Thomas Rotch Letter Concerning Treatment of Quakers During the War of 1812

              [page 1]

[corresponds to page 1 of Thomas Rotch Letter Concerning Treatment of Quakers During the War of 1812]

                                          	         Kendal Stark Co Ohio 2nd   1813

Dear Brothers & Sisters

                                      	       Knowing that the present situation of

Our once highly favoured Country must,(and as it respects our own society
				
Especially) concern you, and as [carrot mark] this [above carrot mark] letter will be confined to your selves,and

Such of your friends as have your confidence, I shall the more freely ex-

=presss occurrences as they arise without fear of an improper use being made

of it.  Having for a considerable time, felt my mind impressed with

a concern on account of the probable suffering of friends in this State in

[word crossed out] the prosecution of the present war, without  seeing any other way

for relief than a journey to the Seat of government which I com=

=municated to my CR who as usual seemed willing to submit to an

absence of several weeks for the purpose, but as Our Quarterly

meeting was at hand I thought I would attend that previous

to any conclusion feeling a degree of confidence that if it was

right some way would open for it, an getting in the neighbour

=hood of Salem I fell in with our friend Wm Wood of Short Creek

Quarter of whom I made some enquiries that led him to im

=part that a concern had arisen in their Quarter to address

the legislator but that it did not find its way to effect.

but in our Quarter Friends were unanimous in the concur-

=rence of the subject of addressing a Memorial to them &

a skedule having been prepared previous & now presented it

was read and with some alteration was signed by the Clerk &

committed to the cars of four friends to present two to whom

attended tot the appointment   William Heald & myself and

on the tenth of first month after Our Meeting on first day

I left home and at Short Creek we were united with my

Our Friends Joseph Steen & Wm Wood and here Our spirits were

effected by reading the Governors Speech to the Senate & House of

representative-wherein he says something like this "that

however amiable conscientious scruples are in time of peace

it is a subject worthy your consideration now for they

ought to be tolerated in time of war.  We proceeded heavily

on our journey and reach the seat of Government the
			
evening before the day that [carrot mark] such part of [above carrot mark] a Malitia Bill just re-

=vised as concerned us would be read in the Senate. soon after

our arrival such Members as were concerned for the welfare

of Our Society came to see us, Vitz James McMillin &