Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-01-26

we hau rounded a Literary lnstltu-
tion. which was receiving liberal
patronage from all classes.
The settlement at Berea, was in
cresslng in numbers and Importance,
when at the news of the Harper's Fer
~ :oray, wonderful panic seized the
people OF the country. which was in
creased by printed announcements, .,hat
it had been discovered that an insur-
rection was soon to break out in Ken
tucky. that box of Sharpe's rifles.
directed 10 one of our number, had
been intercepted. and by other declara
;ions equally false. until a perfect tor
rent of rage was stirred up against
our community. already obnoxious
because Of its influence in favor of
freedom. Honorable men, many of
them Shareholders, and the mass OF the
people within a few miles of Us, OPP
posed this tide. but were uuable to di-
ninish its power. Finding themselves
unable to check the rage of infuriated
men, and that there was no protection
for us 10y law, although we were NOT
charged with the infringement Of a
single statute, they with perfect una
nimity advised US to retire Tor a time.
before the storm. Thinking it part
of wisdom to yield to the united re-
quest of our friends, whose counsels
had the greater weight from the fact
that our departure would be to their
pecuniary disadvantage, and learning
from various reliable sources that
rabble, beyond the control of the COM
mittee who waited upon us. were pur-
posing 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 country. Accordingly, we
find ourselves to-day. with our wives
and little ones. homeless, and separa-
ted from the people with whom we had
hoped to live and die.
Under the circumstances we feel
constrained to address a few words
We do not desire to stir up your anger
against our prosecutors, for we feel
confident that they know not what
they do; nor do we wish especially to
ask your sympasbies in oui behalf,
but rather that you consider your duty
as Christians and patriots, to that
multitude Of other persons who in va
rious ways are the victims Of the sys-
tenn of Slavery.
There are still outspokcn anti-slav-
cry men and churches in the South,
like ourselves. unprotected by law
They, as well as ourselves have in
vain sought the protection of magis-
trates and courts. and are daily liable
to banishment, or as the alternative,
to death Thousands if not millions,
are deprived Of the privilege Of free
speech on the subject of Slavery. be-
cause of that incubus which rests up
on them, by reason of tbs support
given to the system by 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 in
cubus, which is fast becoming a bur-
den too heavy to be borne.
1t is a humiliating fact that even
vet. in the North some Of the largest
denominations Of Christians are in
actual completely with this system of
outrage and injustice They give to
the iniquity position. and bid it God
speed. by ecclesiastical fellowship.
The same is true of many of the
benevolent associations. If all church
es and associations would treat slave
holding as they do other gross immor-
alities, soon respectable men would
cease to defend or practice the injury.
1t would die of disgrace. Albert
Barnes. has correctly said: Slavery
could not live single day outside of
the church. were it not for the fact
that it lives in the church.
Men at the North, then, have some
thing to do with Slavery. They have
long given character and support to it
bydonations and associations. Let them
bring forth fruits meet for repentance,
by using every righteous means for its
removal. Let no one remain silent
Christ is in bonds in the person of his
poor
Men In the North as well as in the
Sonth. can use another potent instru-
mentality-poliiical action
Let them repeal every enactment
that in any way gives sanction or sup
port to the system. Slavery is not a
natural state of society. 1t lives only
by statutary protection Let this pro-
lection be taken away and it falls.
Let the Federal Government he put
into the hands of tried and true friends
OF freedom; then Federal Offices in the
South will be filled with men who will