Article-1856, November 15

Missionary Movement in Kansas—The Shawnee Mission.

Clyde, N. Y., Saturday, Nov. 15, 1856.

To the Editor of the New York Daily Times:

   Rev. Thomas Johnson has been a Missionary (of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South) among the Shawnee Indians in Kansas a great many years, and is said to be the wealthiest man in the Territory. The farm upon which the Shawnee Manual Labor School is located is a beautiful one, under a high state of cultivation,—and the buildings are situated in the midst of a pleasant grove. This mission has been very successful in their speculation operations, but have wholly failed in their attempts to benefit the Indians; indeed, so prejudiced are many of this tribe against Johnson, on account of his Pro-slavery sentiments, that they will neither send their children to his school, nor go themselves to hear him preach on Sunday. We heard Gen. Samuel C. Pomeroy ask an Indian girl, near the Mission, if she went to Johnson’s school. She replied by a continued shake of her head, and repeating the words, “nigger man”—thus conveying to us her views of Negro Slavery, and of the men who uphold the Institution.  There are some Northern men in this village who might get wisdom from the teachings of this Indian maiden. Rev. Mr. Johnson, in his report to R.O. Miller, the Indian Agent, says, “that the number of children taught in his school, (including those from the Shawnee, Ottawa, Wyandot, and Sioux tribes,) for the ending Sept. 30, 1855, was one hundred and twenty-two.”

   The Shawnee Mission is a principal rendezvous for the Border Ruffians in the Territory. It is only two miles from Westport, one of the most ultra Pro-Slavery towns in Missouri—consequently the religion here exhibited is not of that heavenly type which would immediately change the character of the Indian, or extend to him all the benefits of a refined. civilization. Here, the first Territorial Legislature (the members of which were elected by Missouri votes) met, and passed laws, so infamous and disgraceful to a civilized nation, that even Pro-Slavery Senators from the far South condemn them. Here the notorious Stringfellow attacked Governor Reeder, and would have killed him had not those present interfered. Here, too, the secret meetings of Stringfellow, Atchison, Shannon, Woodson, and others were held,—in which originated the scheme of driving the Free-State settlers from the Territory. No wonder, then, that the Indians could see nothing to admire in the Christianity, the principles of which Rev. Thomas Johnson was sent here to promulgate. Two other missions have been established among the Shawnees, both of which have been compelled to abandon their labors. The Baptist Mission (Dr. Barker’s) was discontinued last fall, The Quaker Mission was broken up on the 22nd of the present month by a band of Pro-Slavery ruffians. And every association that attempts to establish a mission here will meet with a like fate, unless they promulgate the Pro-Slavery sentiments of the bogus Christianity of the South. Let the friends of the Missionary enterprise (at the North) think of these things.

S.H. C.

Indian Missions in Kansas, Clippings. p. 153.