Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-09-18
LETTER FROM REV. yoHE @. FEE-LArE
NoBs IN KENTUcKY--rREE SPEECH

A1k1Eh fA0A Akt. JONN Y. kkk-LAIk
MoBs IN KENTUCKY--FREH SPEECH
Eds. CoM.-In your daily of Aug
gust 81, l see notice of mob vio-
lence in kentucky, of which | was
the chief subject. There are some
additional facts which would enable
your readers TO better understand
your article. You say my friends in
that part Of Rockcastle county where
was mobed, were not willing to
open their doors for preaching
Why preach in their dwelling houses?
l answer, short time before they
had erected a plain, substantial
house for worship. and had it almost
completed. We had several most
encouraging meetings in it--good au-
diences--at one meeting ten addi-
tons. The enemy, at tho hour of
night burnt il TO the ground. We
believe there was a personal matter
as one cause Of the burning. The
friends had threatened, and they had
seen violence offered to me. They
are kind and truefriends, but thought
IL best for all parties to shut their
doors for time Truth, however,
is not bound. We believe nothing in
this respect will DO lost. One friend
has removed from the State. A few
others, we learn, talk of going. We
are sure that much ofthe threatening
and show of arms on tho part Of the
mob was for the purpose af soaring
that man and others if possible.
You may ask, "Why, then, when
law was on their side, did not the
friends ::of free speech gather their
guns and repel such mobs by force2"
We answer 1st. They wished to
make their appeal TO the ''civil au-
thorities." They wished to show re-
spect to all righteous laws. In Rock
castle county this appeal has been
almost in vain thus far. This, we
think, is the fault ofofiicers, who are
more influenced by slave holders than
the mass of people. We believe the
mass Of the people will yet maintain
free speech.
I'd, We believed it was best to lot
passion subside and whisky die. (Wo
do not say every one Of the mob
drinks whisky.) We know that in
land whore the point of honor lies, in
"being game" mobs, like other men,
do not like TO be laughed Mt because
OF defeat; aud whilst under tho in
huenee of passion, rather than endure
derision might, If withstood, do that
which would OCCASION bloodshed.
This, in work Of moral reform, is to
be avoided as much as possible. For
my own part / would rather suffer
wrong at the hands of the mob than
send one of them into eternity UMPIRE
pared, For their good and Christ's
example wish to demonstrate this
TO the world.
We believed after time, when the
first shock should have passed off, |
sober and rejecting men, seeing the
tendencies of mob law, would arouse
and defend so sacred right as that
of liberty of speech. We were not
wholly disappointed; two justices of
the peace in this county and one in
Rockcastle county have said we shall
have all the protection which they,
in their office, can give. Some at
torneys have said the same; but we
shall probably not prosecute. The
people are resolved, in different dis
tricts, that while uninterrupted they
will disturb no man, not guilty
of crime, 10 DO taken down in their
midst. And whilst in some localities
public sentiment may not demand of
The officers Of government thai they
go forward and give protection to the
prosecuted, yet public sentiment does
Justify those who defend their own
districts, churches and houses.
You say, "there are fears on the
part of some, that 1 may be driven
from this country" / suppose the
now entertaining such fears
are small. A few evenings since,
there was q report thai | was to be
disturbed in my own house. In a
very short space Of time, unsolicited
on my part, and even after / said
mo do not believe there is any
necessity for it," there were gathered
groups of armed men-men of free
speech-one or two of them slave
holders-near neighbors-around my
house. They divided into companie !,
elected their captains, and watched
with the vigilance of sentinels until
break of day. This proved to be,
rs expected by some unnecessary;
but it showed determination, on the
part of good citizens, to protect
against wicked lawlessness. II was
a spontaneous rising Of the people
here-not labored effort.
As specimen of the feeling of
many of the people. l send you
notice of district meeting, publish
cd in one of our county papers.
PUBLIC MEETING.
Quite number Of citizens, ire
spective OF party, met at tho Glade
meeting house, in Madison county,
on Saturday, August Sth.
On motion, William Stapp was
called to the chair, and John Newton
appointed Secretary.
After short absence, the Com
mittee, by A. S. Corneison, their
chairman reported the following:
WHEREAS, Religious assemblies
have recently and repeatedly been
in our county, and in one
instance minister Of tho Gospel, in
an adjoining county, was dragged by
from the house of Worship:
and whereas, this reckless conduct Is I
a violation Of the civil law of our
land which, carried out, would destroy
tho liberty and safety Of all; and
whereas, in a Republic like ours, the
people are the source of power, and
should see that the law Is enforced
and the rights of all protected; there
fore. be il