The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-02-03
To the People of the Unitel States,

To the People Of the Unltei states
Tho attention of Christians nd all lovers
of liberty is respectfully called to the fol-
lowing iacts AMI considerations
We, the undersigned, residents of Berea,
Madison county, Kentucky, on tho %2d day
of December, 1859, were waited upon by
sxty-two of the most wealthy and iutluen
tai ci,izans of the county. who Informed Us
that they had been appointed by tho people
to remove US from the State, and that, ii
wo were found within It's borders ~ tic OK
piration of ten days, they should czpel Us
by force.
Wo were charged with tho violation of no
law. but told that tho spread of anti.slaYury
sentiments (Which we help endangered then
institutions. We were ongnged us farmers,
partizaus. teachers and ministers. maintain
ing ourselves by our own industry. (two OF
us as ministers receiving partial support
from tho American Missionary AssnciaIion.)
with no 5eatcd zeal for any "ism,' but on.
deayoring quietly to promote tho cause OF
Christ. Wu believed. and did mot hrsitute
to declare when the occasion demanded, that
slavery was moral and social evil, which it
was tho duty of all good mon to oppose
Nu set ourselves against tho spirit ot caste,
and iabured to suppress all feelings OF hos
tiity between non shareholders and slave.
holders, between slaves and masters. In
all things we sought wisdom from above.
and aimed to aiciso that wise discretion
which is especially needed bJ those who
hold unpopular opinions.
by tho testimony of savcf oIdels, many Of
whom w0 reckon among our personal friends
aud welt wishors. our presence and labors
had so changed that part of tho couuty, that
il had become AS noted for tho upright con-
duct of its inhabitants as it had once been
for horsuricirg and intomrerance We
had founded u Literary Institution which
was receiving liberal patronage from all
classes.
Tho settlomcnt at Berea was Increasing
in numbers and Importance, when, ut the
news of tho Harpers Ferry, wonderful
panic seized tho people OF tho county. which
WAS increased by printed announcements
chat it had been discovered that an insur-
recion was soon to break out in Kentucky,
and that u box Of Sharpe's rifles directed 20
ono of our number, had been intercepted,
and by other declarations equally false uutil
pcrFec! torrent OF rage was stirred up
against our community, already obnoxious
because of its Influence in favor of freedom
Honorable mon, many Of thom Shareholders
n,iIca Of US, opposed this tide. hut were un.
aolo to diminish its power. Finding them
selves unable TO chock the rage of iniuriatcd
mon. aud that there was no protection Tor
US by law, although wo wero not charged
with tho infringement Off single statute, they
with perfect unanimity advised us to retire
for time before tho storm. Thinking it
tho part of wisdom to yield to tho united
request of our friends. whose counsel had
| the greater weight from tho fact that our
departure would be to their pccunary dis
advantage, and learning from various rela.
bio sources that n rabble, beyond the con-
| troll of tho Committee who waited upon us.
were purposng to take tho lives of some OF
US it 40 remained, We believed il to be our
duty. though in mdwinter. to leave the
county. Accordingly, We find ourselves to.
! day, with our wives and little ones. homeless,
anG separated from the people wish whom
wo hoped 20 live and dio
Under these circumstances. We feel con-
strained 10 address 10 you tuw words. We
do not desire to sir up your anger against
| our prosecutors, for we feel confident that
they know not what thOv do; nor do We
wish especially to ask your sympathes in our
behalf. hut rather that you consider your
duty us Christians and patriots, to that mul-
titude of other persons who in various ways
arc tho vict ms OF the system of Slavery.
There arc still out-spokcn anti-slGyery
mon and churches in tho South, hko our
solves, hnyo in vain sought tho protection
of magistrates and courts, and are daily
liable 10 hanishment. or as the alternative
death. Thousands, if not millions, uro de-
prived of the privilege nf FREQ speech ON the
| subject of slavery, because OF that incubus
which rests upon them by reason OF the
support given to the system by the Church
aud State. We eask you, ifyou caro- tor FREQ
dom of speech, or Christ in the person of
his poor. to remove this incubus. which is
fast becoming burden too heavy to be
borne,
1t is n humiliatipg fact that even yet. in
tho North, some of the largest denominations
of Christians arc in actual completely with
this system of outrage aud injustice. They
give to tho iniQuity position. aud bid il God
speed. by ccccslastica! fellowship.
The same is rruo of many of tho benevo.
lent associations. II all tho churches and
associatons would treat slavehoding as
they do other gross immOralilies. soon ie-
spectacle mon would cease 10 dofond or
practice tho inquity. Ii would die of dis
grace. Albert Barnes has correctly said
"Slayery could not live single day outside
OF The church, were it not for the fact that
IL lives in the church"
Men at the North, then, have something
to do with Slavery. Thoy have long given
character and support III il by donations
md associations, Let them bring tor III
fruits meet Tor repentance, by using every
righteous means for its removal. Let no
one romnin silent. Christ is in bonds in the
person Of his poor.