The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-03
Editorial correspondence.
WASHINGTON, April %, 1866

L Jul ISdueIS d4IedlS huoH ludt we nave
imposed upon ourself the task of noting
for their edifcatioE from time to time the
distinguishing characteristics of some of
the men in the present Congress. Among
those we will notice is Hon. John r.
Kelso of Missouri. Mr.. Ke!so was born
March 23d, 1881, in FRANKLIN county,
Ohio, but moved with his parents to Mis-
souri, in 1910, where he resided ever since.
Growing up in slave State, among slaves,
and in community where anti-slavery
principles were not tolerated, and educa-
ted by ultra pro-slavery parents, it is
not strange that he imbibed the doctrines
inculcated by his parents, and by others
with whom he was in daily intercourse.
Mr.. Kelso was therefore for time an
ultra pro-slavery man, and firmly believed
in the divine authority of that institution.
Perhaps we cannot do better than to let
Mr.. Kelso tell his own story. In letter
to friend, which We are permitted to
copy, he says:
''I did not doubt the divine origin of sla-
very, and the terrible wickedness of those
who opposed that divine institution and
when, at seventeen years of age, l or
dained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, | set about strengthening
myself, by careful study, so as to be able to
crush the enemies of this ou- favorite insti-
tuition.
al was candid in my Investigations, and as
might have been expected, failed to find
those strong defenses for slavery, which had
expected.
THE farther pushed my Investigations
the weaker felt my position to be, until,
at twenty, after three years of careful inves-
tigation, l was compelled, in my own con-
science, to admit that | was on the aorong
side. 1 still labored, however, in the church
to which l belonged, but never touched upon
the subject of slavery, till near my twenty
fifth year, when the corruption and disloyalty
of the ministry of that church became SO
evident that could no longer keep silent.
81 had possessed fine opportunities for
observing the corrupting influence Of slavery,
well as to witness much of its untold inhu-
manity, and, feeling that | could no longer
innocently remain connected with a church
whose chief cornerstone was slavery, l left
that church and united my influence with
that of the few bold spirits who dared believe
slavery wrong.
'From that time to this, have never ceas-
ed to contend for liberty and right. Through
long, dark years of prescription, even yet
unknown to the people OF the North, strug-
gled and was sustained with the belief that
my cause was just, and the hope that the day
would come when / should see the right
prevail.
"I saw my friends insulted, tarred and
feathered, ridden on rails, sold at mock
auctions, and then ordered out of the country.
] saw scenes in the slave markets and on slave
plantations that make me shudder to this day
\ .
will not wonder that 1 was the first man in
my county to declare for the Union and enlist
under her banner | entered the Union army
mt the very beginning of the war, and was
never absent from my post till its close"
The active part which he took in favor
of the Union brought down the vengeance
of the rebels upon him. In the winter of
1861, they burned his dwelling and drove
his family out into the SHOWS, without
food or clothing. One of his children
perished, and the others, with his wife,
then in very delicate health, endured
sufferings at which humanity rccoils, and
the heart sickens These outrages upon
his family strengthened his heart, and
nerved his arm, and made him almost
inviucible in battle, and in six:y-one
engagements with the enemy of his
country, he did not forget the hardships
and trials TO which his loved ones at home
had been subjected. He was detailed by
special order to raise and command a
battalion, to hunt down those Infamous
desperaGoes called guerillas, who infested |
Missouri aud Arkansas. This made his |
life as a soldier one of thrilling adventure, |
perhaps by even romance
itself By his own hand he "snaote them
hip and Migh," and many Of those blood
thirsty scouqdrels were forced TO bite the
dust The name of Kelso became terror
to those infamous guerilas In all that
region, and the country was soon cleared
Of the presence of the outlaws aud
In consequence of wounds he
received and the hardships he endured,
his health was very much impaired, and
10 1864, while still in the service, his
friends ran him for Congress, anc, although
ne had no opportunity to canvass his dis
rict, vet he was elected. His early
,dyan,agcs fer an education were very