A Meeting was held on the 9th of June 1856 at the Broadway Tabernacle to
raise
funds in aid of the suffering and persecuted friends of Freedom in Kansas.
At this meeting the following resolutions were offered
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On motion, Henry A. Chittenden was added to the committee and also
appointed
Treasurer. By a Subsequent resolution the following twenty five gentlemen
were
appointed by the chair a committee for collecting funds.
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Samuel B. Ruggles and C. S. Francis having declined serving on the
committee
of six, at a meeting of the said committee held at the Store of Bowen
&
McNamee Nos 112 & 114 Broadway on Saturday June 21st at 11 P.M. Edgar
Ketchum
Esqr and Charles A. Dana were elected to fill such vacancies.
On motion of Roe Lockwood, Thaddeus Hyatt was elected Chairman and
Secretary
of the Committee.
The Treasurer reported the receipt of the following
contributions
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The treasurer reported the following disbursements which were
approved by the
Committee –viz:
Pd. Mr Eldridge of the Lawrence Hotel at Lawrence for expenses connected
with
the cause $20.00
Pd. Broadway Tabernacle for 9th inst $100.00
Sent Draft to Mr Isable of the New Haven Settlement Co at Wakarusa,
Kansas $100.00
On motion, the Treasurer was requested to notify the Collecting
Committee that
the Disbursing Committee were waiting to receive their Report and the
Treasurer
was prepared to receive whatever contributions had passed into their
hands.
The Committee then adjourned.
26th June. Thursday morning 10 o’clock
Committee met at the Office of Edgar Ketchum Esqr 79 Napan St. T. McNamee
&
C. H. Dana absent.
Gov. Reeder – Eli Thayer of Worcester & Mr. Peppers of the
Albany
Committee were present with the Committee to advise with [XXX] to
distributing
the funds. Gov. Reeder expressed his views substantially as follows. viz:
Establish 5000 armed settlers on the soil
of Kansas: and provision them for one year. To effect this, organize
a fund
of $1,000.00 in the hands of National Central Committee with their head
quarters
at Chicago. Committee to consist of 5 citizens of Chicago – 3 of
Kansas
and one from each State. Each State to be thoroughly organized by State,
County
& Town organizations. All monies collected to be paid into the
Chicago treasury
excepting such sums as the various branches might expend in direct
efforts for
the cause. No Salaried offices to exist. The whole work to be one of
unadulterated
patriotism.
The Chicago Junta to open a communication through the southern
portion of Iowa
from Iowa City to a point on the Missouri river opposite Nebraska City
and from
thence diagonally across the South Eastern portion of Nebraska to Topeka
in
Kansas. The greater portion of this route is already open being a good
post
road. Arrangements are being made with the Iowa Stage Co. for a line of
Stages
hacks and wagons sufficient to accommodate the emigration.
The plan is to abandon the Missouri Valley as a place accursed. Have
no dealings
whatever with them. Shun their Steamers, rivers, & places of business
entirely.
Proclaim to the world that the Missouri River is infested with pirates
and wholly
unsafe as a highway of travel. Let it be known that organized bands of
ruffians
board the Steamers – demand the Register and spot such of the
passengers
as they deem unsound – ransack the vessel open packages of
merchandize
disarm all the free state emigrants & forcibly expel
and murder such as are obnoxious to them.
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/2416/text