The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-01-26
APPEAL OF TIE KENTUCKY ExILEs
TO the People of the United States.


TO the People of the United States.
The attention OF Christians aud all low
ers of liberty is respectfully called to the
following facts and considerations
We, the undersigned, residents OF Be-
rea, Madison County, Ky, on the pa
day of Decem Der. 1859. were waited up.
on by sixty-two of the most wealthy and
influential citizens of the county, who in
formed US that they had been appointed
by the people to remove US from the State;
and that if We were found within its bor-
ders at the expiration Of ten days, they
should expel US by force.
We were charged with the violstion Of
no Law, but told that the spread Of Anti
Slavery sentiments (Which we hed) en-
dsngered their institutions. We were
engaged as farmers, srti-ans, teachers,
and ministers, maintaining ourselves by
our own industry, (tso OF Us as ministers
resolving partial support from the A
nericsn Missionary AssociatioD), with no
heated zeal for any "ism," but endeavor-
ing quietly to promote the cause of Christ
We believed, and did not hesitate to de-
clare when the occasion dem anded, that
Slavery was a moral and sociol evil. which
il was the duty o! all good uen to oppose.
We set our elves against tie spirit of
caste, aud labored to suppress all feelings
of hostility between non layeholGers and
shareholders, between slaves and matters
In all things We sought wl-do om from stove,
!
which is especially needed by those who
bold unpopular opinions.
By the testimony of Shareholders, many
of whom we reckon among our personal
friends sDd we'll Wishers, our presence
and labors had so changed thst part Of
the county. that it had become as noted
for tbe upright conduct of its inh sbitant-,
as it once bad been for hor5e-raciug and
iutempersnce. We had founded a literary
Institution. which wa receiving liberal
patronage from all classes
The settlement at Berea was increasing
10 numbers aud Importance, when at the
news of the Hsrper's Ferry foray, won
derful panic seized the people of the coun-
ty, whieh was increased by printed an-
nouncemeDts, that it had been di-corered
that an insurrection was soon to break
out 10 Kentucky, that box of Sharpe $
rifles, directed to opc of our Duwber, had
been intercepted. and By other declsra-
tions equally false. until perfect torrent
Of rage was stirred up again-t our CON-
snuuity, already obnoxious beceuse of its
iD6ueoce in favor freedom. Honorable
mon, u any of them Shareholders, and the
mass of the people within few miles of
ss, opposed this tide, but we're uDshle to
diminish its power. Finding themselves
unable to check the rage of iufuristed
men and that there was no protection for
as BY lew, although we were not charged
With the Infringement of single statute,
they With perfect unanimity advised Us 10
retire for a time, before the storm. Thin.
king it the part of wisdom to yield to the
united request of our friends, whose coun-
sells bad the greater weight from the fact
that our departure would be to their Pc
cauisry disadvantage, aud learning from
various reliable sources that rabble, be.
yond the controisof the Committee who
waited upon US, were purposing to take
the lives of some of US if we remained,
We believed it to be our duty. though in
mid Winter, to leave the county Ac-
eordiugly, we 6nd ourselves to day, With
our wives and little ooer, homeless, aud
separated frow the people with whom we
hoped to live and die.
Under these circumstances, we feel con
strained to address to you a few words.