Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-09-05
Letter of Gen. Atohison.

HARRISBURG, july both, 1857 dear
Sir: ] have Just received yours of the 7th
inst, informing me that you have in hand
subject to my order S240, collected after
one of Col Bakers eloquent appeals to be
applied to tue cause of Kansas" and in
which you say further collections would
have been made, but for my letter of juno
18th, to the Mayor Of Columbia.
The letter was hastily written and with
out reference to its publication. AS kept
no copy of it, l doubt not but that it was
published as written. If GAS / am told, } it
contains a suggestion, that nc mere money
be raised in South Carolina, it was not in
tended thereby to repudiatc Col. Bakers
authority or to revoke his commission, much
less to dcpreciatc his services or the fidelity
and ability with which he is known to have
discharged his trust; nor would the infer
enco be true, that funds were not needed
and could not be advantageously used in
our cause in Kansas. On the contrary our
party at tho present moment, feels the most
urgent need of pccuniary aid among other
things to support our papers and to have
the territory thoroughly canvassed as it is
intended to do, in reference to the pending
Congressional canvass, and vote upon the
Constitution, in the possible event of it's
Submissions indeed our friends here who
have already almost exhausted themselves
in the cause, arc now contributing funds
for these objects, and one whom j saw to-
day and who has spent over ten thousand
dollars in the cause, on yesterday contribu-
ted twenty-five dollars for objects above
mentioned
No! we have not dcspaired nor ceased
our eXcrtions, and although we have been
disappointed aud mortified that our friends
in the South have sustained us no better,
iii a contest that indeed more concerns them
than ourselves, yet we are not ungratcful
to the few who have sympathiscd with and
aided us, and whatever they may yet CON
tribute chceV@'lyj and not with the idea
that they are doing CLARITY, but that they
are serving themselves and the common
cause, we will thankfully accept and faith
fully apply. INN letter to the Hon. Mr.
Tradcwcll, did not mean to say that South
Carolina had done more than her duty, but
only in reference to what others have done,
she has done Tar more than her part, be-
sides the need of funds as above alluded
to, the events of last summer induced such
expenditures by sundry of our trucst and
most devoted partizans as have left them in
very straitoncd circumstances, and these
advances were made under what then seem
cd we'll founded expectation of re-im-,
bursement by subsequent contributions, but
which in point of fact, hayenot been real
i2nd, and sound policy as we'll as Justice
and gratitude require that such obligations
be discharged if possible
The party reorganization of last winter
in the territory, seems to have given offence
to some of our friends, as well as to have
afforded a prctcxt for cavi by partizan
editors, who are but too ready to sacrifice
their section to their party. 1t is needless
to make an expose of motives to those who
will not be convinced, while it ought to be
sufficient for real friends (who arc too re-
mote to see and appreciate all the circu,n-
stances to know that this policy was, after
full consultation, concurrcd in alike by
Wings, Democrats, and Native Americans,
all of which political shades were fully and
ably represented in the convention; at least
such considerations rcconcilcu me, to the
use by my friends of my name to the ad-
dress, although L was not in tho convention.
In conclusion, | have to regret that the
publication of my letter has been the source
OF embarrassment to our agent and friend,
Col. Baker, in whose fidelity and ability
every member of our committee has unlim-
tied confidence, based not only on previous
personal knowledge of his character, but
sustained by numerous letters from meet,
ings addressed by him, all tcstifying to the
extraordinary zeal and ability with which
he was discharging his duties, and / must
take this occasion, personally to express my
very high appreciation, not only of his SER
vices as our agent, but his character as a
man. ID. r. ATCHISON
Gen. w. C. MoRAGNE
STARTLING DIscLosuREs--,A GANG or
THIEVES AND MUnpERERs DETEcTED.-
The Galveston News, of the 18th, states
A private letter from friend in Hous-
ton informs us of some startling facts, which
have come to light in that city within a
few days A gang of thieves have been
operating extensively for yeurs past, IN yum
ming off negroes and horses, and securing
such plunder os laid in their way, They
had laid a plot to kill the city marshal,
burnt down a warehouse and poisoned
negro. whom .iley wished to get rid Of
Another negro. now in Jail, divulged these
facts, and showed the authorities where a
bottle of whiskey with strychnine in it was
buried--also, where ~ iron chest was hid,
which had been stolen saw nights before
1t is said that Mr.. Kuykendall, who has
been Fe-arrested, is the chief Of the gang.
a. ~ 4 n