White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-04-19
Letter from c. n. Clay.

WHITE HALL, KY, March 26. 1860.
To the Editors Of the LoHisvilie Journal:
The secret purpose of the leaders oil
the attack upon the Radicals" at Berea
was to suppress Republicsnism in Ken
tue Ky, and aimed more especially at me.
Knowing that l relied upon the Justice OF
my cause, and the irreproachable and
patriotic purpose of whole action in
the Commonwealth. l in good faith cut
myself away from the revolutionary doc
trines Of the Radical Aboiitionists, "
and the unfortunate purpose Of those who
in their persons made an armed insur-
rsction against the non slave holding
whites of the Commonwealth. The prop
osition that the Legislature should as it
could counstitutionally do. enact law to
meet the difficulty, and thus avoid all vi
olence, was met by Radical Abolitionists
of the North, and their enemies here,
with equal denunciation. The reason
alleged was that it was useless to drive of
these non-residents whilst was left to
agitats the slavery question And it is
we'll known that my personal and politi.
cal enemies desired to include me in the
prescription ! Nothing but the triendship
of some of the committee when the prop
osition was made and the conservatism
of the county prevented. Finding that
they did not get q safe opportunity to at
tack the Republicans through the Radi-
icals. whom they supposed would be de-
Tended by us, they kept up their threats
against me till my Frankfort speech rail-
lied around me all the true lovers Of con-
stitutional liberty. and thwsrted for the
time their criminal designs. Everything
that have said offensive to the slavehol-
ding interest has been studiously paraded
in the press and elsewhere, and calumny
added both by the Shareholders and the
Radical Abolitionist, of the North.
to consummate nv ruin and the downfall
of the cause of liberty here.
j. G. Hanson, one of the expelled
Bereans, returned to Kentucky, his native
State, on the Sd day of this month. as
published in letter to the Centreville
lind. Republican. The mob again
threatening him but family. he retired.
which was well known here in all circles.
to the mountains for q while, and then
was generally at Bersa, having preached
and attended Sunday School more than
once. But so soon as it was known that
l was in Beres on Saturday. a great ex-
element was got up and stories circula-
ted that / was there marshaling my for
ces against the revolutionary tribunal
By Sunday night the mob had taken the
field, and on Monday brought on the col
lision at Bereas by illegal search" Of the
houses Of citizens there without the war
rant, adding insult to injury, ostensibly
to find Hanson, but in reality to raise a
row, which they succeeded in doing, sew
eral being shot on both sides. And the
Revolutionary Committee driven back,
rallied again on Tuesday and finding no
one, broke down that terrible thing-the
saw mill-and declared vengeance against
me and the Republicans who were en-
gagged in the fight. What was my true
position Z? Standing on the doctrine of the
Frankfort speech, l advised Mr.. Hanson
TO leave the State, and thus save himself
and my friends from the conflict whish
was premeditated by the Revolutionary
Committee. On Sunday night l stayed
at Kingston, where l stated the whole
thing, and my message Of peace to Be-
rea, to several Shareholders. One of the
Revolutionary Committee being present,
l was then informed by that committee
man that they were "dfter me certainly"
that I"Wds the one tranted ;" and it
was currently reported that a special de-
tachment had been sent to stake me"
wherever found ! which the said detach-
ment was very careful not to do At
the same time the old letter of protest
which Hanson wrote on the 10M inst, to
Judge Field, was now talked of as being
dictated by me at Beres on Saturday to
stir up the community to madness, and
execute vengeance upon me without time
for truth or reflection. On Tuesday ]
was no doubt saved from this ruse, only
by timely taking the stump and showing
the true people Of Madison what l had re-
ally done; and that some of the mob
knew the whole thing on Monday, and
had suppressed Il nth visW TO connect
me Nth stirring up lOar IN the STATE!
That committee well know, whilst !
shall not defend the Radicals in their mad
purposes, that l will not be driven into
acquiesence in their usurped power. nor
from the defence of Republicans who are
attacked in their persons or property BE-
cause only Of their Rspu6lieQnism. They
desire to renew the fable of the wolf and
the lamb, and by the committal Of out
RACES against my friends which / am
pledged to resist, to eonsunmste with
show of public justice their own crimi-
nal designs against my life and cause. i
publish these facts that all honest men
may not be deluded that We may stand
or fall upon our merits and not be over
wbelmed with clsmor, which is the strsng
weapon of mob violence always. The
Governor may make his demonstrations
the minnie Rifles" and cannon"
may come on to extinguish the Just in
dignstion Of outraged freemen in vain.
Standing upon the lGws. the ConstitutioD.
and our osVa patriotic purposes, we shall
not be intimiaated by this new accession
Of power in the suppression of our rights.
II civil war is begun, it viii be begun
against our most earnest implorations Of
the forbearanee of friends, and most SOL
emily protest against the sggressions Of