Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-06-26

LITTER FROM FRANoIs GRAsmuCx
TEcUMsEH, X. IT,,
June 4th. 1857.

June 4th, 1897.
Mr.. GooDwIN:-I would have writ
ten some time ago, but my dear wife
was very sick. Everybody thought
she could not recover, but sheis doing
we'll now, and is able to be up little.
The neighbors around us have been
very kind to us in our affliction.
/ wish / was able, and had time, to
write some on our political affairs,
now going on in this Territory. Kan
sas is remarkable country; there is
always something interesting going
on, and when one excitement is going
down, another one is going up. Yes
terday, the Northern Methodists had
a meeting of the trustees for the pur-
pose to build q church in Tecumseh.
We, the members, intend to do all wc
can, and ] Lelieve we go beyond our
means, | do not know that wo can
succeed.
have seen in tho american a letter
from Mr.. Blackledge, formerly Of
Franklin county, Indiana, dated and
written at Wyandott City, X. T. l
could but smile when Tread his state
ment that all was peace in this Terri
tory, Mr.. Blackledgo was little aware
that, while he was writing this peace
able letter, the same day, there was
war and destruction going in Tecum-
sch, and that tho battle-ax and war
hatchot was being used TO destroy
property. Whisky has done very
much mischief last winter, in our
town. Several valuable lives were
lost by il, and the ladies Of tho town
and neighborhood had meeting, and
went to this house whore liquor and
whisky wero sold, and told the seller
that he must takehis ardentspirit out
Of town within three days; if not,
they would come and destroy Il all
Now, it happened that these ladies
were oil Free-State ladies, and the
whisky sellers were all slavery.
The ladies were true TO their PROMISE;
they broke through tho locked up
doors, and broke oil the barrels and
kegs, and let the spirits loose. The
pro slavery mon, friendly to whisky,
did murmur, that IL was q political
action against their party, and said
that one Frco-State store keeper was
selling whisky also, and they inform
cd the ladies Of this fact. Amongst
the ladies were the wife,and daughter
of this same Free-State man. This
was very critical question, what to
do, but there was no help for IL, and
so the ladies all went in o company
TO said store, and destroyed that two
barrels of the best old ryealso. How
this store-keeper, and his wife and
daughter rejoice and delight in init, /
am not able to learn.
Our political affairs are very inter-
esting at present, but | am tired TO
write about IL, because our cause is so
little understood by the people in the
States. We have to plant corn and
tend to our farming business. We
arc waiting to see If President Buch-
anon Il Co. are really foolish and tyr.
annical enough to enforce such things
as laws Perhaps when that big CO.
met pushes against tho world there
will be change somewhere. | still
say and believe as have said in my
former letters, that the American peo-
ple will and cannot stand IL in these
times TO have their dearest rights and
liberties taken from them Our mot
to is, the majority shall rule. We are
for the Union, tho Constitution, and
the Organic Laws, but weare against
the fraud practised in all Of our elec-
tions; we would like TO go and vote il
we could, and help ourselves. Ihope
we will have our rights and freedom,
some time, and If we do, we don't
need to be thankful TO the present
Democratic party for il.
One month ago, ! had 10 go 10 Law.
renee. City, 20 miles, 10 get two
horse plow. These plows are made
in Moline, Illinois. IL cost in Law
renee $50, and had 50 expenses to
pay to bring IL home. That is the way
our money goes. But whilo Mt Law
renee, i heard Secretary Stanton, OF
this Territory, make his speech, and
that ,cds cery Interesting and rdludbte 10
uSl He SAID WE MUST OBEY THE no.
aus LAWS OR THERE WILL DE wall
THE PEOPLE SAID, LET IT COMEiil
lam truly yours,
H GRASMUCK