Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-01-13
THE REIGN OF TERROR.

The Cincinnati Commercial Dec. 81 says
thirty-six persons arrived in that city from
Kentucky, on the Both, having been driven
from thelState for the crime of believing slave
~ to be a moral and political evil. They
are from Berea and vicinity in Madison
county.
Among the exiles are Rev. J. 4. u. Rog-
ers. principal of Furnishing school at Berea,
and bis family; J. D. Reed and family;
John s. Hanson and family; (Mr. Hanson is
native of Kentucky, and a Woodworking,
thrifty man He had recently cree ted a
steam saw mill, and owns five hundred acres
Of land in Madison county, KY The Rev
J. F. Boughton; f. T. Hayes and s. Lite
carpenters; A. G. W Parker, a native Of
South Carolna:-Toney, a native Of
Tennessee, John Smith, native Of Ohio, a
farmer. who has lived in Kentucky some
years. Mr. Smith is described by Mr. Fee
as a gray-haired father, a man Of prayer,
indeed of eminent piety and usefulness,
More than half of the exiles are natives Of
Southern States, and several are native Ken
tuckians
Alta pro-slavery meeting held at Richmond,
at which, according to the Kentucky pap
ers, the "oldest, most respectable and law
abiding citizens were IN ATTENDANCE it was
resolved on the ground of self preservation, -
70 appoint committee Of sixty-fve, to re
move from among them J. G. Fee, j. A.
R. Rogers, and 50 many Of their associates.
as in their best judgment, the peace and
safety Of society may require. The com
mittee were instructed to perform this duty
deliberately and humanely as may be, but
most ehsctually.'
The committee were ordered to carry out
the designs OF the meeting within ten days,
and Mr.. Rogers thus describes the warning
which he received
''H, in his cottage, when summons for
him To appear heard. On going 70 the door,
be discovered an imposing cavalca lie, sixty -iye
ell-mOunted men being drawn up in waTlike ar
ray. lie was informed that he had ten day in
which 10 leave the NIate. This on the 23d
December. ~ toll them that he had Mt coasci-
ously violated any law Of the Commonwealth, and
that, if be had uuc nseioUsly done 80, be would
be most happy TO be tried according To- law. lie
was informed that they did not know that he had
violated any law but that bis principles were IN
compatible with the public peace and that he
must 20. The charge against hun va, abolition
ism-the penalty, expulsion from the state.
So harsh or personally disrespectful language
Wa useo lie was even told Sith much courtesy
Of word and manner, thar be was esteemed as a
gentleman, but bis presence was offensive on ac-
oonnt his princip es. They lai4 il down an
axiom TIA; sacI sentiments As he entertained were
not to be tolerated by a slaycholding ple-that
abolition doctrines and slayeholding were not Go
be permitted togetaer-that one or the other must
90. They warned hIm peaceably, but any amount
Of force necessary 10 carry out the objects oi the
Richmond meeting would be uuhesitatingly Gnu
ployed. They appeared now ia peace, but IT he
did not heed the warning they would re-appear
for war
4 committaa OF the prescribed waited On
Gov MagofHn with petition for their pro-
lection.
Il princirIe with us. say they. 20 submit;
TO every ordinance e man for tn. Lord sake
unto governors az unto them that are sent by Him
for the punishment of evil doors and the praise Of
them that do well, 80 ami in accordance With this
principle we have been cbedient in all respects to
the laws Of this state.
Within a few weeks evil I'd false reports have
been put into circulation, imputng TO us, mo-
tives words and conduct calculated 10 intlame the
publ mind, which imputationS are utterly false
and groun1less. These imputations we have pub
licy denied and offered every facility for the full
lest investigation which have earnestly but
vainly sought.
On Friday the 23d inst, a company Of sixty
two men, claiming to have been appointed by
meeting cf the citizens Of our county, without
any shadow Of legal authority, and IL violation OF
the Constitution and laws of the State Of the
United States called at our respective residences
and places of business and notified us to leave the
county and State, and be without this county and
State within ten days, and handed US the accom-
panying document, in which you will see that
unless the said order be promptly complied with
that there is expressed fixed determination TO
remove by force.
In view of these facts, which We can substan-
tate by the fullest evidence, We respectfully pray
that you, in the exercise Of the power vested in
you by the constitution and made your duty to
use, do protect Us in rights as legal citizens
Of the commonwealth of the State of Kentucky
But Governor Mag fin told them he
could not protect them, and - advised them,
for the sake Of preserving the peace Of the
State, to leave it.