenty five thousand
Ioiiars oil their scanty means, to assuapo
lungeT and to cl0the nakedness in tho dead