The Liberator (newspaper)/September 18, 1857/Mob Violence Still Prevailing in Kentucky
From the New York Independent.
Mob Violence Still Prevailing in Kentucky.
Extracts from a letter from Rev. John G. Fee, dated Boone, Madison Co., Ky., Aug. 14, 1857.
The mob still rages. The court came on. The Judge of that county (Rockcastle) threw his influence on the side of the mob, gave up his court-house to them and the Slave Power to pass resolutions against us. The party, as we suppose, have burned down the house rented of bro. Parker, [where meetings have been held since the meeting-house was burned, and where Mr. Fee was lately mobbed,] during his absence from home, at night, and the family (wife and four small children) narrowly escaped, saving but little. The friends at Cummins’s are alarmed for their property and persons. Quite a number of men, last week, at court, swore publicly that they would take my life. The friends at Green’s and at Cummins’s have refused to open their houses for the present, much as they desire to hear me. I had started last Monday to go and see the people around Green’s, and get them quietly to go to meeting. I found that the Grand Jury had risen without any presentment, the mob was not restrained, the people are not willing to open the house. The posts of danger are now closed to me. I trust that there will be a re-action soon. The flame is fed in Rockcastle by a clan of Southern (South Carolina) boarders, gamblers and ruffians, who come up every season. These encourage and treat to whiskey a reckless class, who are cats-paws for others.
The address which I published has been read with great avidity, and many persons say it has done much good.
We had a very encouraging meeting last Saturday at the Glade. Good resolutions were passed against mob law, in favor of liberty of speech and press, and several excellent speeches were made. I think most of the friends will stand firm. One man, who is a pro-slavery man, but a personal friend of mine, and who went in search of my person while I was supposed to be in the hands of the mob, was yesterday surrounded by the mobocrats at Mount Vernon. I have not yet heard the result. It is thought that this will turn the violence into the slaveholding party. I go to help a Baptist minister next week. The ministry ought to be visited. I have had my mind drawn for months to this subject. I feel that prayer has been heard for us.
My condition is at present perilous, and my wife is almost overcome with anxiety about it. I am worn down with continued riding, am not vigorous in health, and am pressed with care, but have the rest of faith. I hope that God is my friend, and will overrule all for good, and give me wisdom and grace. Pray for me.
