128 
KANSAS. 
Lawrence, he was attending a meeting some miles from home, but 
hearing that Lawrence was in imminent peril, without going to 
his home, or being sure that the word he sent his family would 
reach them, he put spurs to his horse and came to our relief. 
Another clergyman from Vermont, with others, came in to 
breakfast this morning. So the time has come again when men, 
whose vocation it is to preach the word of truth, and to battle 
heroically in fierce struggles with error, have girded on another 
sword than that of the spirit; and if the victory is to be won by 
sharp fighting, while they “ pray and watch ” they work, too — the 
working evincing the spirit of the prayer. 
The times seem strange! Ministers of the gospel of peace buck¬ 
ling on the armor which is to insure them physical safety! Two 
thousand years have passed away since the angel-choirs rejoiced 
together, ushering in the glad news of a new gospel, and the tid¬ 
ings of good-will and peace reverberating over Judea’s hills. 
When will men learn the lesson ? With our defence strong and 
secure, made fully known to our foes, there will be no bloodshed. 
So we all feel, and things which seem warlike are in reality peace¬ 
bearing measures. 
Another event happened last night, which occasioned uneasiness, 
viz., the appearance of McCrea, an escaped prisoner, in our 
midst. His presence, were it known to the enemy, would be a 
new source of difficulty, and at once cause an outbreak. Few 
of the citizens knew he was here, and he is already on his way to 
a land of safety. 
How the blood boils in our veins, when we think of all the 
indignities imposed upon us by the slave power, by the infamous, 
the execrable corruption of the administration! No words can 
express the depth of infamy to which it has gone, in endeavoring 
to crush out on this soil, made sacred to freedom by a pledge 
inviolate, free speech, free action and free men. 
McCrea had been for months imprisoned in a close, ill-ventil¬ 
ated place. A bill was found against him for murder, but a 
change of venue was at last effected. These men,who saw them¬ 
selves about to be foiled of their prey for which with unabated 
eagerness for six months they had hunted, had made preparations 
