Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-09
R1oHnorp. Kr.. April 3.


The undersigned having been appointed by
the committee for the removal Of j. u. rec
and has associates, . eub-committee, Tor the
correction Of certain gross misapprehensions
and misstatements which have been publish
ed with regard TO their action, submit to the
public the following statement:
Fee and bis accomplices-a set OF Aooii-
ton missionaries sent here principally from
the Nortb--bad established in a corner Of the
county, in a sterile and mountainous district,
an Abolition settlement. with location, the
best of any in the State, lin our judgment,l
for instruction or stampede-whose infuen-
ces bad already spread disafectioa among the
slave population OF that end Of the county
supported entirely by money derived from
the radical Aboiitionists OF the North, which,
from its rapid growth and the large means OF
money at its disposal, with the invarlabie
consequences by which such enterprises are
attended, must in short time have rendered
not only property. bat even life, unsafe To
break up this settlement, so Tar as to remove
all Just and reasonable ground Of apprehen-
sion was deemed by the great body OF the
citizens of the county ajust aud necessary act
Of self-defense. To accomplish this purpose,
this committee was appointed with large dis
cretionary powers 80
Under this authority the committee deter
mined, as an invarisble rule of action, first 10
remove the missionaries, and not to interfere
with any citizen of the county. whatever bis
opinions or doctrines might be, unless he
went so far as to extend active aid or defense
10 these missionaries, thus identifying himself
with the encmies of the eeace and security OF
our Community. Which determination has
been proclaimed in the most public manner,
and has been, aud will be, rigidly adhered to.
On Monday, the 26th ult., a portion of the
committee repaired to Berea. for the purpose
of removing Hanson, one of these missions
Lift
and there met with man named Haley, and
one named Bland, understood to be the most
active Of the sympathizers, and who bad made
repeated threats of assassination, DC. A COLI
versation ensued. which resulted III the par
ties shaking hands, and parting with protest
ations of pesce and good will on both sides.
When Immediately Haley and Bland COM
menced raising party for the attack, armed
with guns-the committee having, with few
exceptions, only side arms-aDd attempted
TO cut off their return, an hour or two after
wards, by drawing up across their road. de-
claring their intention to rescue Hanson
whom they supposed the committee had ar
rested, and firing upon them, wounding one
man. The fire being returned by the com
mittee, the Bereans retrrated over bill, in
the direction of q log house. The committee
remained upon the ground, and after consul
tatIon. being short of ammunition, departed
for their homes.
To justify this treacherous and dastardly
attack, il is now alleged that the attack was
made on account OF the mistreatment, b.
some OF the committee, of Mr.. George West.
Indecent language used in the presence OF his
daughters, and the rude and unauthorized
searching of the houses of Bereans. Mr..
West Is in poor health, and is OF opin-
ion that he has but short time to live, and
mas sent US two messages, requesting US TO
deny the statement, not wishing the sanction
Of his name to be appended to so base fab
rlcation; but states, on the contrary, that
those OF the committee who came there, be-
haved like gentlemen. The committeeman,
who are men of undoubted veracity, deny
that they searched, or even entered, any
house without the owners permission. with
one exception, and that was the house from
which Hanson is believed to have fed, dis
guised in woman's clothing, and from which
house shot had been fred at them; aud there
they offered no insult nor aggravation OF any
kind. The committee state that the worst
language used, il not the worst they ever
heard used. for obscenity and profanity, was
used by some of the women OF the place
The committee and citizens repaired TO
the place on the following day, but the at
lacking party had fed to the woods. No vi
oleEce of any kind was perpetrated, except
to break Hsnson's mill, so as to render it for
the present useless. in which they believed
themselves justified. The whole of the at
lacking party have been notified to leave,
except one old man, who, being very peni-
tent, was excused,
The whole proceedings of this committee
have been characterized by the greatest mod
Grafton, patience, and forbearance, under cir
cumstances of the greatest and most trying
provocation. The committee have been sus-
tanned and supported in their action by the
citizens of the county with a unanimity here
tofore unexampled. They have reported
from time TO time to public meetings, on
public days at the court house; and in every
instance their action has been unanimously
approved. The meeting on Monday. April
I'd, when all the recent acts were reported,
was one of the largest we ever saw convened
at the court house, and the approval unani-
nous. Many of the charges against the COM
mittee. such az design to assassinate eiti-
zens and excite civil war, are too absurd and
ridiculous to require denial, much less refu-
tation.
This committee, in all they have done or
may do, merely act as the organ of the cOuu-
ty, and whenever they cease to occupy that
position they will cease to exist.
REUBEN MUNDAY,
T. j. MAUPIN,
wv. CAPERTON,
THOS. S. BRONSTON. JR.,
ROBT. RHODES STONE.