Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-10
Tho DI.turbance. in kentucky.

Cassius NJ. Clay has addressed a second let
ter to a gentleman in New York, dated April
Sd, giving in brief history of the war now
going on in kentucky between the pro-slavery
men and their opponents. The first overt acts
were committed by the democracy in the de-
struction of Mr. Baeys press at Newport.
This was followed by the expulsion of the
settlement of ant-slavery men at Berea, Inc
hostile movement seemed to be approaching
constantly nearer to Mr.. Clay, when he thought
it wise to make his defense at Frankfort, i'll
the face and in defiance of his enemies. This
quoted them for a while, but did not dsarm
them, Hanson, one of the Berean eXiles, re-
turned, and unwisely provoked new hostilities.
Hearing the intelligence, Mr.. Clay went to
Berea, begged Hanson to leave the state, and
advised his own friends to stand aloot from
him The rest of the story is told in Mr..
Clay's words
$50 soon as the committee heard l was at
Berea, they raised terrible clamOr, accused
me of debating the letter of Hanson, to bring
on war, mustered their forces, and made a
night expedition of the most desperate men,
to take me by surprise and put me to death.
They, however, did not reach Berea before
daylight, armed with shot-guns and pistols.
They searched all the houses, inSulted the
women and our friends, and at last were so
violent to West and his daughter Ia republl-
can, that our party would stand it no longer,
went in defence of West, when the parties
met and battle took place, in which three OF
the mobiles were wounded IAN old Mexican
companion in arms coniessing TO me III private,
shot in the thigh, and at last defeated. They
returned in great CONSERVATION, wrote to the
governor for aid, sent to Lexington tor can
non and men "to shoot il" In the meantime
it was supposed | had gone to Washington,
and thence to my sister Smiths; stating to
divers persons that my mission had been one
OF peace and not of war; but they rallied In
force several hundred on Tuesday, and, ind
ing the foe gone, they ''kied Hansons saw
mill, !" and denounced all those engaged IN the
fight, and gave their families notice to leave
the state by Tuesday following, at the same
time making violent threats against me-
In the meantime. on Tuesday, in Richmond,
/ took the stump, and disabused the public
mind OF the calumnes against me, and LETT for
home. But the excitement continued, and L
was more and more denounced. Yesterday
meeting was held to consider me. l had my
" tue CltlLSuS vi 4hdulSOli Jul III iitt'iu
bills, and, early in the day had them circulated
They were read and discussed-some for, and
some against me. When the meeting took
place, the court house could not hold all the
people, nor could my intormants hear much !;
but speeches were made-some for, and some
against me but no resolution was passed
against me. My handful was read, and they
adjourned into private caucus. 1t Is believed
that they will go to Berea to day, and finding
no one flor l have told my boys to retreat,
leaving their wives and children at home, J
they will dissolve. If such be the case, and
no one is killed, l think we will have gained a
complete victory over them Ii some are
killed. God only knows the end We will at
once take to the woods and mountains, and
defend ourselves to the last
''lf we had fifty or one hundred Sharpe's
rifles, it would give us immense power in the
mountain receesses, where cannon could not
reach us. 1t is said the governor will be again
called upon to really keep the peace! God
knows we don't want the scenes of Kansas
again re-enacted-,trSt disa'minq, and setting our
foes upon rs In haste, your friend,
c. NJ. CLAY"
The selfconstituted committee appointed for
friends from the state, have also issued
a card to the public. They boldly de-
clare that their purpose was to remove the
abolition settlements beyond the limits of
the state, and everybody who extended to them
aid or defence. The guilty instigators of all
this disorder, who have banished quiet and
peaceable citizens, who have destroyed property,
and committed every outrage upon private
rights necessary to make their awless proceed
ings effective, now claim that they acted in
selfdetence and stoutly deny that anybody
has received insult or indignity at their hands |!