, 1860-01-12

Statess
The attention Of Christians and all loyers Of
liberty is respectfully called to the following
facts md considerations
We, the undersigned, residents Of Berea,
Madison county, Kentucky, on the 23d day Of
December, 1855, we're waited upon by sixty-two
Of the most wealthy and influential citizens Of
the county, who informed us that they bnd been
appointed by tue people to remove III fom the
State md that if we were found within its
borders at the expiration Of ten day s, they sho!d
eIpel us by force
. Nhe Ws1c churged with the violation of 10
law, but told TINT the spread Of ant-slavery SEN
timeuts (Which we hc1d) endangered their insti.
tutIons.' We we're engaged IS farmers, artisans
by our own industy 1.-TWO Of us as ministers re-
ceiving partial support from the Americn
MissiUuary Assoc1ation), with no heated zeal
for any "it1n,' but cndeavoring quietly to pro.
mote the cansc Of Christ. We believed, aud
did not hesitate to declare, Hhen The occasion
demanded. that slavery was o moral aud social
Grill. wEticlt it was the duty Of all good men to
oppose. We set ourselves against the spirit Of
caste, md labored to suppress all feelings Of
hostility between pon.slaveLo1ders and saaFe-
holders, between Slaves aud masters. In all
things VIC sought wisdom from above, and aim.
ed to exercise that wise discretion whis is esne-
Gully needed by those who Ilol unpopular opin-
ions.
!. E} tho testimony Of shareholders, many of
whom We reckon atnong our personal friends
aud Tett-TisAeIs, oHs presence and fabors had
so changed tina pant Of the country, that it bud
become as noted for the upright conduct Of its
inabitants, as it once Ilad been for horse racins
Institution, which was receiving liberal pat
ronage from all classes
The settlement at Eerca was increasing in
numbers and Importance, when, ut the news Of
the Harpcr'a Ferry foray, a wonderful panic
seized The people Of the county, which was ILL
creased by printed announcements, that it had
been discovered that un insurrcctiun was soop
TO brtak "ut in Kentucky, that box Of oharpc's
rlt1cs, directed 10 one Of our number, had been
intercepted, and by other declarations equally
false, until perfect torrent Of rnge was stirred
up ngainst our community, already obnoxious
because Of its influence ia favor Of freedom,
Honorable men, many Of them shareholders,
ard the mass Of the people within few miles
Of us, opposed this tide. but were unable to d.
ininls!i IT'S power. Finding themselves unable
to check the rage OF infuriated men, and lint
there WAS no protection for US by las, although
VIC were not charged With the infringement Of
asingle statute, they with perfect unaninlity ad-
yiscd us to retire for time, before the Storm
Thinning it the part Of wisdom to yield TO the
unitetl request Of our friends, whose counse!s
bud the greater weight from the fact that our
departure would b. to their pecuuiary tisad-
vantage; and learning from various reliable
sources that a rahble, beyond the control Of Tic
committee who waited upon us, were purposing
to take the lives Of some Of us if We remained,
we believed it to bc our duty, thoush in mid
winter, to leave tho county. Accordingly, we
find ourselves to-day, with our wives and little
ones, homeless, and separated from the pcopie
with whom we ioped tu lire aud die.
Under these circumstances we feel constraiu-
cd to address you a few words. We do not de-
cir IN eli
tors, far we feel confident that they know not
what they do; nor do We wish especially to ask
your sympatlaies in our behalf, but rather that
you consider your duly rs Christians and pa
trioss, to that multitude OF other persons who
in various ways are the victims Of the system
Of Slavcry.
There are still out.srokeu anti-slayery men
and churches in the South, like ourselves, un-
protected BY law. They, as well rs ourselves,
harc in vain sought the protection of mayis.
trates and cot rts. mud daily liable to banssh-
lnent, or as the alternative, to death. Thousands,
il not millions, are deprived Of the privilege OF
free speech on the subject OF Slavery, because
son Of the support given to the system ty the
Church and state. We ask you if you care for
freedom Of speech, or Christ in the person Of
his poor, to remove this incubus, which is fast
becoming burden too heavy to be borne.
II is Z iluuiiiatisg fact that even .ye:. in tile
North, come. Of the larges: denominations of
Christians a1c IN actual completely with this
the iniquitT position, and bid ii God-speed by
the ecclesiastical fellowship.
TIE same is true Of nlauy Of the benevolent
associations. II aIl churches and associations
would treat slayelo1dins as they do other gross
imlnoralities, soon respectable men would cease
to defend or practice the iniquisy. 1t would die
OF d'sGrace- Albert barnes, bus correctly sald:
"Slavery could not live Il single day outside Of
the church, we're it not for the fact that it ires
in the Church"
Men at the North, then, have something 10 do
with Slavery. They have long given character
and support to it by donations and associations.
Ict them bring forth fruits meet for repentance,
by using every religious means for its removal
Let no one remain silent. Christ is in bonds IN
the person OF his ]oor,
Men in the North as well as in the South. can
use another potent instrumentalisy--poiit
action.
Let them repeal every enactment that in any
way gives sanction or support to the system.
Slavery Is not natural state cf society. It lives
only by statuary protection. Let this protection
be taken away and it falls.
Let tue Federal Government be put into tho
hands Of tried md true friends of freedom: tLen
Federal offices in the South will be filled with
mel, WHO will MD the cause Of Liberty and giyc
facilities for the spread Of truth and tie adminis-
trntion Of Justice.
1he prestige nt government will he Oh the side
of freedom, and the incubus OF pro-slayery
administration removed from Thousands who
now arc silent because they sec no way Of hope
These thousands will then speak out the true
impulses Of their natures. Their voice will be
like the voice Of many waters and their
movements like mcnntaln aya!auchcs, irresik1i-
bic.
This foresesu fact but Increases our desire to
return and preach 'i,c gospel OF lore to a11, that
the people may be- sasetl from violence. Iu I'll
instances where gospel Of love has been
fully proclaimed, sl;.very has quietly passed
away but Wherever this gospel has been re-
jccted, it las gone out iii blood
The call then il not for protection for the COL
ored man alone. Thgt would be sufficient to
enlist the zeal Of all good men. But the call is
that you should so uct as to give protection to
white men also; mel. who have gone there from,
free States to do good, and to thousands of ua-
tive citizens who desire protection il the free
dom Of speech, and Tho full exercise Of their
convictions
If, then, the Lovers of righteousness Norti,
md South, shal! ut once do their duty ecclcsi-
asticaly and politically, lost privileges will bc
secured to It's, freedom to the slave, security to
the mnstcr, aad prosperity to alt.
.loHS y. FEE, SWiNGLEHErST LIFE
j. 4. Il. RoGERs, ]onS G. Hanson,
lonN SMITH, 4. G. ". Parker,
E. T. HAYES, j. F. BorGH7oS.
i. II. IoSEr, Z. T.. Gn1yF1S.
Cincinnati Jan Eth 1cc0