Kansas MemoryKansas Memory

Kansas Historical SocietyKansas Historical Society

National Kansas Relief Committee, minutes

Item Description Bookbag Share

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
[newspaper article insert]
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.
[newspaper article insert]
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

Page 2


contributions
[newspaper article insert]
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

Page 3


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

Page 4


and murder such as are obnoxious to them.

Item Description

Copyright © 2007-2023 - Kansas Historical Society - Contact Us
This website was developed in part with funding provided by the Information Network of Kansas.