The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-09-08

ifthey would make out in my presence
an impartialreport for the Squatter Sover-
eign, | would make no report to other
papers of this outrage upon my person.
! was not accused of tampering with
slaves. Iexplained to them that | could
not countenance any interference with the
relation of master and slave in Kansas
while that question remains an open
question.
1.-The very head and front of my offend
ing hath this extent no more - / had
spoken among my neighbors fayorably
to make Kansas free State, and had said
in the Office of the Squatter Sovereign,
81 am Free Soiler, and intend to vote
in favor of making Kansas Free State" I"
At length they came to consult what
they should do with me. Ira Norris Esq,
late resident in Platte City. and clerk of
the county court of Platte county, Ia
Yankee by birth and education, came
to me and said, "Mr. B. l viii advise
you for your good, as a friend, when
you get away-just keep away" / said
"Sir, ] expect to go away, but | intend
to come back again" ! said, "I cannot
leave | own real estate here close by
Atchison, in the State of Missouri, and
/ have claim on Stranger creek can
not leave" Some one remarked, "you
can sell your claim through an agent. /"
l said Twill neither sell my claim through
an agent, nor in my own proper person.
If you do not take my life, l intend to
live on it" They said to me again,
.Well. stay on your claim, but keep
away from AtchiSon. l said "Gentlc-
men, if you do not take my life, and
Providence permits, shall come back
to Atchison." They said, eff you
come back again to Atchison, we viii
hang you.'' They offered to show me
the very tree on which they would hang
me.
They made another proposal :: "Well
live in the country. and vote as you think
best, but hold your tongue" | said
'-No will speak when l please" ]
said, Gentlemen, have done you nc
wrong / had as good right to come
here as you, and have as good a right
to speak my mind as you. l shall dc
my duty as understand it /; now do you
do the same. You are many, am bu
one man-dispose of me as you think
best. l ask no favors of YOU
They sent me down the Missouri rivel
on a raft, without either oar or rudder
the editor of the Squatter Sovereign hol
ding the rope that towed me into thu
middle of The stream.
My flag was inscribed as follows
Eastern Emigrant Aid Express. The
Rev Mr.. Buffers Agent for the Under
ground Railroad" 1.-The way they ar,
served in Kansas "For Boston ,
Cargo insured, unavoidable danger o
the Missourians, and the Missouri rivel
excepted" ''Let future emissaries from
the North beware Our hemp crop j,
sufficient to reward all such scoundrels =
Of the blazonry of my flag, l will no
speak, shall not tax myself or the rea
der with details any farther. l have
heard of men before this, who were said
to ''iook as AougA they came dorm on q
raft" shall keep these colors, under
which Lave made my first voyage, as
memento of these evil days.
While was in the hands ofthese gen.
tlemen, (they don't like TO be called
ruffians, they taunted me with the as
surance that could make fortune out
of this affair at the East. | desire neither
the wealth nor the notoriety that may be
purchased by such means. | desire to
be permitted 10 remain peaceably in Kan
sas-to attend to my own proper busi-
ness-and to enjoy those rights which
are sacred to every American citizen ;
Iask to he let alone. Very respectfully,
am PARDEE BUTLER.