The following article appeared in the Edgefield [S.C.] Advertiser, 9 Apr 1856, p. 2, c. 3:
"ADJOURNED KANSAS MEETING.
April 7, 1856.
According to notice at a previous meeting in aid of Kansas, a considerable number of persons assembled in the Court House, on Monday last, to hear the reports of the Committees.
Mr. Robert Jennings, on motion, was called to the chair, and Mr. H. W. Addison acted as Secretary.
The following reports were presented and adopted:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the plan of a Joint Stock Association, as proposed at the meeting of March 3d, respectfully submit:
They recommend the adoption of such a scheme upon the following basis:
1. That ten dollars shall be a share in said company.
2. That of the whole amount subscribed upon the books of the company, the one half thereof shall be positively invested in Kansas lands.
3. That the other half thereof shall be applied to the payments of the expenses of the emigrants at the rate of $150 for each.
4. That any emigrant shall, in addition, have the right of settling 200 acres of the company's land, the one half of which shall be his, in fee simple, and the other half subject to his refusal at the end of five years and at the prices then prevailing.
5. That the fund to be applied to the expense of emigrants be held by the treasurer of the Company, to be disposed of by him as the President of the association and a council of three to be elected by the Stockholders, shall direct.
6. That at the end of five years all the lands of the Company not taken by emigrants be disposed of and the business of the Company be then closed.
In furtherance of the plan here indicated, your committee recommend that another committee be appointed to prepare articles of agreement in accordance with the foregoing suggestions and to present them to citizens of Edgefield for their signatures, with as much dispatch as possible, each subscriber to indicate, opposite his name, the number of shares he takes.
Your committee do not mean to present this plan of proceeding in lieu of any action heretofore taken. They trust that subscriptions will be largely attained under the scheme set on foot at the first Kansas meeting held in this place, those subscriptions to be of course disposed of as the committee having them in charge shall decide. The object in the present recommendation is to suit, if possible, the wishes of those who desire to give aid in the Kansas cause upon a plan which has elsewhere proved successful and which, if energetically carried out, cannot in the opinion of your committee fail to achieve much in the cause of establishing a Southern sentiment and Southern institutions in the disputed territory.
Respectfully submitted:
JAMES SHEPHARD [sic, Sheppard],
SIMEON CHRISTIE,
JAMES F. ADAMS,
LEWIS JONES,
A. SIMPKINS [Arthur Simpkins, editor of the Advertiser].
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
1. Recommend that all those in favor of sending emigrants to Kansas, do forthwith contribute, according to their means for that purpose; or if they have not the money on hand, that they give us their subscriptions to be paid by the first of May next.
2. That two hundred Dollars, in addition to the necessary expenses of the emigrants in traveling to the Territory, be given for the support of each volunteer -- the money to be paid by the first Monday in May next, to a director to be elected from the volunteers by those who who subscribe, or in their default, by the Central Committee.
3. That the sub-Committees continue their exertions to raise money until the first Monday in May, by which time they will report to the Central Committee again.
4. That those desirous of emigrating to Kansas will enrol [as spelled] their names with the Chairman of the Central Committee on or by the first Monday in May next, at which time the directors will be elected and the volunteers will be expected to prepare for their immediate departure.
The names of the persons composing the Committee are Joseph Abney, James Sheppard, Jas. Talbert, M. W. Clary, Dr. Jos. Jennings, Wilson Abney, D. J. Walker, D. Hollingsworth, Tillman Watson, Lod Hill, ___ J. Mims, Z. W. Carwile, Joel Curry, Dr. J. W. Stokes, J. C. Styley [Styles], D. Denny, M. Frazier, James Tompkins, James Blackwell, and Edwin Seibles.
C. W. STYLES, Cha'r
..... [Omitted is a set of resolutions by F. W. Pickens, Governor of S.C. 1861-64, urging concerted force by Southern states if the Congress rejected the Lecompton delegate and seated Reeder instead; also omitted is a list of those subscribing in aid of Kansas, and the amounts so subscribed.]
VOLUNTEERS
H. C. Culbreath, Stanmore Chappell, W. S. Palmer, Wiley Crawford, Levi Rodgers, William White, W. L. Evans, J. M. Robertson.
Among other letters read was the following:
Our Cottage, 18th March '56
Dear Sir: I should like to make a donation to your Kansas Association, but I don't know how to do it, unless through you. My sympathies are fully awakened for both our pro-slavery friends in Kansas, and for their Missouri friends. I feel it a sacred duty to unite in rendering substantial aid. I have a new Sharp's rifle (never shot) and accoutrements, which are at your service, and I will add $20 in cash, to purchase ammunition with. If a man can reach Kansas, these will enable him to secure his meat, at least, for a year or more. And should a civil conflict ensue there, which I do not seriously apprehend, he will be efficiently armed and equipped for the fight.
I send you herewith the $20 and will leave the rifle, &c., at Sibley's Store, in Hamburg [present North Augusta, S.C.], subject to your order.
Very truly, &c., &c.,
M. C. M. HAMMOND,
Col. A. Simpkins, Edgefield, C.H., S.C.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
ROBERT JENNINGS, Chrm'n
H. W. ADDISON, Sec'ry"